Andrés is a senior marketing leader, one of State of Social's best-rated speakers, and a proud cat-dad.

Adam Johnson is NOVA Entertainment’s Chief Growth Officer as well as Co-Founder of Original Audio. He is a standout business and Marketing leader with a proven track record of driving growth through high-performing teams and ideas that sell. In his ‘day job’ Adam oversees all of NOVA’s consumer touchpoints across Marketing & PR, Audience Engagement, Digital (product, platform & data) and Podcasting. He has been in this role since returning to Australia at the start of 2022 and, in that time, has overseen record audience growth and helped accelerate NOVA’s transformation toward a leading all-of-audio media business. Prior to this Adam was Chief Marketing Officer at Global, Europe’s largest commercial audio business and one of the UK’s biggest outdoor media owners, having previously had Marketing leadership roles in consumer technology Marketing, firstly with Nokia and then with Microsoft. He started his career in advertising with Havas in London before joining Y&R in Sydney. Adam’s work at Original Audio allows him to fulfil his passion for audio, technology and creativity and how they can come together to help brands grow.

With over 20 years of combined marketing and communications experience on both agency and client sides, Amaury has proven through-the-line experience including TV, print, social media, and digital media. After launching Sixtine, a creative studio specialising in content production, in Paris, Amaury is now focusing his efforts on creating and implementing social and digital strategies for clients in a wide range of industries, such as entertainment, retail, automotive, tech, FMCG, skincare, travel, financial services, government, healthcare, and non-for-profits. Over the past 15 years working in the digital space, Amaury has had a chance to work with clients such as Netflix, Universal Pictures, BIG W, Toyota, Jaguar, Kia, Sony, Nikon, Zambrero, P&G, NIVEA, Johnson & Johnson, SunRice, Electrolux, Clorox, Goodman Fielder, Accor Hotels, Western Union, TAL Group, Department of Foreign Affairs, Connect Hearing, Novartis, Aspen, and National Breast Cancer Foundation. In his ‘dawn-time’, he takes photos for his blog ‘Morning Bondi‘.

Amber Martin left Perth roughly 16 years ago with a suitcase full of ambition and zero plans to play it safe. Since then, she’s made her mark in Sydney, Singapore, London, and Amsterdam – including stints at the legendary Wieden+Kennedy. She’s led Nike across EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), brought gamers to the front row with EA Sports, and helped Air New Zealand sound like, well, New Zealand. The brands she’s worked on are big, but her ego isn’t. Amber’s one of those rare people who makes advertising better – sharp, down-to-earth, and seriously good at what she does. Now she’s back in Perth, and co-founded Hypnosis – pouring global smarts into a homegrown agency that’s here to do things differently.

Marketing Manager at Hunt & Brew

As a Team Lead at Quiip, Dan is responsible for protecting and nurturing online communities for some of Australia’s most well-known companies. With deep expertise in customer experience, conflict resolution, community management, and social media strategy, he brings a thoughtful and values-led approach to digital engagement. Many Australians may know him through his work at Optus, where he made headlines worldwide as ‘Dan From Optus’ for his warm, educational responses to customers, particularly those questioning the company’s use of diverse languages in its advertising.

Dean is a multidisciplined creative leader with 20-plus years of experience working on national and global brands. He has worked in London, Sydney, and Perth. Dean thinks long-term and creates brand platforms that cut through. He has worked with some of the world’s biggest brands including Toyota, Nike, Coca-Cola, Compare the market, Tourism WA, WA Police, and many more. His work has been awarded locally and globally at D&AD, CANNES, AWARD, PADCS, IPA EFFECTIVENESS and many more.

Eugene Healey is a brand strategy consultant, educator, and Creator seeking to make cultural chaos comprehensible for brands. From his home base in Melbourne he works with global brands like Google, Spotify and Red Bull on strategies to succeed in a climate where media is fragmented, attention is fracked, and algorithms have dissolved mass culture into soup. With a background in education alongside strategy, Eugene has lectured in brand management at the University of Melbourne’s postgraduate Business School, and regularly shares his insights on brands and culture via social media to a following of over 350,000.

Digital and full service marketing and advertising background having worked with best in class clients across most major WA industries including, retail, mining, event venues, building and construction, healthcare, finance, Government Utilities and tertiary education. Memorable clients include, St John Ambulance, Westrac, VenuesWest, St John of God Health Care, ECU and The Water Corporation. As well as dipping toes on the operations space, most recent experience prior to GolfBox was in Healthtech working in growth, brand and leading the Marketing function. Extremely passionate about leading and developing high performing marketing teams.

I’m a social media consultant based in Melbourne. My work specialises in youth marketing, with a particular focus on queer and pop culture. Over the past 10 years, I’ve created viral videos for corporate clients, NGOs and government agencies. I specialise in pairing great visuals with even better storytelling.

Hannah is an experienced head of brand strategy with over 20 years’ experience in the brand and advertising industry. Over the years she has led the brand and marketing efforts of some of Australia’s most trusted brands, including NRMA, Tourism Australia, Arnott’s, Woolworths, Bankwest, Tourism WA, and UWA. Hannah has worked across multiple categories including fashion, finance, tourism, education, retail, healthcare, B2B, government and not-for-profits. She has won multiple awards for Effectiveness across Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

Heather Lansdowne is the Social Media Manager at the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), where she has revolutionised the way government does social media. Her team generates 1 million impressions per week, using humour, memes, and engaging content to connect with the public and make data more accessible. She has featured on ABC News Breakfast, Sydney Morning Herald, the Mandarin and Money Matters, among others. Under her leadership, the ABS has won numerous awards, including the IPAA ACT Spirit of Service Award for community engagement, and the APS data award for data storytelling.

Jonathan Harley is a technology and media executive who has worked with Canva, Twitter, 60 Minutes Australia as well as ABC News and Current Affairs. On his journey from foreign correspondent to tech exec, Jonathan focusses on human-centred storytelling, combined with the best digital tools. Now, as AI revolutionises content creation, it is critical to understand the difference between storytelling tools and techniques. But there’s good news for the multi-skillers: the fast-paced rate of change means that generalists may well be about to have their day!

A former lawyer with 15 years experience in television and media, Kate has spent the past six years running the kids television unicorn, Bluey, as the Director of Brands and Commercial. She has been the decision maker on all Bluey commercial and brand activities- delivering unprecedented and transformative growth while maintaining a steadfast commitment to creating an evergreen, global brand that Australians can be proud of. She is the winner of a CEW Scholarship, many awards for her brand collaborations on things like Hammerbarn and Bluey’s World, and Highly Commended for B+T Marketing Woman of the Year.

Keshnee Kemp is a seasoned Australian media and content strategist with over a decade of experience in editorial leadership, digital innovation, and brand storytelling. She is the founder of August One, a consultancy specialising in employee-generated content (EGC) and data-driven social media strategies. Prior to this, she served as Head of Content at Woolworths Group, where she pioneered the company’s first people-led social strategy and launched its EGC program, empowering team members to authentically represent the brand online. Kemp’s media career includes roles such as Editor of Cosmopolitan and WHO magazines, where she revitalised content to resonate with modern audiences. As Head of Video at Pacific Magazines, she established successful digital video units that significantly boosted engagement and revenue. She also held senior editorial positions at Bauer Media and Nine, overseeing editorial, digital strategy, and live production. With a Bachelor of Journalism from Griffith University, Kemp is recognised for her innovative approach to content creation and her ability to adapt to evolving media landscapes. Her work continues to influence how brands connect with audiences through authentic and engaging content.

Kirsty O’Connell is a forward-thinking digital strategist with a proven record of creating digital experiences that put customers first and deliver measurable business growth. She played a key role in transforming Sky — one of Europe’s top media and entertainment brands — by scaling digital and e-commerce capabilities from the ground up. Her work included the launch of Sky Glass, the UK’s best-selling smart TV, and pioneering martech integrations across media buying, data, and creative — helping position Sky as a leader in UK digital advertising. Her experience spans leading organisations like Cancer Research UK and Reach plc, where she honed her ability to align strategy, technology, and operations to meet real customer needs. Now at equ, Kirsty helps brands across Australia unlock the full potential of digital — building customer journeys that go deeper, connect better, and drive sustainable growth.

Originally from Texas and now proudly Australian, Meg Coffey is a “Texstralian” known for her dedication, calculated risks, and exceptional communication skills. As the founder of State of Social, Australia’s largest digital marketing & social media conference, Meg is dedicated to keeping businesses ahead of the curve. With a deep understanding that digital is essential in today’s business landscape, Meg’s expertise extends far beyond the hospitality and tourism sectors she works with thru her agency Coffey & Tea. She specialises in transforming the fear of social media into confidence and excitement about leveraging technology for tangible results. Meg is a go-to source for media outlets, regularly appearing as an industry expert on Channel 7, 9, and ABC, as well as being featured in newspapers, podcasts, and radio programs across the nation. In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Meg was named one of Australia’s Top 50 Small Business Leaders in 2017. She achieved further accolades as a finalist for Campaign Brief’s prestigious Ad Person of the Year award multiple times.

Creative Strategist and Chief Mystery Officer at Folklore, a tabletop entertainment company

Missy started her career as a broadcast journalist before moving into television and digital content production for shows like The Voice and 60 Minutes. A social strategist and copywriter, she’s created content for brands including Microsoft, Uber, and Mirvac, blending engaging storytelling with platform-savvy execution. Now a PhD candidate researching AI and writing, Missy brings sharp insight into leveraging technology while retaining creative control. Her approach fuses creative instinct with journalistic rigour to craft content that builds community, earns trust, and performs powerfully in search and social.

Managing Director of Studio Orange, a video and animation studio in Perth

General Manager of Growth at performance agency, Bonfire

Saira Manns is a communications and social media specialist who blends creativity, curiosity, and compassion to tell stories that go the distance. She began her journey wrangling media at Australia Zoo and later completed a PR internship at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Malaysia. Her work has travelled across conservation, tourism, higher education, and emergency services sectors, including content creation for the University of the Sunshine Coast and leading statewide campaigns for Surf Life Saving Queensland. These days, she drives national PR and social for Greyhound Australia, the country’s largest coach network. With almost two decades of experience (yes, she’s feeling slightly ancient about that), Saira brings a values-led approach to everything she does – from crisis comms and influencer strategy to internal storytelling and content creation. She’s also worked as a freelance editor, contributed to a small publishing collective, and has dabbled in everything from podcasting and graphic design to photography and videography. A proud multipotentialite with too many interests to count, Saira is passionate about corporate social responsibility, brand authenticity, and helping people create beautiful content that actually means something. Not only does she hold a Master’s in Editing and Publishing, she’s also a master of puns (especially dog-related). You’ve been warned.

Sharyn Smith is the Founder and CEO of Social Soup, Australia’s longest-running influencer marketing agency. A pioneer in the space, she has spent nearly two decades helping brands harness the power of influence, trust and creativity to drive business results. Sharyn has led award-winning campaigns for ALDI, Optus and Royal Canin, and spearheaded the development of Social Soup’s proprietary tech including Content IQ and the SMART Platform. She sits on the boards of AiMCO and the Audited Media Association of Australia, contributing to industry standards in measurement, transparency and ethical influencer marketing.

Sophie is a strategic marketing and communications leader who believes in the power of storytelling to drive positive change. With a knack for building strong brand connections both inside and outside organisations, she is all about finding creative, data-driven ways to make a meaningful impact. Sophie’s passion for innovation and sustainable thinking has shaped her purpose-driven career, leading her from agency life to the non-profit sector.

Steph Edwards is the Head of Social Content & Creative at WiredCo., an award-winning brandformance agency where she leads mischievous, scroll-stopping social for some of Australia’s top FMCG, QSR, Telxo and Fashion brands. Steph lives and breathes social and has a sharp eye for what makes content resonate. With a passion for platform-native creativity and a pulse on culture, she’s built a career developing stand out socials strategies that help brands show up authentically, memorably, and mischievously. Over the last 10 years working in the social space, Steph has had the chance to work with clients such as Kraft, Heinz, Chatime, Pizza Hut, Indeed, The Iconic and Mutti.

A former News Corp journalist turned communications strategist, Tanya brings two decades of experience crafting stories that cut through. With a background in general news, court reporting, and education, she knows how to find the angle and engage readers. Since shifting to PR in 2006, she’s led campaigns for ASX-listed companies, property giants, and universities, blending journalistic integrity with traditional and new media strategies. Tanya specialises in human-first storytelling that resonates with media, audiences, and algorithms, helping brands stay visible, credible, and connected in an ever-evolving landscape.

Founder of Brandable and DEI Lead for WAMA, Tess helps organisations cut the crap and build brands that actually connect – with purpose, with people, and with integrity. She shows businesses how to show up in a polarised world without faking it, fusing cultural intelligence, inclusive strategy, and honest storytelling to create real connection that actually matters. A former teacher and proudly Seychellois foster mum to two Noongar girls, Tess brings lived experience, sharp strategy and zero tolerance for performative nonsense. She was named on the 2025 AdNews Champions of Change Power List for driving real impact in the DEI space. This is her third time speaking at State of Social, and her 2025 session pulls no punches. It’s a call to action – or maybe a call to arms – for marketers and leaders who claim to care about inclusion… but still want it to be comfortable.

Tim Duggan is an optimist who loves thinking about big ideas. He has co-founded several digital media ventures, most notably Junkee Media, a new media publisher which was acquired by ASX-listed oOh!media. Tim writes a weekly column on work for the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, WA Today and Brisbane Times. His first book, ‘Cult Status: How to build a business people adore’ was awarded the Best Entrepreneurship and Small Business Book at the 2021 Australian Business Book Awards, and his second book on creativity, ‘Killer Thinking: How to turn good ideas into brilliant ones’ was named one of the Best Books of 2022 by Apple Books. Tim’s latest book, ‘Work Backwards: The revolutionary method to work smarter and live better’ explores how anyone can take advantage of a once-in-a-generations moment to rethink how and why we work. Tim is the Chair of the Digital Publishers Alliance, a group representing over one hundred and fifty titles from Australia’s leading independent digital publishers, and currently lives in Europe with his husband.

Tyler O’Day is the Director of Social Media at Empire State Realty Trust, where he drives innovative social campaigns for iconic properties like the Empire State Building. Tyler previously served as Social Media Manager at Barstool Sports, crafting viral content and managing a nationwide college ambassador program. Tyler is graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a degree in Political Science and Communication.