The leading PR and communications conference in APAC

Brian West has more than 35 years’ experience in corporate & public affairs and issues/crisis management globally, including working in the US, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia, including for six Governments in Asia Pacific.  In Asia he started working in China in 1984.

Before joining FleishmanHillard, Mr. West worked in-house with Comalco Aluminium and CRA Limited (now Rio Tinto) for nearly a decade, before becoming a consultant for more than 25 years. He has worked in small, medium and large consultancies, including running the Asia Pacific operations for a global consultancy and sitting on the worldwide Management Board.

In issues and crisis management, Mr. West has managed the communication and stakeholder relations programs with governments, NGOs, media, unions, customers, employees and local communities during some of the highest profile incidents. In a number of cases he has been the key contact and spokesperson.

The crises include chemical tank farm explosions and the following days of fires; a gas plant explosion resulting in employee deaths; mine collapse and deaths; technology crises; consumer product recalls and withdrawals (food and pharmaceutical companies); and financial crises for banks and other financial institutions, as well as regional and global cyber breaches.

Mr. West has worked on coronial inquiries, Royal Commissions, and commercial and civil litigation. His experience includes police and security investigations, extortion and fraud.

In the technology, banking, defence, aviation, automotive and resource sectors he has consulted to major companies (such as Visa, J&J, L’Oreal, UOB Bank, Nikkei Asset Management, BT, Huawei, SAP, HP, Riverbed Technology, Lockheed Martin, Cathay & Qantas, GM, Rio Tinto and Vopak), and managed the international and local media, government and community relations with respect to both risk/vulnerability assessments, preparation of crisis response plans and managed the communications around actual incidents that resulted in fatalities.

Mr. West has implemented crisis audits, crisis preparedness strategies and developed and run media and crisis training programs and simulations for banks, insurance companies, superannuation funds, publicly listed companies, professional service and membership organizations, food companies, sporting organizations, telecommunications, technology, oil & gas and chemical companies, in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.

Bio coming soon

Matt is passionate about innovative integrated work that works. He co-founded Sydney hot shop Poem in 2015. The creative PR agency has had a rapid rise, with Google, British Airways, Adidas, The Athlete’s Foot, Wotif and Expedia just some of the high-profile brands already calling on their paid, owned and earned media services.

He has 15 years PR, social media and experiential experience, having previously worked on global and local campaigns at Cake and Freud Communications in London, plus One Green Bean in Sydney. His campaigns have been recognised by over a dozen awards at the likes of Cannes Lions, AWARD Awards, Mumbrella, CommsCon, Effies and Spikes Asia.

Ellen Gunning MA, MIAPR, FPRII, NUJ is the founding director of the Irish Academy of Public Relations, a specialist communications college with 25+ years’ experience of teaching PR, Journalism and Event Management in 6 languages (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Polish and Arabic) across 50 countries.

Ellen has handled PR for national and international clients in politics, business, the arts and charity sectors for over 20 years.

She is author of three books. Her most recent, Public Relations a practical approach (3^rd edition) was published by Macmillan Higher Education International (Red Globe Press) in October 2018. Her other books are: Capital Women of Influence (Liffey Press, 2009) and 10 Red Hot Tips to Promote your Business (Mercier Press, 2016).

Ellen is a national past-president of the International Public Relations Association and former Chairman of the Irish national PR Institute’s Education Council. She is highly regarded as a motivational speaker.

She has received a journalism award from the European Parliament, a Fellowship from the Public Relations Institute of Ireland and an international recognition from the Nigerian Event Management Association.

She is a regular commentator on Ireland AM, the breakfast TV show on national Virgin Media One television and presents the Mediascope radio show each Tuesday with interviews of interest to communications practitioners.

Ellen is currently chairperson of 103.2 Dublin City fm radio station, director of the Irish Academy of Public Relations and a member of the executive council of the European Association of Distance Learning.

For around 15 years, reputation expert Gerry McCusker has been analysing, documenting and weirdly entertained by brand and business PR disasters.

As the author of the pop-academic text and blog ‘Public Relations Disasters’ (Kogan Page, 2005), he has closely studied the hidden characteristics of those brands that all too regularly face PR flak.

In fact, most of Gerry’s PR and crisis consultancy work has been for brands that are not exactly ‘lovemarks’.

Now he’s written a new book about the phenomenon of “tough-to-love” brands – organisations that ban, deny, enforce, govern, legislate, police and tax – and he’s got a checklist inventory to help you spot if you deal with, or work for, a ‘tough-to-love” organisation.

Based in Melbourne, Australia, Gerry has published insights and articles for the AFR, IPRA, Mumbrella, B&T, Marketing Magazine. He is the creator of trans-media crisis simulator, The Drill.

www.thedrill.com.au

Detch Singh is a Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Aussie influencer marketing provider, Hypetap. Hypetap is a technology-driven media provider which plans, executes and reports on influencer campaigns for brands and agencies. Hypetap’s proprietary technology has set the standard for brand safety and data transparency in influencer marketing, as well as evaluating campaign success. Hypetap works with a range of incredible brands and organisations such as the Federal Government, Nestle, LG and Disney, along with top-tier agencies including Dentsu X, Mediacom, Carat, CHE Proximity and Starcom.

Detch has played a key role in pioneering how influencer marketing is reshaping the advertising, media and communications landscape in Australia. Prior to this, he worked in Investment Banking across Melbourne, Sydney and New York where his industry focus was on technology, media and general industrials.

Bio coming soon

Michelle has worked as a financial services communication consultant for the last 12 years. During this time, she has worked with leading Australian and international blue-chip organisations, advising clients specifically on issues management and reputation-building campaigns. Michelle worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in London during the global financial crisis, as part of the Research Communication team, before returning home and back to her agency roots.

She now heads up the Corporate team at WE Buchan, where she has worked with clients such as the ATO, Allianz, AFIC, Hewison Private Wealth and NGS Super.

With a focus on communication outcomes that support business objectives, Michelle is driven by understanding the core issues facing and influencing a business in motion which can be addressed with communication.

Michelle is a specialist in corporate communication, with a particular focus on financial and professional services industries.

Lisa Ronson is the Chief Marketing Officer for Tourism Australia. In this role Lisa is responsible for leading the organisation’s global marketing strategy – which includes Global Marketing and PR, Digital, Social, Content, Creative and campaigns, Signature Experiences, Market Research and Insights.

Lisa Ronson joined Tourism Australia in February 2015 and is a commercially focused Senior Executive with 20 years’ experience, across multiple national and global brands and a diverse range of industries. Prior to joining Tourism Australia Lisa held senior marketing positions at Westpac Banking Group, David Jones, Telstra, Visa International and Fosters Brewing Group.

Jackie Crossman is a distinguished member of the Australasian PR community by any measure – longevity, client acquisition and impact, industry service, peer recognition or awards success.

A Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) and frequent judge of PRIA’s Golden Target Awards and State Awards for Excellence and Mumbrella’s CommsCon Awards, Crossman is a corporate and marketing communications specialist with extensive experience and expertise in issues and crisis management, social media activation, event and sponsorship solutions and media strategy, relations and interview skills training.

Her early career was in radio and after a grounding in PR with global firm Burson-Marsteller, Crossman founded her own consultancy in New Zealand in 1988, a business that eventually became Porter Novelli New Zealand of which she was Managing Director.

Prior to forming Crossman Communications again in Australia in 2003, she was Executive Director of NISAD Schizophrenia Research based at the Garvan Institute in Sydney.

The creator of the long-running Weet-Bix Kids Tryathlon, National Vegetarian Week and ‘Thank You Day’ for Research Australia, Crossman has counseled many of Australia’s most successful companies and has won multiple PR awards at state, national, regional and global level. She is the current B&T PR Woman of the Year.

Crossman Communications merged with Red Agency at the beginning of January 2016, with Jackie taking on the role of Principal of the Sydney operation. She has extensive experience in the food and agricultural sectors and has worked with Horticulture Innovation Australia across multiple industries including Macadamias, Summer Stonefruit and Bananas for seven years.

Stephen McArdle has worked for some of the world’s best agencies and biggest brands over his 20 years in advertising and has held key leadership positions for the last 10 of those years. In his time as Managing Director at BMF, Stephen has helped steer the agency to the top of the industry, launching the agency’s positioning as ‘The Home of the Long idea’, which has ensured a focus on long term effectiveness and enduring client relationships, and resulted in the agency being named Effective Agency of the Year.

Darren Woolley is considered a thought leader on all aspects of marketing management. A Problem Solver, Negotiator, Founder & Global CEO of TrinityP3 – Marketing Management Consultants, founding member of the Marketing FIRST Forum, Industry Commentator and Author. He is also a Past-Chair of the Australian Marketing Institute, Past President of the Melbourne Advertising & Design Club, Ex-Medical Scientist and Ex-Creative Director.

Sam is a communications, technology and media lawyer and Partner at DVM Law, a specialist innovations, creativity, communications and entertainment firm based in Surry Hills, New South Wales.  

Sam advises a range of clients with an emphasis on the advertising, media, entertainment, sports and startup industries. Sam’s recent experience includes acting for clients on advertising campaigns; content development, production and distribution; mergers and acquisitions; management buyouts; privacy and data protection; IP protection and licensing; corporate governance; commercial contracting; disputes; employment issues; competition and consumer law issues; and defamation.  Sam’s clients include advertising agencies, media companies, content producers, publishers, distributors, startups and creative performers.

Sam has also worked in-house at Screen Australia and at Three Crowns Media Group, a prominent sports media publisher and events company.

Stephen is a Partner at DVM Law, a specialist innovations, creativity, communications and entertainment firm based in Surry Hills, New South Wales.

Stephen has specialised in advertising, communications, marketing, promotions and media law since 1995. He has developed a keen interest in emerging technologies, media and the interactive and digital mediascape and in recent times has advised extensively upon disruptor technology platforms, social media, online reputation management, resonant content and the use of big data.

He has recently conducted an extensive review of the recently released AANA Master Media Planning & Buying Services Agreement and its impact upon media agencies and their advertiser clients.

Stephen also specialises in agency mergers & acquisitions and was legal counsel on a number of recent high profile independent agency acquisitions across the communications spectrum including Match Media, Mercer Bell and N2N / Herd Agency.

Stephen and the DVM Law team regularly advise the industry, brands, agencies and individuals in respect of all legal and commercial issues facing these diverse industries.

He is the legal adviser to The Communications Council, the Media Federation, the Public Relations Council and the Global Association for Marketing at Retail. He is a regular presenter for these industry bodies on matters of legal and regulatory compliance including recent industry presentations on Social Influencer Marketing, Social Media Law, the introduction of the new Privacy Laws and a Marketing Law industry update.

Stephen regularly presents at CommsCon, Mumbrella 360 and other Mumbrella events. He is a guest lecturer at the University of Sydney and UTS from time to time and is regularly asked for comment by the media and to judge industry awards.

Angus is the Editor-in-Chief at Finder. He’s been writing about technology, finance, travel and other topics for 25 years , and appears regularly on TV and radio across Australia in a selection of loud Hawaiian shirts.

Prior to joining Finder, Angus spent seven years as editor for Lifehacker Australia, turning the site into one of Australia’s biggest technology destinations. He has written for dozens of magazines, newspapers and web sites, and is a frequent nominee and winner at the annual Media Connect IT Journalism Awards.

A lifelong geek, red wine addict, travel lover and karaoke enthusiast, Angus has an honours degree (and a university medal) in linguistics, and a growing pile of novels-in-progress he really ought to finish writing.

With over 15 years experience in the media and marketing industry, Kim McKay has directed award-winning national and international campaigns that have not only garnered vast amounts of attention but have also correlated into considerable revenue increases.

In 2008, Kim launched Klick Communications, a digital focused communications agency. Ten years later, Klick Communications has expanded with offices in Los Angeles, Honolulu and Sydney and boasts thriving luxury, travel, entertainment and consumer portfolios. Klick specializes in driving communications to get excellent and sustainable business results. Klick Communications prides itself on finding the best ways to engage with audiences and pioneering new communication channels to build a brands influence.

Kim’s dynamic, creative and innovative approach to communications is what sets her apart.

A passionate technology advocate, Kim’s current obsessions are Artificial Intelligence, the power of earned media and ensuring that storytelling and content is delivered in a fresh, intelligent, compelling and relevant way.