Publishing plus: Industry transformation laid bare

Ben Rudolph leads Microsoft News Labs, a program committed to helping the news industry fight fake news, tell stories that resonate with modern audiences, and succeed financially. The program has partnered with 50+ organizations, including AP, Politico EU, Vox and TEGNA, and has helped to co-create more than 100 data storytelling projects. Prior to launching the Modern Journalism program, he served as Global Director, Retail Experience, to bring Microsoft and its products to life online, in-store and in-person for 50,000+ retailers, resellers and distributors in more than 100 countries. Part of that work involved re-architecting ExpertZone, a global learning site that expanded from 275,000 users to more than 3,000,000. He joined Microsoft in 2008, after he launched Parallels and its primary product, Parallels Desktop for Mac, which runs Window software on Mac machines. A father of six and a former collegiate Rugby player, he also taught Krav Maga to the D.C. metro police for 10 years. He graduated with a B.A. in Art History from George Washington University.

Emily is the Head of Fashion and Beauty Affiliates for Marie Claire UK. She runs the digital e-commerce division, merging content with commerce, managing and overseeing the technical development of new innovate digital brands.

Growing e-commerce revenue by 300% since she joined in 2017, Emily created the Marie Claire Edit, a fashion aggregator building the brand to over 30 luxury and high street retailers worldwide in just 6 months. Previously Emily ran e-commerce at the Telegraph and has run her own fashion digital startup.

David joined Fairfax Media in April 2014 as Manager of Group Strategy where he was involved in a number of projects that contributed to the turn-around in the Fairfax business including the investment in Stan; the merger of Fairfax Radio with Macquarie Media; and, developing plans to transition to a sustainable, digitally-led business model for the Metro media brands. In early 2017, he became Chief of Staff to the Managing Director and in September 2018 I stepped into the Director of Subscriptions and Growth position.

David is also a director at The Ethics Centre.

Brendan Collogan is an accomplished senior executive with experience across a broad range of industries including media, banking, retail and insurance. He is currently General Manager, Digital Consumer Revenue at News Corp Australia.

At News Corp Australia, he is accountable for driving digital subscription growth across all news titles and leads a range of functions including proposition development, pricing, customer engagement, data science and a new division called content-led growth.

Prior to News Corp Australia he held senior roles at Westpac Banking Corporation and David Jones Limited.

Jane Waterhouse is the General Manager of Bauer Media’s Story 54 – Bauer’s Award Winning commercial storytelling division for women.  Jane is the former CEO of We Magazines, publisher of The Hoopla, and Managing Director of marketing and publishing company Sister. Waterhouse has also held senior editorial roles and marketing roles at ACP Magazines on titles such as The Australian Women’s Weekly, Woman’s Day and Weight Watchers.

With over 20 years’ experience in media and content marketing Simon Smith joined News Corp Australia in March 2017 to launch the company’s content agency, Suddenly. As executive director, content marketing at News Corp and as head of Suddenly, Mr Smith is responsible for the content marketing strategy and initiatives across multiple platforms to drive new revenue and partnerships. He works closely with News Corp Australia’s established content marketing, custom publishing and commercial content businesses across the country. Mr Smith joined News from Fairfax Media where he was managing director of their content marketing division for three years and during this time he launched their in-house content marketing studio. Mr Smith has worked in the Australian media industry across commercial, marketing, editorial, radio, television, print, events and digital, holding numerous senior positions with News Corp Australia and PBL. He was also on the board of NewsMediaWorks. As an industry expert he is regularly invited to present at events and conferences around the country on content marketing.

Former artist manager and record label A&R, Luke Girgis is the CEO of Australia’s largest music media publisher Seventh Street Media. He also manages influencers Simone Giertz and Christian Hull.

Tamsin is the General Manager at Private Media, and Publisher of its flagship publication, Crikey. With her roots firmly embedded in people development and culture, Tamsin has led teams and coached executives in the legal and finance sectors and is now part of a small team leading the strategic direction of Australia’s most renowned independent digital media company.

Writer, Publisher, Professional Message-maker and keen hiker Janice Williams has made a career from understanding how to communicate in high-value target markets.

How we communicate influences how others see our businesses, brands and products. In the age of DIY media, learning how to develop story, use imagery, and brand by association can have a major impact on how products are perceived and understood. Williams can present on communication, marketing, brand and digital marketing. She is an expert in slow media, and the trials of gaining mind share in a distracted and fragmented media age.

Janice Williams is available for bespoke presentations on communications for industries where she operates as a producer of campaigns and media products – home, outdoor, food and wellbeing.

After a stint in law, Dominic decided to put his media and legal qualifications to better work in advertising. Starting at Clemenger BBDO Melbourne he quickly became interested in the ideas behind the ideas

Since becoming a strategic planner Dominic has worked in many of Australia’s leading creative agencies for all sorts of brands and organisations including NAB, NewsMediaWorks, EnergyAustralia, the Victorian Government, Tourism Australia and Coca Cola.

Dominic has three degrees from Melbourne University.  In 2009 he obtained a bachelor of Arts with honours in media and creative writing. From there Dominic studied his Juris Doctor in Law before most recently completing a Masters in literature where he received an Australian Postgraduate Award for his thesis on place and the Australian Landscape.

When Dominic isn’t planning, or studying, he is probably cooking or surfing somewhere.

Chris Petzoldt is Partner and Managing Director Oceania at Simon-Kucher & Partners.

Chris has more than 18 years of global consulting experience. He mainly worked in the areas of monetisation strategies (portfolio, pricing, sales) for telecoms, software / internet and media clients. He has conducted more than 100 projects in that space across Australia, Europe, Asia, Middle East, Oceania and South America for companies such as:

AGL, Axiata, Ebay, Deputy.com, Fairfax, Foxtel, Indosat, KPN, Optus, Singtel, Sky, Spark, Telefonica, T-Mobile, TradeMe, Vodafone, Xero and many others

Chris opened Simon-Kucher’s Australia operations in 2011 and is a regular presenter at conferences around the world e.g. for DB Access, Marcus Evans, NeoEdge, Salvo, GSMA Asia, Zuora Subscribed and others

Chris studied business administration at the University of Kiel and at the School of Business and Commercial Law Gothenburg, Sweden. He majored in Innovation Management and Marketing. His degree dissertation focused on willingness to pay functions of interactive television users.

Dan Stinton is Guardian Australia’s managing director. He leads the publisher’s commercial strategy, with responsibility for revenues and operations across advertising and other areas. Prior to this role, Stinton was head of digital at Seven West Media, managing digital products and technology across Seven West Media’s Western Australian business including The West Australian, Perth Now and 7 Perth. He previously held senior roles at Yahoo7, the joint venture between global internet company Yahoo and Seven West Media, and as general manager of RTRFM, a Perth-based community radio station. He is also the co-founder of eBev, a successful digital startup in the beverage industry. Dan began his career as a journalist, writing and editing for a range of news and lifestyle publications.

Neil is the founder and CEO of Junkee Media, Australia’s leading Youth publisher and branded content agency, and also the Chief Content & Creative Officer of oOh!media, Australia’s leading out-of-home company (Junkee Media’s parent company).

Neil is an experienced entrepreneur and leader with a track record of building businesses at the intersection of where culture and commercial creativity collide.

Rebecca Costello is the chief executive of Schwartz Media, a role she has held since 2006. Rebecca leads the commercial strategy, with responsibility for revenues, operations and marketing. Rebecca has led Schwartz Media through times of significant change across the media landscape, including the digital transition. During Rebecca’s time Schwartz Media has launched various new products, the most significant being the 2014 launch of The Saturday Paper and the recent launch of daily news podcast 7am.

Prior to this role, Rebecca was the commercial director at AFL Publishing (now AFL Media), establishing and managing the commercial strategy on behalf of the Australian Football League. Rebecca was previously managing director and co-founder of the Sydney-based full-service agency specialising in the young adult market, Schmooze Media. Rebecca has also held senior roles at The Age and Text Media.

Nicholas Gray is Managing Director of The Australian, NSW & Prestige Titles. He was first appointed CEO of The Australian in 2013, and has been responsible for top and bottom line improvements fuelled by digital subscription growth and an expanded focus on digital products. His role expanded to include the Prestige Titles in 2018 and all NSW titles in 2019.

He joined News Corp in 2012 following the acquisition of Business Spectator, of which he was GM and Publisher. Before this Nicholas was CFO / Strategy Director and then National Sales Director at ninemsn. Prior to this, Nicholas worked on corporate strategy at Lion Nathan and was an investment banker at Citigroup in London and Tokyo and Macquarie in Sydney. He is a non-executive director of the University of New South Wales Foundation board, Medium Rare, Society One and the Community Newspaper Group.

Chris leads Nine’s digital and publishing business, which includes The Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, nine.com.au, 9Now, Pedestrian Group and New Zealand’s Stuff Limited. He was previously the founding CEO of HuffPost Australia, the founding CEO of Allure Media and held senior roles at News Limited and Endemol Southern Star. Chris sits on the boards of the International News Media Association, Australian Associated Press, CarAdvice, Weatherzone and NewsMediaWorks.