Comms experts from Uber, Airbnb, Google, and Mastercard join 2025 Mumbrella CommsCon line-up

Thinking globally but impacting locally, and how to be more inclusive in your campaigns, are two of the latest topics to feature at Mumbrella CommsCon in 2025, with speakers from leading brands Uber, Airbnb, Google, and Mastercard locked in.

Mumbrella’s CommsCon Conference and Awards – which are returning once again at a brand new venue in Sydney – will feature thought-provoking, industry-shifting sessions on the state of communications in today’s day and age.

(L-R clockwise): Uber’s Peta Fitzgerald, Airbnb’s Sophie Onikul, Google’s Katrin Maurer, HWBK’s EJ Granleese, Eleven’s Amy Ashworth, Mastercard’s Luke McClelland

A session featuring strategic leaders behind some of the world’s biggest brands will delve into several exclusive insights of issues and areas facing the PR and comms industry today.

Peta Fitzgerald, communications director ANZ at Uber, will be joined on stage by Sophie Onikul, head of communications ANZ at Airbnb, and Google’s head of communications ANZ, Katrin Maurer.

Moderated by History Will Be Kind’s founder and CEO, EJ Granleese, the comms experts will share how they navigate the complexity of global visions while remaining focused on local impact, how to achieve successful partnerships, and what it takes to cut through authentically in a sea of scepticism.

Titled ‘Global Leaders, Local Impact: How Your Brand Can Start Living Its Mission’, this session is a must-see.

Also joining the 2025 conference roster is Mastercard and Eleven, who will speak about the success of their campaign, ‘The First Wheelchair Ballkid’.

Ballkids play an essential role in tennis tournaments, but not every kid has the opportunity to get involved. To make tennis tournaments more inclusive than ever before, Mastercard decided to demonstrate the potential of wheelchair users to be ball-kids with the new program. As Mastercard’s long time PR agency of record, Eleven helped launch the program to champion diversity and accessibility on the tennis courts.

Mastercard Australasia’s head of communications, Luke McClelland, will be joined on stage by Eleven’s general manager, Amy Ashworth, to share how earned media can help make the world more inclusive, through innovation, collaboration, and bravery.

The pair will reveal how brands can authentically create culture-changing, inclusive campaigns and why earned media specialists are best placed to take the lead on inclusive brand acts.

The two sessions join a growing roster of the best-of-the-best in PR and comms, including Tinder Australia’s director of communications, Kirsty Dunn, and Poem’s Rob Lowe and Jess Cluff.

Third Hemisphere’s Hannah Moreno and Comms Declare’s Belinda Noble are also gearing up to discuss greenwashing in the communications industry, while alt/shift’s Elly Hewitt will dive deeper into using behavioural insights to supercharge PR strategies and creative campaigns.

(L-R): Sefiani’s Mandy Galmes, Sydney Opera House’s Jess Gooch, McGrath Foundation’s Jackie Quilter, IKEA’s Patricia Routledge, Keep Left’s Laura Agricola and Tim Lele

Dena Vassallo, founder and CEO of SOCIETY is also due to speak to share the challenges agency villages face in fostering equitable relationships, and by extension, optimal results.

In a panel session moderated by Mandy Galmes, managing partner, Australia, at Sefiani, part of Clarity Global Group, comms experts from IKEA, the McGrath Foundation, and the Sydney Opera House will share how agencies can build relevance and value for clients in an increasingly fractured market, while Keep Left’s Laura Agricola and Tim Lele will prepare delegates to keep up with how much culture and behaviour are changing the game.

Tickets to the CommsCon conference are available now.

And when day turns to night, the Mumbrella CommsCon Awards 2025 will take place at the same location.

A celebration of all things excellence in the communications and PR sector, the final entry deadline for the awards ceremony – Friday, January 24 – is just a couple days away.

More information on the CommsCon Awards, including categories and entry criteria, can be found here. PR and comms experts ready to throw their names in the ring can access the entry portal here.

The CommsCon newsletter will also return fortnightly – you can subscribe below.

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topics 2025 Mumbrella CommsCon Airbnb Amy Ashworth CommsCon EJ Granleese Eleven Google History Will Be Kind Katrin Maurer Luke McClelland Mastercard Mumbrella CommsCon Peta Fitzgerald Sophie Onikul Uber

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