Jury Revealed For AWARD Lab GenAI Sprint
The inaugural AWARD Lab GenAI Sprint, a joint effort by AWARD, Leonardo.AI and the Outdoor Media Association, invites AWARD Crash and AWARD Uni alumni to craft AI‑enhanced campaign concepts for a live non‑profit brief. A distinguished jury, chaired by R/GA’s Ben Cooper, includes senior creatives from Saatchi & Saatchi, Ogilvy, Leo Australia and other leading agencies. The competition emphasizes invisible GenAI technology paired with unmistakable human ingenuity. The winning entry will be deployed across premium digital out‑of‑home locations nationwide.
Jameson Pours Itself Into AFL Gather Round With The Idea Shed
Irish whiskey maker Jameson partnered with creative agency The Idea Shed to launch the Jameson Clubhouse at AFL Gather Round, converting Adelaide’s Highway Hotel into an immersive fan destination. The activation featured a Tribute Booth for fan‑generated video tributes, an...
RYOBI Repositions Itself As A DIY Partner In New ‘Come Equipped’ Campaign Via Special
RYOBI, owned by Techtronic Industries, unveiled the "Come Equipped" brand platform in Australia and New Zealand, positioning the tool maker as a lifelong DIY partner rather than a mere product supplier. The campaign’s centerpiece, the hero film "The Gateway," follows a...
‘The Gatekeepers Have Changed’: Glu Says AI Now Decides Which Brands Get Seen
Glu.ai, a Shopify‑native platform, has introduced its Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) service in Australia to help brands appear in AI‑generated answer engines such as ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Perplexity. The offering targets mid‑market merchants, promising that clear, structured...
Gate 7 Wins South African Tourism Account
Gate 7 has been selected as the public‑relations and communications agency for South African Tourism in Australia and New Zealand. The Sydney‑based firm will manage earned media, social and broader communications to boost awareness and visitation. Australian arrivals to South Africa reached...
TV Ratings (14/4/2026): Survivor & Australian Idol Go Head-To-Head In GF Showdown
Seven’s Australian Idol grand final became the night’s most‑watched entertainment program, pulling 1.9 million viewers and an average audience of 1.088 million. Winner Kesha Oayda walked away with roughly US$66 k, a recording deal, marketing support and other perks. Across the dial, Network 10’s...
RSPCA Pet Insurance Launches New Brand Platform ‘We Know Animals’ Via Saatchi & Saatchi Australia
RSPCA Pet Insurance has unveiled a new brand platform called “We Know Animals,” developed with Saatchi & Saatchi Australia and Atomic 212°. The platform leverages the RSPCA’s long‑standing credibility to position the insurer as the pet‑owner’s most knowledgeable caretaker. Production, led by Publicis...
Cadbury Debuts ‘&MORE’, Its Most Significant Brand Debut In More Than A Decade
Cadbury has unveiled &MORE, its most significant brand debut in over ten years, targeting Australian chocolate lovers seeking heightened indulgence. The line introduces five premium flavors—Hazelnut Praline, Tiramisu Swirl, Caramel Crème Brûlée, Roasted Macadamia and Raspberry Cheesecake—each featuring larger pieces, richer...
Ex-Mars, Global Growth Powerhouse Najoh Tita-Reid Confirmed For Crocs
Cairns Crocodiles, the marketing festival presented by Pinterest, has confirmed former Mars Petcare global chief growth officer Najoh Tita‑Reid as a keynote speaker for its 2026 program. Tita‑Reid, celebrated for integrating AI, creativity and data‑driven strategy at brands like Mars...
Fast 10: Initiative’s Paige Wheaton On Backing Bold Ideas And Building Team Culture
Paige Wheaton, national managing director of Initiative, steered the agency through a major transformation over the past 18 months, applying her investment‑trading mindset to drive disciplined, rapid decisions. She emphasizes building a culture where safe experimentation fuels bold, commercially grounded...
‘You Know As Much As Anyone Else’: Jun Lee Sia’s Message To Young Women Entering Tech Industry
Jun Lee Sia, marketing leader at carsales.com.au, was honored at the 2026 Women Leading Tech Awards for spearheading the company’s most significant brand refresh in its 25‑year history. The refresh lifted brand awareness to 93%, grew the Gen Z audience by...
Weekend Ratings (10-12/04/2026): Bec Releases Fury At MAFS Reunion Dinner Party
The penultimate episode of Nine’s "Married at First Sight" reunion dinner attracted a national average audience of 1,974,000 and topped three million total viewers. The segment featured Bec confronting ex‑husband Danny and his flirtation with contestant Stephanie, sparking a heated...
‘Doesn’t Have the Financial Resources’: Media Analyst Warns Nine About Keeping NRL Rights
Morningstar analyst Brian Han warned Nine Entertainment that its upcoming NRL rights renewal could strain finances as the current deal expires after the 2027 grand final. He highlighted Nine's shrinking market cap—down to roughly $1.6 billion from $4.96 billion in 2021—and a...
When AI Removes Friction, Marketing Becomes More Human
Sam Hoare’s op‑ed highlights a rapid surge in AI adoption across marketing, with 96% of CMOs flagging AI as a priority. Yet only 65% of firms are making substantive investments, and just 18% report reduced reliance on developers. The Atlantic...
Activist Group Urges Advertisers To Cut Support For Kyle Sandilands, Calls On Seven To End Australian Idol Contract
Activist group Mad F***ing Witches (MFW) has launched a fresh campaign urging advertisers to withdraw support from Kyle Sandilands and press Seven Network to end his contract on Australian Idol. Sandilands, returning as a judge for the 2026 season, remains under...
One NZ’s ‘Finding Jade’ Campaign Returns Via McCann
One New Zealand has launched the third chapter of its “Finding Jade” campaign, produced by McCann New Zealand. The new instalment follows Jade and his friend Pepper on a cross‑country quest to locate Jade’s biological father, filmed entirely in New Zealand and featuring...
Ex-PHD Boss Simon Lawson Launches Media Advisory With Principal Media In Crosshairs
Former PHD Australia MD Simon Lawson has founded Chilon Media Governance, an independent advisory firm aimed at helping advertisers recover lost value and improve transparency in complex media supply chains. Leveraging his two‑decade experience at Omnicom and Publicis, Lawson’s firm...
Audible Taps BookTok Star Luke Bateman To Engage Gen Z & Young Men
Audible has appointed Australian former NRL player and podcast host Luke Bateman as its new ambassador to drive audiobook adoption among Gen Z, especially young men. Bateman will front launches, events and social‑first content that showcase titles like Andy Weir’s *Project Hail Mary*. The initiative...
Rethinking Agency Internships: Building Fair Pathways For Creative Talent
The op‑ed argues that Australia’s media and creative sectors still rely on unpaid internships, a practice that, while legal under narrow Fair Work provisions, often blurs the line between learning and free labour. This model excludes candidates without financial support,...
Your Programmatic Budget Is Feeding A Ghost Economy
Dan Johns of Tumbleturn Marketing warns that a massive portion of programmatic ad spend never reaches real users, instead flowing to bots, fake sites, and opaque exchanges. Global bot traffic topped human traffic in 2024, with 51% of all visits...
Karla Judge On The Value Of Mentoring Women In Media
Karla Judge, head of marketing tourism at Ingenia Communities Group, contributed to IMAA’s Female Leaders of Tomorrow series, emphasizing the power of mentorship for women in media and marketing. She highlights how formal mentorship shaped her own career and how...
‘Insight Deflation’: The Lab Co-Founders Explain Why More Data Can Mean Less Clarity
The Lab’s co‑founders Neale Cotton and Paul Labagnara label the surge of data and AI‑driven analysis as “insight deflation,” where abundant information clouds true consumer understanding. They argue AI can process massive datasets but cannot translate inconsistent, subconscious human behavior...
TV Ratings (9/4/2026): 1.4M People Tune Into The NRL For A ‘Famous Night’
The NRL broadcast of the Canterbury‑Bankstown Bulldogs’ 16‑point victory over the Penrith Panthers attracted more than 1.4 million viewers, with a national average audience of 699,000. The upset ended the Panthers’ five‑game winning streak and marked the Bulldogs’ third win of...
‘Wasting A Lot Of Budget’: Heatseeker’s New CTO On Why Guessing Without Testing Is Failing Marketers
Heatseeker has appointed former Google AI leader Kawal Gandhi as chief technology officer, signaling a push to replace traditional survey‑based market research with AI‑driven behavioural experiments. The platform runs live “ghost ads” on social media to capture real clicks, sign‑ups...
Sportsbet Pulls NRL Fundraising Campaign Over Commercial Conflicts
Sportsbet has withdrawn its annual NRL "Try July" fundraising campaign after clubs raised concerns that on‑field celebrations would clash with existing betting sponsors. The program promised to donate AU$5,000 (≈US$3,300) per try and has raised nearly AU$2 million (≈US$1.3 million) for the Australian...
Le Purée Taps Steph Claire Smith To Position The Brand As A Trusted Choice Via Willow & Blake
Le Purée has enlisted actress Steph Claire Smith as the face of its latest campaign, developed with branding agency Willow & Blake. The multi‑channel effort positions the baby‑food brand as a trusted, nostalgic yet modern choice for parents, highlighting real ingredients, whole foods,...
IAB Hunts Down Speakers For MeasureUP 2026
IAB Australia has opened speaker submissions for MeasureUp 2026, its 10th‑year media measurement conference scheduled for 2 September 2026 in Sydney. The event will showcase the first wave of findings from the Future of Measurement project and feature ten curated sessions plus new...
Palladium Insight Grows Team With Two ANZ Senior Hires
Palladium Insight announced two senior hires to accelerate its APAC expansion, marking the consultancy’s first senior leadership presence in Australia. Ian Bellerby joins as Head of Brand Tracking & Comms, while Josh Thomas‑Goodey becomes Director, strengthening the firm’s qualitative capabilities. Both...
JCDecaux Lands At Western Sydney Airport
JCDecaux has won a ten‑year advertising contract for the new Western Sydney International (WSI) Airport, taking charge of 27 fully digitised out‑of‑home assets across the terminal and surrounding roadways. The airport, designed by Zaha Hadid and partners, is slated to open...
Omnicom Oceania Promotes Kim Hamilton, Appoints Paige Prettyman As Chief Of Staff
Omnicom Oceania has promoted Kim Hamilton to Chief Marketing and Communications Officer and appointed Paige Prettyman as the newly created chief of staff, adding both to the region’s Executive Leadership Team. Hamilton’s expanded remit now covers enterprise brand, profile and...
‘Changing Of The Guard’: CMO & Two Execs Depart The Trade Desk Amid Leadership Shakeup
Three senior leaders, including CMO Ian Colley, have left The Trade Desk amid a broader leadership shakeup. Their departures follow a contentious audit dispute with Publicis Groupe, which alleges fee overcharges and unauthorized client enrollments. At the same time, major...
TV Ratings (8/4/2026): MAFS Final Vows Capture The Nation
The Married At First Sight (MAFS) finale aired on Nine, drawing a national reach of 2,927,000 and an average audience of 1,804,000. The episode featured two break‑ups, a surprise girlfriend request, and the series’ first on‑air proposal when Philip asked...
Easter Weekend Ratings (3-6/04/2026): Nine Takes The Ratings Chocolates
During the Easter long weekend, Nine’s reality series *Married At First Sight* emerged as the top‑rated program, attracting more than 2.8 million viewers for its final dinner‑party episode. The drama outpaced traditional news broadcasts and a slate of sporting events, while...
Six Degrees Executive Repositions With ‘Expertly Human’ Brand Refresh
Six Degrees Executive, an Australian specialist recruitment firm, has launched a brand refresh centered on the tagline “Expertly human.” The update introduces a new visual identity, colour palette and an upgraded website, reflecting 22 years of growth. It underscores the...
Gambling Ad Crackdown Opens The Door For Brands To Own The Sporting Arena
Australia's Albanese government will ban gambling ads during live sports, on team uniforms and in stadiums from Jan 1, and restrict TV gambling spots to three per hour. The crackdown also limits radio ads and requires adult verification for digital gambling...
Samantha Saunders Appointed CMO Of Dreamworld Parent Company
Coast Entertainment Holdings Group, owner of Dreamworld and related attractions, has returned to positive EBITDA after a multi‑year restructuring. To capitalize on this momentum, the board appointed Samantha Saunders as chief marketing officer and Luke Ingles as chief strategy officer....
Like Having A Digital Specialist Who Lives In A Mac Mini: Time Under Tension Partners With OpenAI To Boost AI...
Sydney‑based generative AI agency Time Under Tension has joined the OpenAI Services Partner program, giving Australian businesses direct access to OpenAI’s latest models and pilot agentic AI systems. The firm will leverage its three‑year track record in AI strategy, custom...
Kargo Launches Closed Beta For Agentic Media Buying & Creative Engine
Kargo has opened a closed beta for Project KERA, an AI‑driven media‑buying and creative engine that turns a single campaign brief into a fully executed, performance‑ready plan. The platform unifies planning, creative development, activation and real‑time optimisation across CTV, mobile,...
Creators Need To Be In The New Media Plan
TikTok’s new whitepaper projects Australia’s creator‑driven commercial contribution to reach US$100 billion (≈AUD $144 billion) by 2030, a 1.3‑fold increase from 2025. The growth is spreading beyond beauty and fashion into gaming, financial services, apps and consumer electronics, as brands seek authentic creator...
‘We Haven’t Culturally Normalised It’: Media Industry Unpacks Why Younger Staff Are Hesitant & ‘Using AI Like A Fancy Google’
A LinkedIn panel of senior media executives highlighted a stark generational divide in AI adoption across Australian newsrooms. While 78% of Australians feel curious or relieved about AI taking over tasks, 37% feel overwhelmed and 63% fear falling behind. Younger...
Albanese Set To Act On Gambling Ads But Full Ban Still Off The Table
The Albanese government is preparing to tighten gambling‑advertising rules after a 1,000‑day lag following the 2023 Murphy Report. Proposed measures include a longer blackout window, caps on TV ad volume, a phased ban on jersey and stadium ads, restrictions around...
Bastion Aotearoa Strengthens Creative Team
Bastion Aotearoa announced three senior creative hires, appointing Courtney Dow as creative director and adding copywriter‑art director duo Freddie von Trott and Sophie Douglas from AKQA Sydney. Dow brings 17 years of experience across New Zealand and the UK, while von Trott and Douglas have worked on...
Jackie Henderson Follows Kyle & Takes ARN To Court
Australian radio network ARN is confronting two federal lawsuits after the abrupt termination of its KIIS 1065 breakfast hosts. Kyle Sandilands alleges his dismissal was invalid and seeks reinstatement and payment under his contract. Jackie Henderson claims her contract was ended...
‘I Quit Three Times’: Alison Wong On Perseverence After Women Leading Tech Award Win
Alison Wong, chief academic officer of the Girls Programming Network, received the Society Award at the 2026 Women Leading Tech Awards. She highlighted her own three‑time departure from tech before finding purpose in Tech for Good and urged women to...
TV Ratings (30/3/2026): It’s Down To The Final 6 On Australian Idol
Overnight figures show 1.5 million Australians tuned in for Australian Idol’s Top 6 episode, with Seven reporting a national‑average audience of 910,000. The show eliminated Charlie Moon and Simela Petridis, trimming the competition to six finalists. Meanwhile, Seven’s Married At First Sight dominated the night, reaching 2.98 million viewers...
‘Not Accidental’: ESafety Sounds Alarm On ‘Major Gaps’ In Under-16 Social Media Ban
Australia’s under‑16 social‑media ban, effective 10 December, is facing serious compliance gaps across major platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and YouTube. The eSafety Commissioner’s report finds that platforms have built workarounds into age‑verification systems, failed to close reporting pathways,...
‘Obsess Over Your Customer’: The Secret To Staying Afloat As A Heritage Label In A Trend-Obsessed Market
SABA, a 60‑year‑old Australian fashion label, is leveraging a customer‑obsession mindset to stay relevant in a trend‑driven market. General Manager Lucinda Grice Ross emphasizes that the brand’s timeless DNA—quality, construction, and strong lines—must be paired with modern lifestyle insights. The company...
Tourism Tasmania Brings Back Its ‘Off Season’ Campaign Celebrating Those Who Embrace The Cold Via BMF
Tourism Tasmania has launched its sixth “Off Season” campaign, urging Australians to become "winter people" and embrace the island’s cold months. In partnership with BMF Australia, the initiative showcases over 500 winter‑specific offers ranging from luxe stays to nocturnal wildlife...
GumGum Reveals The Land Down Under To Be A Strong ‘Growth Market’ For Contextual Ads
GumGum’s chief revenue officer says Australia is a strong growth market for its contextual advertising platform, citing the nation’s high per‑capita digital ad spend of $769 per person and $568 per internet user. The company’s Attentive Lift solution, launched globally...
Tooheys Ultra Highlights ‘The Sliding Schooner’ In Campaign Via Thinkerbell
Tooheys Ultra has launched a new multi‑channel campaign created by Thinkerbell, centered on a sliding schooner visual that symbolizes the beer’s smooth, low‑carb profile. The spot features Australian cricket legend Mike Whitney and indie band Dune Rats, tying the brand’s historic jingle...