Wisdom in their words: Highlights from the 2023 Women in Media National Conference
With a lineup of 72 dynamic speakers from diverse media backgrounds, this year's conference left a lasting impact on all attendees.
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Women in Media National Conference 2023
The Conference is an annual gathering of female media professionals from across the country, a sell-out event known for its high calibre speakers, honest discussion, and break-out ideas. Attendees come together to challenge their thinking, network and tackle the tough career and personal questions we all ask ourselves.
#WIMConference2023
Conference News
Program
Day 1 - Friday 8th September
Time
Session
Speakers
7:15 AM
Registration opens
7:30 AM
Doors open
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Breakfast
Sandra Sully, Aunty Joan Bell, Victoria Laurie, Anita Jacoby AM
Ita Buttrose AC OBE
10:00 AM
Conference open and welcome
Sandra Sully - MC
10:20 AM
Advancing Gender Equality
PANEL
This panel brings extensive expertise to the table, representing various sectors and institutions dedicated to advancing gender equality.
Sam Mostyn AO, Chair of the Women's Economic Equality Taskforce
Kate Jenkins AO, Former Sex Discrimination Commissioner
Hon Mary Wooldridge, CEO of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency
Mariam Veiszadeh, CEO of Media Diversity Australia
Catherine Fox AM, Moderator
The Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications and Federal Member for Greenway
11:20 AM
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Changemaker in Action
Presented by Seven
Taryn Brumfitt, Australian of the Year
Natalie Barr, Seven Network's Sunrise co-host
DISCUSSION
Taryn will share her story and discuss the importance of body acceptance and self-compassion in the media, ‘in-conversation’ with Natalie Barr.
12:00 PM
Myth Busting in Advertising
PANEL
Leaders in advertising and marketing will discuss myth busting culture change and driving female narratives bringing their creative, agency and marketing expertise to the discussion about advancing gender norms.
Melissa Hopkins, Seven West Media’s Chief Marketing and Audience Officer
Kirsty Muddle, CEO Dentsu Creative
Abbie Dubin-Rhodin, Senior Strategy Director at Special Australia
Phoebe Sloane, Clemenger BBDO Senior Copywriter
Sunita Gloster AM, Moderator
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Lunch
2:00 PM
WORKSHOPS
Relaunch Your Career
How to reframe, redirect and relaunch your career when you’re feeling stuck, need a change or are returning from a career break.
(Delegates to select 1 of 3 concurrent sessions)
Jacinta Rose and Michelle Francis, Women in Media Relaunch Project Leads
Amanda Margariti, Senior AdTech Partner Lead of LinkedIn Marketing Solutions
Sarah Elks, Senior Reporter for The Australian
Selina Joseph, Producer specialising in live, studio-based, factual, brand-funded, and lifestyle television
Patricia Powell Hughes, Managing Director of EP Australia
The Power of Visibility
Karen Eck, Communications Strategist, Talent Manager and Publicist
How to create career-defining opportunities and avoid killer mistakes when promoting your work.
AI & storytelling
We’ll discuss AI as a tool to accelerate human creativity and content creation.
Renece Brewster, CEO & Co-Founder of Visual Domain and Co-managing Director of Girls in Tech Australia
3:00 PM
Speed networking
Facilitated by Emma MacDonald OAM, Multi-award-winning journalist, speaker and maternal health advocate
4:00 PM
Afternoon tea break
4:30 PM
ABC Employee Network For Gender Equality
Sarah McLean, ABC Indigenous, Diversity and Inclusion
Jacqueline Bate, Chair ABC Gender Equity Employee Network
4:40 PM
View from the Pacific
Rosi Doviverata, founding convenor of Women in Media Fiji and President of the Fijian Media Association
4:45 PM
Business of Media
PANEL
Hear about the changing business of media from the women leading broadcast, print, online and platform businesses as they discuss evolving platforms, commercial realities and consumer expectation.
Beverley McGarvey, Executive Vice President, Chief Content Officer and Head of Paramount+, Paramount ANZ
Jane Huxley, Are Media CEO
Amanda Laing, Chief Commercial and Content Officer of Foxtel Group
Mia Freedman, Co-Founder of Mamamia
Anita Jacoby AM, Moderator
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Drinks & Networking
Day 1 concludes
Day 2 - Saturday 9th September
Time
Session
Speakers
7:30 AM
Registration and continental breakfast
8:00 AM
Doors open
8:30 AM
Conference open and welcome
Welcome to Country, Aunty Joan Bell
Sarah Abo - MC
8:45 AM
Remaking the Rules
PANEL
Entrepreneurship and new media offerings are changing the media landscape and these women are remaking the rules.
Hannah Diviney, Editor-in-Chief of Missing Perspectives
Claire Kimball, Founder of The Squiz
Hannah Ferguson, Co-founder and CEO, Cheek Media
Kathy McLeish, Moderator, Director of Women in Media Australia and an award-winning ABC journalist and producer
9:20 AM
Tech Implications, Advantages and Alarm Bells
Presented by UTS
PANEL
Academic and media industry experts will dismantle the issues of technology that we are most curious about including how the law can help preserve creativity in an AI and tech-led world and misinformation and disinformation.
Dr Evana Wright, UTS Senior Law Lecturer
Michael Davis, Research fellow at the UTS Centre for Media Transition
Lisa Main, Former journalist and award-winning producer
Monica Attard OAM, Moderator, Co-Director of the UTS Centre for Media Transition and a Professor of Journalism at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
10:15 AM
Industry Progress
Women in Media Research
Petra Buchanan GAICD, Company Director and Strategic Advisor to Women in Media
10:20 AM
Sport's Outsized Impact
PANEL
Sport has an outsized impact, with more media coverage than other topics, funding and broadcast rights in the billions, and a spotlight on the inclusion of women. These amazing women are leading efforts to create a more inclusive future for Australian sport.
Ellie Cole OAM, Australia’s most decorated female Paralympian and winner of 17 Paralympic medals
Moya Dodd AO, Former Matildas player and sports administrator
Jane Flemming OAM, two-time Australian Olympian
Amanda Shalala, Moderator, Deputy Editor ABC Sport
11:10 AM
Networking break
11:45 AM
Driving Female Narratives
DISCUSSION
Hear how film and television is influencing the way we see ourselves and others, and why female narratives matter.
Bruna Papandrea, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning producer
Deanne Weir, Co-founder of Storyd Group, Chair of AI-Media and producer
Sally Riley, former ABC Head of Drama, Entertainment, and Indigenous content
12:25 PM
Craft of Journalism
KEYNOTE / Q&A
Leigh Sales AM will be centre stage talking all things journalism, followed by a Q&A with Samantha Jonscher.
Leigh Sales AM, ABC anchor, bestselling author and hit podcaster
Samantha Jonscher, Caroline Jones Women in Media Young Journalist’s Award recipient for 2022
1:10 PM - 2:10 PM
Lunch
2:15 PM
WORKSHOPS
Powerful Decision-Making
Presented by Nudge Coaching
(Delegates to select 1 of 3 concurrent sessions)
Bindi Newman, Fiona Russell, Lauren Finestone
How to make better decisions and solve tough problems in a rapidly changing media landscape.
Social Media Trends
Suzie Shaw, CEO of We Are Social
How to target the trends and make empowered choices about your online engagement. Learn which platforms are trending, and why.
Break-through Ideas and Targeted Content
How to create meaningful impact with audience-relevant content. Learn from women who are building connections and businesses from the bush to beauty.
Bobbi Mahlab AM, Chair and Founder of Mahlab Media and Co-founder of Mentor Walks (Discussion Host)
Georgie Robertson, PR Lead for buyfromthebush and Regional PR
Sasha Kutabah Sarago, Founder of Ascension, Australia's first Indigenous lifestyle magazine
3:15 PM
Afternoon tea break
3:50 PM
A Rational Fear
Presented by Australian Ethical
LIVE RECORDING
Dan Ilic and Lewis Hobba, together with a superstar panel of the funniest women in Australian media today, will rip apart the contemporary anxieties of being a woman in the media in 2023.
Dan Ilic and Lewis Hobba, Co-hosts of award-winning podcast A Rational Fear
Hannah Ferguson, Cheek Media
Nayuka Gorrie, Black Comedy
Nina Oyama, Deadloch
Vidya Rajan, Aunty Donna's Comedy Cafe
DJ Dylan Behan
4:45 PM - 6:00 PM
Drinks & Networking
Leisa Bacon, Director of Audiences for the ABC
Event concludes
(Please note, conference program is subject to change. Refer to this page for the most up-to-date version).
Key takeaways
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Network with media professionals from across the country
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Two-day event with panel discussions and workshops
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Conversations on career moves, industry trends and visionary insights
Who should attend?
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Business leaders
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Early to mid-career professionals
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Entrepreneurs and freelancers
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Students
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Diversity and equality advocates
2023 Speakers
Ita Buttrose AC OBE
2023 Patron & Keynote Speaker
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Workshops
Relaunch Your Career
Women in Media Relaunch Project Leads
Michelle Francis
Digital Media & Marketing Strategist
Jacinta Rose
Freelance Writer & Author
How to reframe, redirect and relaunch your career when you’re feeling stuck, need a change, or are returning from a career break.
Hear the lessons, tips and advice that have been shared throughout the Relaunch Project, a program that empowers women to move into the next phase of their career.
Amanda Margariti
Senior AdTech Partner Lead
Friday, 8th September
Sarah Elks
Senior Reporter for The Australian
Selina Joseph
Television Producer
Patricia Powell Hughes
Managing Director of EP Australia
The Power of Visibility
Discover how to create career-defining opportunities and avoid killer mistakes when promoting your work.
Learn the benefits of a culture where visibility is everyone’s business including tips to curate personal and professional success at whatever life stage you’re at.
Karen Eck
Communications strategist, talent manager and publicist
Friday, 8th September
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Storytelling
Explore the current role of AI as a co-creator, of content and its impact.
Learn the role AI is playing today as a co-creator of content.
Renece Brewster
CEO & Co-Founder of VisualDomain and Co-Managing Director of Girls in Tech Australia.
Friday, 8th September
Powerful Decision-making
Nudge Coaching and Consultancy, leadership and career coaching for women in media.
Gain valuable insight to make better decisions and solve tough problems in a rapidly changing media landscape.
Learn a few simple but powerful techniques that will change you as a leader and as a person.
Fiona Russel
Bindi Newman
Lauren Finestone
Saturday, 9th September
Breakthrough Ideas and Targeted Content
Learn from women who are building connections and businesses, from the bush to beauty.
How to create a meaningful impact with audience-relevant content.
Georgie Robertson
Sasha Kutabah Sarago
PR Lead of buyfromthebush and Regional PR
Founder of Ascension, Australia's first Indigenous lifestyle magazine
Bobbi Mahlab AM
Discussion hosted by
Co-founder of Mentor Walks and chair and founder of Mahlab Media
Saturday, 9th September
Sponsors
Major Media Partner
Presenting Partners
Supporting Partners
Affiliate Sponsors
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