From living the story to life lessons, Women in Media’s national conference is a special opportunity to hear from some of the best in the business and connect with colleagues across the country.
This is the full program, which is also available to download as well as the campus map and location for the workshops.
Register at the HSM Building and grab a coffee at the Pulse Cafe.
Head to the Basil Sellars Theatre.
Emcee Kay McGrath officially opens the national conference followed by an Acknowledgement of Country from Professor Keitha Dunstan who is a proud descendant of the Mandandanji people of south-west Queensland.
Bond University Vice Chancellor and President Professor Tim Brailsford to deliver an address to delegates.
Committee Member
Kay McGrath
Professor
Keitha Dunstan
Bond University
Professor Tim Brailsford
Committee Member
Kay McGrath
Kay McGrath is an award-winning journalist and presenter. She has presented prime time news bulletins in Queensland for 40 years.
With the Seven Network for the last 31 years, she currently presents weekend 6 o’clock news bulletins and files special interest stories.
McGrath is also passionate about social justice. She Chairs the State Government’s Domestic and Family Violence Implementation Council
She is Patron of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, Patron and co-founder of Protect all Children Today, an Ambassador for Act for Kids and Vice Patron of the Queensland Breast and Prostate Cancer Association.
In 2016, McGrath received a Queensland Clarion Award for “Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism”.
In 2017, she was awarded an OAM in recognition of her work in media and child protection.
She has a partner Richard, two adult sons, Nick and Joey, and two step daughters Leisa and Perri. (And a high maintenance but very endearing dog – Loui)
Professor
Keitha Dunstan
Professor Keitha Dunstan is a proud descendant of the Mandandanji people of south-west Queensland.
As Bond University Provost, Professor Dunstan oversees the implementation of the research, learning and teaching strategies of the University.
Her role also encompasses the Bond University College preparation and pathway programs.
She has been Chair of the Bond University Women’s Network since 2014 and was the Chair of Academic Senate 2012 – 2016.
Her first appointment at Bond was as Head of the School of Business in 2009.
Keitha is the Chair of the Queensland Independent Remuneration Tribunal, the Chair of the Board of Advice of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation, and a Non-Executive Director of the Gold Coast Waterways Authority.
Bond University
Professor Tim Brailsford
Professor Tim Brailsford, PhD FAIM FCPA SFFin, has served as the seventh President of Bond University since 2012. Bond is Australia’s first private non-profit university, opening its doors in 1989.
Prior to his appointment at Bond University, Brailsford’s career in the tertiary sector was largely with Go8 institutions including the Australian National University, Monash University and the Universities of Melbourne and Queensland. In addition, he has held numerous visiting roles in Europe, the UK, North America and China.
Among various achievements, Brailsford was the first Australian to be appointed to the North American and European Boards for accreditation of business education. He has been elected as President of several professional and learned societies; and he holds Fellowships with CPA Australia, the Australian Institute of Management and the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.
Brailsford also has experience on commercial boards, government agencies and professional committees. His interests including making sense of global economics, the transforming role of education on our youth, the role of sport in modern society and the drivers of corporate performance.
Even as media raced to keep up with the hourly updates of a global pandemic, news gatherers found themselves jumping their own hurdles as COVID struck at the heart of our industry. Content creators were forced to do the unthinkable, working from home – often in unhealthy isolation. The industry was turned on its head, with new tech challenges to overcome and production done from living rooms and kitchen tables. Initially, the work-life balance was a blur and for those separated from mentors, it seemed the only advantage was that the coffee tasted better. But has it all been bad? Or have we seen benefits? Dr Libby Sander examines global research into the COVID impact on the media industry, future hybrid working models, the science behind why Zoom meetings are exhausting and talks about how to ‘clear’ your brain and set up boundaries to help handle this work-from-home evolution.
Assistant Professor
Libby Sander
Assistant Professor
Libby Sander
Dr Libby Sander is Assistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Bond University, an Agenda Contributor at the World Economic Forum and the founder and director of the Future of Work Project and Rethink.
Libby is regularly featured on radio and in national and international media including for The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Financial Times, BBC, The Guardian, ABC, SBS, Channel 7 and 3AW Melbourne commenting on issues on work, the workplace, society and future trends in organisations.
Libby has appeared on Al Jazeera World News, Sunrise on Channel 7, ABC TV’s science program Catalyst, ABC TV’s The Drum and ABC news featuring her research. She has also spoken at TEDx .
She is a feature writer for The Conversation and her articles have had more than 2.1 million readers. Libby’s articles have been published in the Harvard Business Review, Newsweek, Fast Company, The Guardian, the BBC, the ABC, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and on SBS.
With so much disruption in the past couple of years, how do you navigate change in your own career? If you need advice on seeking out promotions and negotiating pay rises, tips on leadership, creating your own opportunities or embarking on a completely different career path, this panel of women is here to help you overcome those challenges and will discuss the things you should be asking yourself before making a big leap; the risk factors to consider and the upside to a career change. Beverley McGarvey, Kylie Blucher, Keitha Dunstan. Moderator: Victoria Laurie
Executive Vice President
Beverley McGarvey
Managing Director
Kylie Blucher
Professor
Keitha Dunstan
Senior Reporter
Victoria Laurie
Executive Vice President
Beverley McGarvey
With more than 25 years’ experience in television internationally and in Australia, Beverley McGarvey was appointed Chief Content Officer and Executive Vice President of ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand in March 2020.
Beverley possesses vast experience as an Australian media business and creative leader.
She is responsible for all content and creative activities related to the company’s networks and digital properties in Australia and New Zealand including 10, 10 Peach, 10 Bold, 10 Shake, 10 Play, 10 Speaks, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and streaming service Paramount+.
Beverley started her career in the creative team at UTV in Belfast before working in programming and production at TV3 Ireland and at ITV’s Meridian Television in England.
She later joined TV3 New Zealand, where she was Director of Programming for several years.
Before she was appointed Chief Content Officer and Executive Vice President, Beverley had been Chief Content Officer at Network 10 since 2016 and Chief Programming Officer since 2012, after joining the company as Head of Programming in 2006.
Since joining Network 10, Beverley has been responsible for the successful launch of many franchise series, including MasterChef Australia, Have You Been Paying Attention?, Gogglebox Australia, Australian Survivor, The Masked Singer Australia, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, The Living Room, Ambulance Australia, Hughesy, We Have a Problem, The Project, The Bachelor Australia, The Bachelorette Australia and Bachelor In Paradise.
With a strong and successful catalogue of Australian produced drama, under the direction of Beverley, the network has also launched successful drama series including Offspring, The Wrong Girl, Five Bedrooms, My Life Is Murder and, most recently, The Secrets She Keeps.
Beverley has encouraged and implemented several internal campaigns since taking on the role of EVP.
Beverley was responsible for driving and implementing a gender neutral paid parental leave policy. Both parents are eligible for this leave, including if both parents work at 10 ViacomCBS. She also champions the company’s All Roles Flex policy.
In late 2020, Beverley implemented a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for 10 ViacomCBS. Not only was 10 ViacomCBS the first commercial television network to implement a RAP, but it further cemented its commitment towards reconciliation with Australia’s First Peoples
In April 2021, along with co-lead Jarrod Villani, Beverley launched the 10 ViacomCBS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy, which has been shaped by a diverse group of employees across the organisation.
The action plan which celebrates diversity, fosters inclusion and builds belonging also includes making series efforts to push for areas of the industry that are less public, visible and accountable – in particular, in off-screen representation.
Managing Director
Kylie Blucher
After more than 25 years working in the television and radio industry, Kylie Blucher has gained extensive knowledge of the Australian media landscape.
Working with both Southern Cross Austereo Radio Network and the Nine Entertainment Company, Kylie has held various sales, marketing, promotions and publicity positions to become a knowledgeable, highly respected and sought-after authority within the media industry.
Prior to Kylie’s tenure with Nine, Blucher moved through the ranks within the Southern Cross Austereo Radio Network, holding executive roles in Brisbane at B105 and in Sydney at 2Day FM and Triple M.
Returning to Brisbane in 1997, Kylie began her career in television at Nine Queensland as the Marketing Director.
She swiftly moved through the programming and marketing ranks, before taking on her current position as Managing Director in 2010.
Six years later, Kylie took the helm of NBN Television in Newcastle and now holds the position of Managing Director.
Kylie has held several board positions over the past 10 years, including Major Brisbane Festival (Deputy Chair), Surf Life Saving Queensland Foundation, the Queensland Eye Institute Foundation, Youngcare, the Queensland Performing Arts Trust and currently sits on the Tourism & Events Queensland Board and is the President of the Committee for Brisbane.
Professor
Keitha Dunstan
Professor Keitha Dunstan is a proud descendant of the Mandandanji people of south-west Queensland.
As Bond University Provost, Professor Dunstan oversees the implementation of the research, learning and teaching strategies of the University.
Her role also encompasses the Bond University College preparation and pathway programs.
She has been Chair of the Bond University Women’s Network since 2014 and was the Chair of Academic Senate 2012 – 2016.
Her first appointment at Bond was as Head of the School of Business in 2009.
Keitha is the Chair of the Queensland Independent Remuneration Tribunal, the Chair of the Board of Advice of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation, and a Non-Executive Director of the Gold Coast Waterways Authority.
Senior Reporter
Victoria Laurie
Victoria Laurie is a senior reporter and feature writer for The Australian newspaper.
She worked in current affairs for ABC TV and radio and freelanced for The Bulletin, The Monthly, HQ, Australian Geographic and The Weekend Australian Magazine.
She has been a three-time Walkley feature writing finalist.
Victoria is national co-patron of Women in Media with Caroline Jones AO.
She is the author of natural history books The Kimberley: Australia’s Last Great Wilderness and The Southwest: Australia’s Biodiversity Hotspot (UWAP).
Julia Gillard was Australia’s 27th Prime Minister – the first woman to serve in the role. She currently serves as the Chair of Beyond Blue, one of Australia’s leading mental health awareness bodies; is the inaugural Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, which through research, practice and advocacy, is addressing women’s under-representation in leadership. She was recently appointed as the Chair of Wellcome, a global charitable foundation that supports science to solve urgent health challenges. Her second book Women and Leadership: Real Lives, Real Lessons is co-authored by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and was released in 2020. Her third book, Not Now, Not Ever – 10 years on from the misogyny speech, will be released on October 5, 2022.
With immediate access to a global audience and a rapidly changing media landscape, it’s a crucial time to examine what lies ahead for women working in media, as content creation in all forms takes an unexpected turn. Dr Jeffrey Brand will look to the future of virtual, social, and traditional media and demystify what the metaverse actually means for women working in the media.
Professor
Jeffrey Brand
Professor
Jeffrey Brand
Professor Jeffrey Brand has developed a distinguished career as “Australia’s leading researcher of interactive games” for his biennial 18-year-long panel studies entitled Digital Australia and Digital New Zealand on video game audiences.
The impact of this research includes the modernisation of The Classification (Publications, Film and Computer Games) Act 1995 in 2013.
He has also been awarded a National Excellence in Teaching Citation from the Australian Office of Learning and Teaching for developing a Virtual Learning Environment.
An entrepreneurial academic and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, he is the recipient of the South Australian Premier’s Award for Technology Innovation in Ageing for the design of a research-based digitally-driven positive ageing tool.
He is co-author of a 2001 book based on watershed research for the then-Australian Broadcasting Authority entitled, Sources of News and Current Affairs.
He trained at Grand Valley State University, The University of Michigan, and Michigan State University.
Meet Rosi Doviverata who is the Acting Publisher/CEO of the Fiji Sun, President of the Fijian Media Association and co-founder of Women in Media – Fiji.
Rosi Doviverata
Rosi Doviverata
Rosi Doviverata is the Acting Publisher/CEO of the Fiji Sun, President of the Fijian Media Association and co-founder of Women in Media – Fiji.
As Managing Editor – Digital and Readership Development of the Fiji Sun, she pioneered its digital expansion and leads a team building unique content for digital platforms and the daily English-language print edition.
You will hear from a panel of women who have not only broken big stories but have ensured important issues stay in the spotlight. They will reflect on how to give people a voice as well as exposing corporate, societal, and political wrongdoing. The headlines they’ve created have highlighted the importance of advocacy, protection for whistleblowers and getting cut-through when pushing for change. Virginia Tapscott, Naomi Moran, Adele Ferguson. Moderator: Narelda Jacobs
Freelancer
Virginia Taspcott
General Manager
Naomi Moran
Journalist
Adele Ferguson
Presenter
Narelda Jacobs
Freelancer
Virginia Taspcott
Virginia Tapscott is a freelance journalist based in regional NSW. She writes for a number of national platforms including The Australian and has recently produced a podcast, My Sisters Secrets, which has a million downloads.
Virginia started her career in Mount Isa as a reporter for the ABC and later worked at an independently owned rural newspaper.
In 2019, she was named the Caroline Jones Women in Media Young Journalist of the Year.
General Manager
Naomi Moran
Naomi Moran is a Nyangbal, Arakwal and Dunghutti woman from New South Wales, and is the General Manager of Australia’s only independent Indigenous newspaper, the Koori Mail.
Her career in Indigenous media spans over 20 years, and includes experience in print, television and radio.
At just fourteen years old, Naomi joined the Koori Mail as a trainee office worker, which resulted in a 10-year journey working for the paper in various roles and departments throughout the business including advertising, sales, marketing and editorial.
In 2008 she pursued her career goals in Indigenous Media, joining the communications team at NITV, Australia’s only Indigenous TV station, and then went on to explore working in radio with a joint position with both the Brisbane Indigenous Media Association and the National Indigenous Radio Service, in Brisbane.
In April 2016, Naomi returned to the Koori Mail, with the Koori Mail Board of Directors appointing her as General Manager.
Naomi is passionate about supporting Indigenous youth with employment and career pathways, by developing and delivering in-school programs and mentoring for students throughout the northern NSW region.
She has recently led a community response to the recovery and relief efforts of the Lismore community during the devastating floods throughout the region.
Journalist
Adele Ferguson
Adele Ferguson is a multi-award winning senior business writer and columnist for The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian Financial Review.
She is a regular guest reporter on ABC’s Four Corners ,7.30 and 60 Minutes.
She is the author of the best-selling unauthorised biography on Gina Rinehart, the richest woman in Australia, and Banking Bad: One journalist’s fight for the truth.
She is a strong advocate for improving whistleblower protections and giving vulnerable people a voice.
Her investigations into the banks helped bring about a royal commission into the sector and her investigation into wage fraud resulted in changes to the law and companies to compensate workers. 7 Eleven paid workers more than $150 million in backpay. Her cosmetic cowboys expose into the cosmetic surgery industry triggered a series of inquiries.
Adele started her career in journalism at The Advertiser in Adelaide.
She is chair of the Walkley Foundation and was previously president of the Melbourne Press Club.
Adele has a Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Adelaide University.
Her journalism awards include eight Walkley awards including the Gold Walkley, a series of Quill awards including two Gold Quill Awards, a series of Kennedy Awards including two Gold Kennedy Awards, a Logie, National Press Club awards including Journalist of the Year and the Graham Perkin Journalist of the Year.
In 2019, Adele was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
Presenter
Narelda Jacobs
Narelda Jacobs is a Whadjuk Noongar journalist and presenter at Network 10’s Studio 10 and 10 News First Perth. She’s also the co-host of The Point at NITV.
Narelda has been a fixture at Network 10 since 2000, spending 19 years in the Perth newsroom as a reporter and news presenter before heading to Sydney in 2020.
Narelda has shared the stage with prime ministers, international leaders and humanitarian advocates.
She’s passionate about promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and is on the board of the Walkley Foundation and Dame Changer
She’s an adviser for Football Australia, an Ambassador of MND Assoc of WA, The Pinnacle Foundation, and WAALI Foundation.
Women in Media will have a special tribute to Caroline Jones AO – our deeply missed co-patron who was a trailblazer and believed there was a “special place in heaven for women who help other women”.
Former UK Channel 4’s Editor-at-Large Dorothy Byrne is passionate about working to develop the careers of women in media. After many decades advocating for truth and ethics in the media, the veteran journalist shares her advice for a successful career, no matter what stage of the journey you’re at.
Cambridge University
Dorothy Byrne
Cambridge University
Dorothy Byrne
Dorothy Byrne became the sixth President of Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge in September 2021.
Prior to joining the College, she was Editor at Large at Channel 4, a role that was specially created for her after she stepped down as Head of News and Current Affairs after 15 years.
During her time at Channel 4, she was responsible for news and current affairs programs that have had a national and global impact, winning her numerous international awards.
Panellists talk about their career paths, highlights, low points and give tips on navigating a career in media and how to truly connect with an audience. Their anecdotes will be packed with advice, from the importance of mentors to juggling work/life balance; taking risks and the lessons that they have learned the hard way. Natalie Barr, Tangiora Hinaki, Lisa Muxworthy, Annabelle Hickson. Moderator Emma Macdonald.
Sunrise Co-host
Natalie Barr
CEO
Tangiora Hinaki
Editor-in-Chief
Lisa Muxworthy
Editor-in-chief and Publisher
Annabelle Hickson
Associate Editor
Emma Macdonald
Sunrise Co-host
Natalie Barr
Natalie Barr is co-host of Australia’s hit breakfast TV show Sunrise. Before being appointed co-host alongside David Koch early last year, she was the Sunrise newsreader for 18 years where she travelled the globe reporting on some of the world’s biggest stories.
Natalie was born and raised in the small West Australian city of Bunbury. After graduating Bunbury Catholic College, she moved to Perth to study journalism at Curtin University. From there she secured a cadetship on the community newspaper The Wanneroo Times for a couple of years before being lured to television and the Golden West Network in Kalgoorlie.
From regional newspaper and television work, Natalie returned to Perth where she worked on breakfast radio for six months and freelanced for the Nine Network.
She then moved to the US where she worked for several years in Los Angeles at stations KABC, KTLA and KCOP. She won a Golden Mic for Best Newscast Writing in 1994 and a Los Angeles Area Emmy Award nomination for her work on KCOP’s coverage of the OJ Simpson car chase.
On returning home to Australia, Natalie started as the Sunrise newsreader in 2003.
During nearly two decades she has covered Australia’s headline stories from fires and floods to heartwarming stories which captured the nation. The role also meant she had a bag packed ready to jump on a plane to report on the world’s biggest news stories from the devastating Japanese earthquake and tsunami and the Nice terror attack to the Manchester bombing and the inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States.
She also covered the past couple of US presidential elections live from Washington – with the 2020 trip during the height of the pandemic – and returned to the US this year for the Oscars Red Carpet!
When not at work Natalie, spends her time with her husband and two children.
CEO
Tangiora Hinaki
Tangiora Hinaki hails from renowned families of the eastern tribes of the North Island – Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Porou and is a citizen of both Aotearoa (NZ) and Australia.
In the 90s, Tangiora worked as a wool-classer across Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia.
She finally settled down in WA, where she and her husband ran Awesome Shearing Services in Dalwallinu.
In 2005, she and her husband travelled in a bus with six children to explore Australia but only got as far as the Pilbara.
It was here where she found her dream job – “chasing story narratives” across the North West and it all started at Ngaarda Media.
She then went on to work at ABC Pilbara in Karratha for eight years as a content creator and her passion for telling Aboriginal stories of the Dreaming, lead her back to Ngaarda Media, as CEO of the only indigenous media hub in the Pilbara.
Tangiora received a scholarship to attend the Leadership WA Rising program in 2020 which has added to her skillset of overseeing 20 volunteers and six employees.
In 2014, Tangiora’s first documentary that she created with Yindjibarndi women was released and screened on NITV in 2020 and 2021 called ‘Gifts of the Marrga’.
Editor-in-Chief
Lisa Muxworthy
Lisa Muxworthy is the editor-in-chief of Australia’s leading news site news.com.au.
She began her career in community journalism more than 20 years ago. After years of reporting on politics, health and general news,
Ms Muxworthy edited The Southern Courier, The Mosman Daily and The Manly Daily before joining news.com.au as deputy editor in 2012.
She became editor in 2017 and moved into her new role in late 2020.
Editor-in-chief and Publisher
Annabelle Hickson
Annabelle Hickson is Editor-in-Chief and publisher of Galah. She started her writing career as a news reporter for The Australian newspaper in Sydney and Brisbane before a handsome farmer in a small aircraft lured her out west to a grazing farm which they transformed into Australia’s second largest pecan orchard.
During this time, Annabelle wrote a regular monthly column at Country Style magazine, she co-created a podcast called Dispatch to a Friend that was named as one of iTunes Australia’s Top 10 podcasts for 2018 and published a book called A Tree in the House (Hardie Grant), which has been translated into German, Dutch and Chinese.
Now Galah is her focus. Galah is an award-winning cultural magazine for people who care about regional Australia. Over three issues each year, Galah celebrates regional Australia and the creative, diverse and innovative people who live here.
Annabelle brings together a first-hand understanding of life in both regional Australia and the city, as well as proven expertise in journalism and community-building.
And most of all, Annabelle brings passion to this project to tell diverse and exciting stories from regional Australia.
Associate Editor
Emma Macdonald
After 23 years as a newspaper journalist, Emma Macdonald OAM moved to the online media platform HerCanberra in 2016 where she is Associate Editor. Emma began her journalistic career with the Australian Financial Review before moving to The Canberra Times where she spent 13 years covering federal politics from the Press Gallery, rising to become bureau chief.
Emma has won numerous awards for her work – these include two Walkley Awards (1993, 2003) and selection as a national Walkley finalist (2001).
She was awarded the John Douglas British Prize for Journalism in 1998, and in 2002 was awarded a Vincent Fairfax Ethics in Leadership Fellowship.
She was highly commended for her political journalism through the Paul Lyneham Press Gallery Journalism Award in 2002 and was recognised as a University of Canberra Distinguished Alumni in 2011.
She has been published widely, from The Times (UK) to the Business Standard (India), to Cosmopolitan Magazine.
She is dedicated to promoting women in media – becoming convenor of Women in Media Canberra in 2015. In this role, Emma hosts regular live broadcast National Press Club addresses and founded the Caroline Jones Women in Media Young Journalists Award which is now in its sixth year.
Emma has also been a Walkley Award judge across various categories and has mentored a series of journalists throughout her career.
A mother of two, Emma co-founded the maternal health charity Send Hope Not Flowers in 2010, shortly after the birth of her now 12-year-old daughter.
In 2016, she won an ACT Telstra Business Woman of the Year Award for Send Hope’s work which has raised more than $1 million for safe birth programs and maternal health training across nine developing countries.
In the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2022, Emma was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to journalism and women.
After the challenging life circumstances many women have faced during the pandemic, psychologist Dr Peta Stapleton gives practical tips on how to move beyond resilience to reclaim creativity and meaning in their professional and personal lives.
Associate Professor
Peta Stapleton
Associate Professor
Peta Stapleton
Dr Peta Stapleton is a registered clinical/health Psychologist and Associate Professor at Bond University (Australia) who embraces evidence-based and innovative techniques.
Peta is a world-leading researcher in Emotional Freedom Techniques (‘Tapping’) and led a world-first study investigating brain changes after EFT.
She was awarded the Harvey Baker Research Award for meticulous research (Association of Comprehensive Energy Psychology), and was named 2019 Psychologist of the Year (Australian Allied Health Awards).
Peta has authored The Science Behind Tapping: A Proven Stress Management Technique for the Mind and Body (Hay House), which won Best Self-Help Book (2019 Best Book Awards, American Book Fest).
The official program wraps so head to the amphitheatre for drinks and a special jazz performance by The Australian’s fashion editor Glynis Traill-Nash.
Fashion Editor
Glynis Traill-Nash
Fashion Editor
Glynis Traill-Nash
Glynis Traill-Nash is the fashion editor of The Australian and one of the country’s most highly regarded fashion writers and commentators.
She has previously held fashion editor roles at The Sunday Telegraph, The Sun Herald and In Style.
Her engaging, informative – and opinionated – writing has also appeared in titles including Vogue Australia, Vogue Business, Vogue China, The Sydney Morning Herald and Harper’s Bazaar.
She has long led a double life as a jazz singer, performing in clubs, venues and events in Sydney and Perth.
While living in London, she performed at Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza on the Park, and took her one-woman show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
She also sang at Val Doonican’s 70th birthday party, which possibly pleased her parents more than any other achievements.
Optional: Is your mind more full than mindful? Interested in meditation but don’t have the time? Join us at 8am on day two for a relaxing, guided meditation. Led by Ann Lund, former QUT Journalism lecturer and winner of the 2021 Clarion Award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism, it will be the perfect start to your day. This is open to everyone – whatever level of experience you have with meditation – and especially for beginners.
Women in Media co-chair Kathy McLeish presents key takeouts from a 2022 WiM report into industry research on challenges facing women in media. Kathy will be joined by project leads ‘people connector’ Jude Batrac and high-power problem-solver Michelle Francis, and Relaunch participants Alice Gorman and Ashlynne McGhee on the lessons they learned from the career-changing program, which are take-home lessons for every woman in media.
Relaunch Project
Jude Batrac
Michelle Francis
Meet
Alice Gorman
Meet
Ashlynne McGhee
Women in Media co-chair
Kathy McLeish
Relaunch Project
Jude Batrac
Jude Batrac’s career in marketing and sales spans three countries, a diverse set of sectors and is defined by her obsession with understanding audiences.
Jude is a people connector, storyteller and an advocate for gender equality.
She is a fully accredited Executive Coach and founder of the networking initiative Table of Thought, designed to help women drive their careers and helps drive the agenda for Coca-Cola’s Gender Balance Inclusion Network.
Jude holds a BA in Communications, a Mini MBA in Marketing and the proud title of mother to her two-year-old daughter Quinn.
Michelle Francis
Michelle Francis is the lead of the Relaunch Project – a Women in Media and Google News Initiative program to support women seeking to return to the media workforce.
She is an experienced digital native with a demonstrated history of working in the marketing and advertising industry.
She is skilled in digital strategy, advertising, integrated marketing, digital marketing, team management and media buying.
Meet
Alice Gorman
In what seems another lifetime (many years ago) I won a Walkley Award for journalism and spent 20 years working in mainstream print media.
More recently I’ve juggled motherhood with my work as a consultant in agri-tourism and food tourism promotion, and in a broad communications, marketing, customer relations, packaging and new product development role for our fresh vegetable farming business.
I wanted to be part of the Relaunch Project because it’s time to return to storytelling and explore the professional opportunities available in the next stage of my life.
Meet
Ashlynne McGhee
I’m an investigative reporter at the ABC and Vice President of the Melbourne Press Club.
I’ve broken stories for the ABC’s flagship current affairs show 7.30, worked in the Canberra press gallery, reported as a VJ from remote parts of Australia and overseas and dipped my toe in investigative comedy (it’s a thing).
I’ve also worked really hard to develop programs that support young journalists, like the press club’s mentoring program and training series The Edit.
I have a few shiny awards that I treasure as valued recognition from my peers, including a Quill award, a fellowship from the US-based Investigative Reporters and Editors and two Walkley nominations.
I wanted to be a part of the Relaunch Project because it’s about bloody time we embraced, supported and championed women during one of the biggest transitions we face.
Women in Media co-chair
Kathy McLeish
Kathy McLeish has reported and produced widely across ABC programs including 7.30 Qld, 7.30, Landline and Australian Story.
She has won significant awards for her work which includes an investigative series that sparked a $60m overhaul of youth mental health services.
She’s currently working with the ABC’s top-rating television program Back Roads.
She’s also a trustee of the MEAA Media Safety and Solidarity Fund.
Newsrooms today are often made up of more female journalists than males, and female students dominate journalism tertiary courses. Yet, most positions of news leadership are still in the grip of men. And data reveals that news produced by contemporary journalists is ‘overwhelmingly about men’. Numerous studies from around the world have found that men comprise about 70 per cent of people quoted in news coverage. Australia is no exception. Why is this so? And how can journalists and other media professionals turn this situation around? Academic and journalist Dr Kathryn Shine talks about her work which aims to actively increase women’s voices in the news.
Senior Lecturer in Journalism
Kathryn Shine
Senior Lecturer in Journalism
Kathryn Shine
Dr Kathryn Shine is a Senior Lecturer in Journalism at Curtin University, where she has worked since 2005. Dr Shine’s recent research has focused on the inclusion and portrayal of women in the news.
She is currently collaborating with the ABC on a project to support and encourage more women to provide media commentary.
Dr Shine has previously worked at news outlets including The Sunday Times Magazine (STM), The Sun Herald and The Australian, and she continues to work as a freelance journalist and moderator.
She teaches news and feature writing and edits the Curtin Journalism news site, Western Independent.
Dr Shine is regularly interviewed by the news media and received the Most Prolific Media Commentator award for Curtin’s Faculty of Humanities in 2020.
With finances front and centre as the pandemic unfolded, people were desperate for independent and trustworthy information – and personal finance expert and author Nicole Pedersen–McKinnon gave it to them. Setting herself a mission to help, her fast and funny social media explainers went viral, reaching nearly a million Aussies. Diagnosed with breast cancer early last year, then a marital split, Nicole is even more passionate about being a financially-secure female. Her session on expanding your financial knowledge to create wealth – including easy, faster and cheaper strategies to obliterate a mortgage – will also remove the mystery (and misogyny) from money… and help future-proof your life.
Independent money expert
Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon
Independent money expert
Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon
Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon is a long-time money commentator and educator across newspapers, online and on radio and television, and in high schools around Australia.
She is also the author of the best-selling new book, How to Get Mortgage-Free Like Me, in which real Aussies reveal how they’ve accomplished the real Australian dream faster, smarter and cheaper.
Nicole was formerly editor then editor-at-large of The Australian Financial Review’s Smart Investor magazine and her money insights have now appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald/Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age newspapers, and on all related websites, for more than 15 years.
She has won the awards for best personal finance and investment journalist in Australia and the United Kingdom, respectively, and – usually – travels the country giving speeches and emceeing events, including on multiple occasions at Canberra’s Parliament House.
In the crazy coronavirus times alongside plenty of TV appearances and Zoom presentations, Nicole dedicated herself to giving free social media updates on the financial help available, which were shared and viewed by more than half a million people.
She also went public with her recent breast cancer fight and victory, to try and help other women get diagnosed early.
During her distinguished career in media, journalist turned business leader Marina Go knew the importance of thinking ahead. Strategically plotting her career path was key to ensuring her skillset remained diverse, enabling her to maximise future opportunities. Having written a book, completed an MBA and then embarked on a board career, Marina explains that while women in media have in-demand skills – such as an ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, communicate effectively and digest a lot of information quickly – career planning and upskilling is essential when it comes to making a professional move.
Non-executive Director
Marina Go
Non-executive Director
Marina Go
Marina Go is Chair of Adore Beauty and Netball Australia and a non-executive director on the boards of Energy Australia, 7-Eleven, Autosports Group and Transurban.
She is a member of UNSW’s Business Advisory Council and ANU’s Centre for Asian-Australian Leadership (CAAL) Advisory Board, and author of the business book for women, Break Through: 20 Success Strategies for Female Leaders.
Marina is a co-founder of Tonic, a website that gives a voice to women over 45, and Women’s Agenda, a website about female leadership.
Boss magazine named Marina as one of the 20 True Leaders of 2016.
Marina has over 30 years of leadership experience in the media industry, having started her career as a journalist. Marina’s media executive roles included Private Media CEO and Country CEO of Hearst Australia. Marina is also a former Chair of the Wests Tigers NRL Club, Super Netball Commission, The Walkley Foundation and Ovarian Cancer Australia and was the inaugural Chair of the UTS Centre for Media Transition Advisory Board.
She is a member of O’Connell Street Associates, CEW and the AICD and is a mother of two adult sons. She has been actively progressing equitable outcomes for women and culturally diverse Australians in her working life and as a volunteer for more than three decades.
Change comes in many shapes and for women can be a double-edged sword as they endeavour to find that work-life balance. This next panel has a depth of experience in navigating career stages and fulfilling women’s potential beyond the traditional roles of carers, wives, mothers, and grandmothers. Perhaps most importantly, they will reveal how to avoid burnout (and ensure longevity!). Our speakers will discuss why we need greater focus on women’s development and potential; how ‘mature women’ are talked about within the media and will give tips on creating the life you want, at whatever life stage you’re at. We welcome Faith Agugu, Karen Koh, Christine Jackman, and Sam Trattles. Moderator: Sandra Sully.
Founder
Faith Agugu
Owner
Karen Koh
Author and Journalist
Christine Jackman
Strategic Deals Negotiator
Sam Trattles
Anchor
Sandra Sully
Founder
Faith Agugu
After migrating from her native Nigeria and attending school in London, Faith Agugu was attracted to a life of service in her youth.
Her first job after leaving school was working as a volunteer in a not-for-profit organisation in London, working with children from troubled backgrounds.
Her love of creativity and fashion inspired her to spend the next three decades in the fashion industry, working as a catwalk model then launching her own business, Raw Fashion Agency in her new home country, Australia, nurturing and representing local fashion designers.
Faith discovered her love of education in her teaching role at FBI Fashion College in 2006.
Approaching her 50th birthday, Faith heeded the siren call to return to her early roots and help others.
The perfect poster girl for midlife reinvention, Faith obtained her Bachelor Degree in Social Science, majoring in counselling and psychotherapy.
She currently does healing work with her female clients at her private practice, The Healing Process, to tackle the challenges of menopause and midlife.
In 2018, Faith launched Silver Sirens, Redefining Ageing, creating an age-positive community to challenge the negative narrative that surrounds women and ageing.
Owner
Karen Koh
Karen Koh is an international television and radio journalist and presenter. She has worked in TV and radio in Singapore, London and Hong Kong, and is a familiar face and voice to viewers and listeners in Asia.
Her background is in news and current affairs, and she has reported and anchored for BBC World, CNBC Asia, CNN International, Thomson Reuters, WSJ Digital and RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong).
She is the producer and co-host of The Agender Café on RTHK, an award-winning radio show focused on a wide range of issues around gender, sex, sexuality and society.
Karen is also a professional MC, and frequently hosts a variety of events, including The Women’s Foundation HK’s Annual Gala, the Mind HK Mental Health conference, the Asian Financial Forum, the WHO’s Global Vaccine and Immunization Research Forum, and Euronext’s ESG Summit.
She also moderates private events for clients in the financial services, luxury and consulting sectors.
Karen is also employed as a Communications Specialist with New York-based Clarity Media Group, and runs presentation and media training skills courses for a wide range of international corporate clients.
She also coaches TEDx speakers for TEDxTinHauWomen’s annual speaker events.
She is on the board of directors of EngenderHealth, a Washington DC based NGO that works in the field of global women’s and girls sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Karen is also a certified yoga instructor, and standup paddle (SUP) and SUP Yoga instructor. She is married with three sons.
Author and Journalist
Christine Jackman
Christine Jackman is an author, journalist and communications consultant. Her love of a good yarn has taken her from a newspaper cadetship in Brisbane to a posting as a foreign correspondent in New York, and to the Federal Press Gallery.
She is a Walkley finalist and has won a number of journalism awards, including a Quill, for her feature writing.
Her work has been published in The Australian/Weekend Australian Magazine, Good Weekend (Sydney Morning Herald/The Age), Vogue and the Australian Women’s Weekly.
In her consultancy work, Christine offers strategic counsel and communications expertise drawn from her experience covering news in high-pressure environments.
She is now as familiar with the boardroom as she was with the newsroom, and has advised a wide range of political and business leaders.
Her first book, Inside Kevin07, documented the 2007 federal election campaign and victory by the Labor Party, led by Kevin Rudd.
More recently, Christine has been struck by how external noise and digital distractions can erode our wellbeing, undermining our capacity for creative or innovative work.
Her latest book, Turning Down the Noise, explores that modern phenomenon.
A passionate advocate for the arts, she currently serves on the board of the Brisbane Writers Festival.
Christine lives in Brisbane with her two teenage sons, her partner Peter, their Labrador and a disgruntled cat.
Her life is very rarely quiet.
Strategic Deals Negotiator
Sam Trattles
As our Founder and Strategic Deals Negotiator, Sam Trattles’ mission is to help more people learn to love negotiating by changing how we approach it – seeking what’s fair and reasonable (not by winning or losing).
Prior to starting Other Side, Sam enjoyed a corporate marketing career, specialising in sponsorships, for close to two decades across Australia and the UK.
She held senior leadership roles for brands including Telstra and PricewaterhouseCoopers and has negotiated and leveraged over $500 million worth of deals. As a result, she’s one of the most skilled commercial negotiators in Australia.
Sam’s negotiator style is strategic, inclusive, and pragmatic. She likes to challenge the status quo through curiosity, listening with intent and being a straight shooter. Her thought leadership is practical and accessible so people, all around the world, can confidently negotiate their worth.
Anchor
Sandra Sully
Sandra Sully is one of the most recognised and respected faces on Australian television.
A journalist, senior editor and presenter with Ten Eyewitness News First at Five, she has been part of the TEN News team since 1990.
Sandra celebrated her 25th anniversary at the network in 2015.
She is also a highly sought-after MC for events and conferences.
Two of the country’s most influential and inspirational journalists Leigh Sales and Lisa Millar quiz each other about their journeys – from how they have tackled perfectionism and fear to navigating change and finding purpose.
Journalist
Leigh Sales
ABC News Breakfast Co-host
Lisa Millar
Journalist
Leigh Sales
From 2011-2022, Leigh Sales AM anchored the ABC’s nightly current affairs program 7.30. She has extensive experience in journalism, including as a foreign correspondent and author of four books.
She has innumerable awards, including three Walkleys and an Order of Australia for services to broadcast journalism.
ABC News Breakfast Co-host
Lisa Millar
Lisa Millar is the co-host of ABC TV’s News Breakfast. She returned to the ABC in Australia after finishing a decade-long posting as bureau chief in both London and Washington DC, covering some of the world’s biggest stories.
She began her career at the Gympie Times in 1988 and has worked in print, TV and radio.
She won a Walkley Award in 2005 for investigative reporting.
Party like a rockstar. Women in Media has organised buses to transfer delegates to The Star for post-conference drinks and networking.
Bond UniversityFoundation Partner
As Australia’s first private non-profit university, Bond University seeks to be recognised internationally as a leading independent university, imbued with a spirit to innovate, a commitment to influence and a dedication to inspire tomorrow’s professionals who share a personalised and transformational student experience.
Media Partner
ABC
Supporting Sponsor
Judith Neilson Institute
Supporting Sponsor
The Star Gold Coast
Partner
Queensland Government
Supporting Sponsor
Bartley Cohen
Supporting Sponsor
The Trade Desk
Supporting Sponsor
7News
Supporting Sponsor
Network 10
Supporting Sponsor
Sally Prosser Voice Coach
Media Partner
ABC
The ABC has been an essential part of Australian culture and society for 90 years.
It exists to ensure that all Australians have access to independent news and information that serves the public interest.
It supports and promotes Australian culture and the work of its creative industries.
It helps education, promotes science, and provides Australian perspectives on issues and events to global audiences.
The ABC’s purpose is to support Australian culture and society by providing essential media services.
This is given expression through the ABC Charter, which sets out how the ABC must serve its audiences and have a positive impact on Australian life and communities.
Supporting Sponsor
Judith Neilson Institute
The Judith Neilson Institute supports and celebrates quality journalism and storytelling around the world. Its grants and education programs equip journalists with the resources they need to produce outstanding work. Its events are forums to discuss the issues shaping the world.
Supporting Sponsor
The Star Gold Coast
Discover the coastal chic at its finest with the suite of accommodation offerings at The Star Gold Coast resort.
Partner
Queensland Government
The Queensland Government’s Office for Women leads gender equality reforms and delivers projects that support government and industry to promote and protect women’s rights, interests and wellbeing.
Supporting Sponsor
Bartley Cohen
Bartley Cohen has more than 20 years of experience representing companies and individuals in their most complex and challenging legal matters.
The primary focus of the firm’s practice is disputes and litigation. The firm’s partners and solicitors have extensive experience in all aspects of disputes and commercial litigation. In addition, the firm regularly advises clients in various aspects of corporate and commercial matters.
Bartley Cohen represents or has represented a range of media outlets including Seven Network, Nine Network, Ten Network/CBS, ABC, SBS and News Limited.
Supporting Sponsor
The Trade Desk
Trusted journalism. Premium streaming TV. One-click commerce. All these amazing online experiences thrive on an open internet. And they’re all fueled by relevant advertising.
That’s why the Trade Desk has created an independent media buying platform designed for the open internet. One that helps marketers reach more customers in more places, with more transparency and choice at every stage — from planning to pricing to performance.
At its best, the internet is an open marketplace of ideas, content, and commerce. And the Trade Desk intends on keeping it that way. Because the open internet matters.
Supporting Sponsor
7News
7News is all about creating conversation, connection and community by delivering you news that is first, fast and factual.
7News unique local pages allow it to target local news content to specific cities through a dedicated team of journalists in newsrooms across the country and around the world.
Supporting Sponsor
Network 10
So, who are we? We’re Paramount Australia & New Zealand, a division of Paramount.
Our vision is simple. We deliver content that is premium and differentiated to the young and young at heart in the way they want it via an enhanced viewing ecosystem.
What does that even mean? Put simply, we’ve got all the shows you love (and love to hate) right here. We create content that gets people talking.
Supporting Sponsor
Sally Prosser Voice Coach
If you think voice and presentation coaching is formal, complicated and scary – think again.
That’s not my style.
Practical, relatable tips are the name of my game and it’s not unusual to find me toasting the good vibes in my love heart sunglasses while lip-syncing on TikTok.
As a former TV news reporter, company spokesperson and qualified speech and drama teacher, I have extensive experience and knowledge about all things voice and presentation.