Australian Marketing Institute announces new chair and directors
New AMI chair Kristie Atkins is a former Certified Practising Marketer of the Year
The Australian Marketing Institute (AMI) has announced the appointment of Kristie Atkins as chair.
Atkins replaces Andrew Thornton, who is stepping down after 10 years on the board, the maximum term permitted by the organisation’s constitution. Thornton served as chair for seven years and deputy chair for three years.
AMI is also appointing three new board members: Chelsea Wymer, who is the chief marketing officer of Chartered Accountants ANZ; Nikki Atack, Pentanet’s chief marketing officer; and founder and director of Mowbray Park Consulting James Keeler.
Speaking to Mumbrella, Atkins — who previously sat on the board as a director — said she is “delighted” to be the new chair and is committed to prioritising investments in AMI’s Certified Practising Marketer [CPM] program, Competency Assessment Tool and wider professional development opportunities during her tenure.
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Atkins currently serves as managing director of loyalty agency Wink, and has previously worked in leadership roles at Village Roadshow, Ovato and Event Hospitality and Entertainment. Prior to that, she started her career as an announcer and journalist at 2HD Newcastle, currently operated by the Super Radio Network. She is also a non-executive director of the Hunter Medical Research Institute and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
“We want to just ensure that AMI remains a forward thinking, evolving organisation and that the membership base continues to get great value out of the programs and the support it provides,” she said.
“In an environment where we’re all grappling with so many changes, including through AI, it’s never been more important that we’ve got quality, experienced marketing practitioners out there.”
Commenting on the election of the new directors, Atkins was excited to see a better representation of marketers from around the country. Atack hails from Western Australia, while returning deputy chair Maria De Conno is from South Australia.
“[It’s] really nice to have sort of a whole national approach, rather than [the board] being dominated by just eastern seaboarders,” she added.
In a media release, AMI CEO Bronwyn Heys extended her “heartfelt thanks” to Thornton for his contributions to the organisation and said the new appointments would continue AMI’s commitment to “igniting brilliance across the profession”.
“Through the AMI Competency Assessment Tool, professional development and the [CPM] program, we are ensuring that marketers across Australia remain relevant, proficient, and future-ready.”
Atkins said she was keen to draw on her decades of experience to help drive positive growth for AMI in a rapidly changing industry.
“It’s really nice to see an association moving forward and really evolving with the times in an environment where it is really tough for professional associations, and AMI’s membership continues to grow.”
