Kirsten Hasler

With over a decade of experience as an IKEA marketer in Australia and Europe, Kirsten Hasler is the brand’s Head of Marketing and Insights in Australia and NZ. Although she has not yet managed to master the allen key, she lives and breathes the IKEA brand.

Having spent most of her career in digital marketing roles across web, social media and CRM, she has led several transformation projects including the development of the IKEA global social media framework and the implementation of advanced CRM for IKEA Family’s loyalty club in Australia. 

Kirsten is focused on driving ambitious commercial and brand growth for IKEA and believes that leading both business and people development together drives the best results.  

Dan Ferguson

Dan Ferguson joined Adore Beauty in 2018 as Chief Marketing Officer and doubled returning customer growth and revenue in his first 6 months. Responsible for company growth, brand and data, he’s led high and sustained rates of new customer acquisition through enhanced analytics and marketing initiatives including multiple new channels and the launch of Adore Beauty’s Beauty IQ Uncensored podcast which is consistently top-ranked in beauty and wellness podcast rankings globally. In 2022, Dan was named #8 on CMO50 list of Australia’s most innovative and effective marketing leaders.

Dan has over 20 years’ of experience in e-commerce and digital marketing. Prior to joining Adore Beauty, Dan had extensive roles growing and leading e-commerce, multi-channel and online retail business in Australia for local & global brands including Vistaprint, Officeworks, Dell with consistent average 2.5x business or portfolio growth across his tenure in these roles. Dan currently serves as Board Advisor to preezie.com and holds a Bachelor of Arts/Psychology (Honours) from the University of Sydney.

Ruth Haffenden

As Global Head of Brand and marketing for Australia’s first B-corp underwear brand, sold and loved in 15 countries around the world, it is Ruth’s job to convince people that helping the planet could be as easy as changing their underwear. Previous creative agency boss of 13 years, turned brand side marketer, Ruth is an outspoken advocate for diversity and sustainability in global advertising, and is out to change the game.

John Harvey Faurholt

John Harvey Faurholt leads Retail Media across JAPAC & China for Microsoft Advertising.  He is dedicated to driving innovation and success for all Microsoft’s Retail Partners, in their mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.  Prior to joining Microsoft, John Harvey worked at OpenX, a global leader in web and mobile advertising technology.  Here he led the creation and expansion of Partner Services across the US and EMEA, where he developed a passion for International Business and Market Development.  He previously held leadership positions at Twelvefold Media, a leading contextual advertising company and Ask.com, a pioneer in Search.  John Harvey holds a B.A. from Gonzaga University, and currently resides in Sydney, Australia.

Adam Kron

Adam Kron is Director of E-Commerce at News Corp Australia, a role he has held since March 2022. Adam leads the company's investment in commerce content and solutions for the e-commerce industry. He has more than 12 years experience in the e-commerce industry, holding general management and senior executive and transformation positions at many of Australia’s largest e-commerce businesses, including Catch, Kogan and Temple & Webster. He was recognised by his peers by being included in the Top 50 People in e-commerce list of 2018 published by Inside Retail.

Patricia Routledge

Patricia has had a career in Communications spanning 20 years across the UK and Australia in both agency and in-house roles.

Her broad range of experience on high profile brands includes Gumtree, American Express, and Optus - on which two of her campaigns were Cannes Lions award winners.

Patricia has been at IKEA Australia for 8 years, and as Head of Communications is responsible for the strategic use of communication both internally and externally to support the IKEA Australia commercial agenda and growth plans.

Her focus is building and securing brand positioning and brand reputation across media, government and industry stakeholders and IKEA co-workers.

Paul Blackburn

Paul Blackburn was appointed Director Commercial Data, Video and Product in October 2022. He is responsible for News Corp Australia's commercial video strategy and the company's commercial data and digital advertising product strategy. He also works with the client product leadership team to develop new commercial products that drive diversified and incremental revenues. Over the past 10 years at News Corp Australia, he has held numerous roles including General Manager, Video and General Manager Digital Revenue and Marketing Services. Paul is a member of the IAB Australia board joining May 2021. He is a proven leader that has led organisational change in an evolving media landscape to deliver results through digital innovation.

Pippa Leary

Pippa Leary is Managing Director - Client Product at News Corp Australia. Pippa has a long and successful track record identifying trends and how they are likely to shape the market. She spent the past 25 years working in commercial innovation roles across many of Australia’s largest media companies, including Microsoft, ninemsn, Fairfax and Channel Nine. Before joining News Corp Australia in 2021 she was chief executive at ASX-listed Swift Media. She is on the board of the RLPA (Rugby League Players Association) and is a non-Executive Director on the Board of Swift Media.

Mark Byrne

A passionate and experienced digital marketer, Mark enjoys working at the intersection of media and customer experience, advising clients on how they can maximise their digital investment more broadly.

In his 13 years at dentsu, he has held several influential roles, including General Manager for Product and Strategy, Chief Digital Officer and Group Head of Innovation. He has extensive experience across retail, working with the likes of Woolworth’s Group, Kathmandu and Pandora to drive a sustainable competitive advantage from their digital and data maturity.

He is a well-known contributor to the media industry in Australia – whether that be keynote sessions at MFA Ex, the IAB Series or the Marketing Leaders’ Summit, or his role on the MFA Interactive Committee.