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Compass:
2025 Reflections and 2026 Projections

Compass:
2025 Reflections and 2026 Projections

Compass is an annual end‑of‑year gathering for the media and marketing community, featuring panel discussions where leading local voices from across the industry reflect on the year’s biggest developments, the local landscape, and share predictions for the year ahead.

Topics range from the state of the industry to current affairs and their impact on media and marketing, bringing conversations often held behind closed doors to a public forum. Each discussion is recorded and later made available as a podcast.

Stay tuned for content updates.

Meet your speakers

Imogen Hewitt

Chief Media Officer, Publicis Media ANZ and CEO, Sparks Foundry ANZ

Imogen has spent 25 years in full service, media and creative agencies both in Australia and South East Asia. A career strategist she has parlayed her skills in insight, instinct and understanding people into agency leadership roles. In 2024, she was appointed Chief Media Officer for Publicis Groupe ANZ while retaining her role as CEO of Spark Foundry ANZ.

Since taking on the position of Spark Foundry Australia CEO four years ago, Imogen has accelerated the growth of the agency exponentially. Topping the new business lists in 2020 and 2022, Spark Foundry has more than doubled in size in the last three years while also becoming one of Australia’s happiest agencies. In 2022, Imogen expanded her remit to include Spark Foundry New Zealand.

Recently, she was named #3 in Mediaweek Australia’s 2023 Agency 50 Power List and has been recognised on the B&T Women In Media Power List every year since 2017. She has also previously been named as one of Campaign Asia’s ‘Women to Watch’ in 2017 and 2020.

Anita Ayres

Head of Brand and Marketing, Teachers Mutual Bank Limited

Anita is a seasoned Marketing leader with over 15 years of experience across agency, consulting and senior marketing leadership roles within the Financial Services sector. She served as Head of Marketing and Innovation at StatePlus and Aware Super before transitioning to consulting with KPMG and Kantar, where she led brand transformation and growth strategy initiatives for clients globally.

Passionate about helping businesses find and unlock consumer-led growth, Anita helps Executives and Boards to create a bridge between customer insight, market understanding and brand implementation, with a clear focus on driving business and brand growth.

Christina Aventi

Chief Strategy Officer, BMF

Christina started her career as a client at Unilever 25 years ago.

After getting a solid grounding in marketing and category management, she jumped ship and found a permanent home as a strategist, speaking the many languages of strategy – business, marketing, brand and comms.

Christina has contributed to award-winning, effective campaigns across an array of clients (Retail, Finance, FMCG) and is most proud of the behaviour change work she has been part of in both the commercial and social marketing sector, including domestic violence, anti-vaping and road safety initiatives.

An industry commentator (diversity and memory science) and regular panellist on ABC’s Gruen, Christina has led BMF to be the most effective agency in Australia (2017, 2019 and most recently 2024) and number 3 in the world in the WARC Creative Effectiveness ratings.

Bel Harper

Chief Product and Marketing Officer, oOh! Media

Bio coming soon...

Kirsty Lucas

SVP Marketing & Partnerships, Brisbane Airport

Kirsty Lucas is the Senior Vice President of Aviation Marketing & Partnerships at Brisbane Airport, partnering with more than 30 airlines to deliver targeted, demand-driving marketing initiatives as Brisbane prepares to welcome the world for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

Previously, as International Manager for Experience Gold Coast, Kirsty led a team of international specialists to drive the rebound of international inbound travel following the COVID-19 pandemic. Her career has also included leading the Australian market as General Manager for Scoot, the low-cost carrier of Singapore Airlines, as well as roles spanning hotels, public relations, and tourism marketing in both Western Australia and New South Wales. 

Known for her strategic vision and ability to forge lasting industry partnerships, Kirsty combines deep sector expertise with a proven record of delivering results that create value for destinations, airlines, and commercial partners alike. 

Remy Brassac

Co-Founder, Rumble/Rumbletown Ventures

Elliott Bledsoe

Arts Marketing Consultant

Elliott Bledsoe is an arts marketing consultant working with artists and arts organisations to introduce marketing strategy and optimise their marketing communications efforts – whether IRL, URL or hybrid (in-person, online or both). Through Agentry Elliott has worked with arts media company ArtsHub, BlakDance, the peak body First Nations contemporary dance, disability-led dance organisation, Sprung Dance, as well as the Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT), Brisbane Chamber Choir, the Institute of Modern Art (IMA), the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) and many others. Elliott holds a Master of Marketing from RMIT University and is recognised as a Certified Practising Marketer. In 2021 and 2022 he was the Arts Marketing and Digital Competency mentor in the Regional Arts Services Network (RASN) Creative Business Champions (CBC) program. Before starting Agentry, Elliott held marketing and digital positions with the Queensland Writers Centre, ABC Radio National, the Australia Council for the Arts (now Creative Australia) and others. Elliott also has extensive experience in copyright and is the President of Wikimedia Australia and the Co-lead of Creative Commons Australia.

Andrew Kolb

Head of Strategy, VML

Bio coming soon

Sean O'Brien

Managing Director & Sales Director, Nine

Sean O’Brien is the Managing Director of Nine Entertainment Adelaide. 

With over 35 years dedicated to all facets of the media industry—from television and radio to digital and print—Sean is a highly experienced executive known for fostering innovative environments and building exceptional teams that deliver commercial and audience success for some of Australia’s largest media companies. 

Committed to giving back, Sean is currently an Advisory Board Member for Frontline Mental Health. He brings his governance expertise, refined as a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, to various organisations, including his past Director roles with Telethon SA, Down Syndrome SA, and White Ribbon Australia. 

When he isn't in the office, Sean enjoys music, staying active, and (on occasion) attempting to keep the peace as a central umpire for the Adelaide Football League during the winter months. 

Adele Gibb

Managing Director | SA, Carat Australia

Bio coming soon

Katheryn Korczak

Head of Copy and Co-Owner, Nation Creative

Katheryn is an award-winning copywriter and Head of Copy/Co-Owner of creative agency, NATION. She has a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing and Management) from the University of Adelaide and has completed national creative and copywriting courses. Katheryn’s been working in advertising for the last 15 years between SA and Victoria, with her folio spanning the public and private sector with everything from branding to behaviour change campaigns. She is a current tutor for AWARD School and has previously been their Head of SA. Katheryn has appeared on ABC’s Gruen, is a vocal member of the ‘Less Than 10%’ group and sits on the consumer advisory board of the charity, Still Aware. She is a passionate advocate for women in creative industries and is also a proud Mum of two. 

Michael Healy

Chief Marketing Officer, The Royal Automobile Association

Bio coming soon

Kristina Green

Chief Marketing & Growth Officer, HIF Australia

As Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at HIF Australia, Kristina leads the brand strategy, marketing, member engagement and distribution channels across broker, digital, and the sales team.  She is on a mission to make health insurance feel more human and to demonstrate how HIF supports its members live their best, healthy life. Kristina has 20 years’ client-side marketing experience and has led brand, marketing, partnerships, and digital transformations at HBF, Bankwest and the Water Corporation prior to joining HIF. 

Alice Manners

Marketing Consultant (Former CEO of IAB)

Bio coming soon

Mark Braddock

Co-Founder and Creative Strategy Director, Block

A kid who just loved to draw. Well, Mark Braddock is still that kid, but he’s also the brilliant, brave, ballsy creative entrepreneur who, together with his partner Tanya, grew Block out of his parents’ poolroom into one of Australia’s leading brand-first agencies. Mark pretends it was all by accident, involving his dad forcing him to study design instead of art, a series of dull ad agency jobs, a lucky winning entry to Cannes Young Lions to represent Australia, and of course, the Tanya factor. But don’t let that fool you—Mark is one of the most naturally gifted creatives around and a lot more ambitious, gutsy, and driven than his bearded and mumbling appearance suggests. 

After winning his ticket to Cannes, his talent earned him senior roles at Ogilvy New York on IBM, American Express, and Jaguar, and later at the creative powerhouse of The Martin Agency on Target, Olympus, Saab, and US Trust. 

Despite the big awards and major accounts, Mark always dreamed of building something with Tanya that meant more than just success. A place where creativity can unleash real positive change for clients, consumers, and the world. It didn’t exist when they returned to Perth, so they built it. 

Luke Whelan

Managing Director, Perth is OK! / Social Meteor

Bio coming soon

Margie Reid

Chief Executive Officer, Thinkerbell

Margie Reid is CEO and Partner at Thinkerbell, Australia’s most creative agency that delivers a joined up model of brand, creative, media and earned together to deliver Measured Magic to their clients. With over 25 years in advertising, eight years ago Margie joined forces with her business partners to start their own agency - Thinkerbell and have gone on to create the fastest growing start up business with a team of over 180 people across Australia and New Zealand. 
 
Thinkerbell has been awarded Adnews Agency of the Year in 2024 as well as B&T Advertising Agency of the Year in 2023. Margie was recently recognised by Adnews as a Champion of Change Powerlist, celebrating DE&I progress in media, marketing and advertising. It honours the people, programs and policies creating significant inroads towards a more diverse and inclusive adland. 
 
Prior to Thinkerbell, Margie ran Melbourne's largest media agency, OMD, as well as working at UM and Carat throughout her 18 years in this area of advertising. 

Asier Carazo

Chief Strategy Officer, Atomic 212º

Bio coming soon

Ben Wicks

Vice President, Marketing ANZ, Mondelēz International

Ben is currently looking after the marketing and growth strategy across all snacking portfolios including chocolate, biscuit, candy and snack bars for the Australian and New Zealand markets at Mondelēz International, the global snacking leader behind iconic brands including Cadbury, Toblerone, Oreo, Philadelphia and The Natural Confectionary Co.  

He started his journey with Mondelēz International (previously known as Kraft) in 2009, and over the years, he has taken on diverse roles in local, regional and global marketing leadership and general management. 

With a career spanning over 25 years in the fast-moving consumer goods industry, he has also contributed to companies like Carlton & United Breweries/ Foster International and Mars Incorporated, holding various marketing and commercial leadership positions. 

As a leader, he is passionate about developing diverse high performing teams, championing breakthrough ideas and impactful marketing innovation to drive business and brand transformation.  

Native of Australia, he is a graduate of the Queensland University of Technology. He had the chance to live in both Australia and Switzerland with his wife, their three teenage children and black Labrador. Outside of work, he considers himself a “sports nut” and enjoys spending time in nature whenever he can! 

Naomi Gorringe

​​​Head of Marketing, Southern Cross Austereo (SCA)

Naomi Gorringe is the Head of Marketing at Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), responsible for the full portfolio of brands including LiSTNR, HIT and Triple M.  

Prior to joining SCA, Naomi had a successful career in the advertising industry, holding leadership roles at Clemenger BBDO, TBWA and Leo Burnett amongst others. Having worked across most categories and sectors in her career, she has led many campaigns that have been recognised at global awards shows; highlights include over 30 Cannes Lions and 10 D&AD pencils. Naomi is a graduate of The Marketing Academy and the Australian Institute of Company Directors and recently completed 8 years on the board of children’s education charity, Ardoch, serving as Chair or the last 2 years.   

Clive Dickens

Managing Director, Meliora

Bio coming soon

Danika Porter

Head of Brand and Marketing, Federal Group

Danika Porter is a marketing and communications leader, with diverse global experience spanning the tourism, publishing and media industries.            

Her early career started in tourism across premium resorts in the US, Canada and the UK, before shifting into a broadcasting and media career in London. Relocating to Sydney, she led marketing teams for national and international multi-brand companies for 14 years at Beyond Television, Mumbrella and Bauer Media. Her role as Communications Director at Bauer, then Are Media, oversaw the consumer PR for Australia’s leading magazine titles, as well as all corporate and crisis communications. 

Three years ago, she returned to her home state of Tasmania as Head of Brand and Marketing managing the premium tourism brands of Saffire Freycinet, MACq 01 Hotel and The Henry Jones Art Hotel, along with the bar and restaurant collection. Critical to her strategy marketing both the state of Tasmania as a destination, along with converting travellers from the national and international markets, is PR and leading with earned-first ideas. 

Parallel to her career, for over two decades she's also shared her worldwide adventures as a travel writer published in the likes of Get Lost magazine, Vacations & Travel, Escape, Australian Women’s Weekly and Marie Claire.  

Amr Elsayad

Head of Digital Business, Kings Digital

Amr Elsayed is a strategist and creative leader with a deep passion for Tasmania’s marketing and creative industries. As Chair of the Diemen Awards, he champions and celebrates the state’s growing community of makers, thinkers and storytellers. In his role as Head of Digital Business at Kings Digital, Amr leads teams that bring strategy and creativity together to deliver meaningful results. He is also the founder of Social Social, a platform that connects people through content, culture and community. Across his work, Amr is driven by a belief that Tasmania’s creative sector can punch well above its weight and define its own distinct voice on the national stage. 

Kelly Healy

General Manager, News Corp Australia

Kelly Healy Bio: Kelly is an innovative Senior Media Executive with over 20 years experience in Television, Radio, Print, and Digital Media. She has held executive positions at some Australia's leading media corporations, as well as award winning full service agencies. Kelly has successfully launched a creative integration department that has received several awards for their client service, as well as creative thinking. She has a proven track record in developing award winning campaigns, as well as building and developing high performing, award winning, sales teams.

Snapshot of who has already registered

MECCA-LOGO-BLACK
Netflix_Logo_RGB (1)
Oracle
princess-cruises-logo-png_seeklogo-112079
Rest
SCA
Tinder Logo
Tourism & Events Queensland
Uber_Logo_Black_RGB
Wesfarmers_Health_logo_Green_RGB
Cartology with tagilne RGB
American Express
estee_lauder
Flight Centre Travel Group
Kraft Heinz
Mastercard logo

Choose your city

Compass - Sydney

Monday, 3 November 2025 | Keg&Brew Hotel, Sydney

Compass - Brisbane

Wednesday, 5 November 2025 | The Prince Consort Hotel, Brisbane

Compass - Adelaide

Monday, 10 November 2025 | Elephant British Pub, Adelaide

Compass - Perth

Tuesday, 11 November 2025 | The Globe, Perth

Compass - Melbourne

Monday, 17 November 2025 | Quarterhouse, Melbourne

Compass - Hobart

Tuesday, 18 November 2025 | Hope & Anchor Hotel, Hobart

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About Compass Conference

Join the community to ponder the year of disruption in the marketing and media industry and delve into the trends that will shape the future. Compass runs as a seven-city roadshow covering Hobart, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Auckland.

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work and live. We celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and connections to the lands and waters of NSW. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.