I stepped into the role of head of editorial here at Mediaweek about six months ago.
Part of the job is to help pull together a couple of major awards events. The first one is rapidly coming up, and thankfully, we decided to give it a bit of a facelift (read major overhaul) and a short runway.
Naturally, mild panic has ensued.
But I have to say, the goodwill that the industry has shown Mediaweek in getting behind this thing has been particularly gratifying.
Or maybe you all just really like judging each other. Either way, we’ll take it.
We’ve just revealed our first wave of judges for the Next of the Best awards. And seeing the incredible calibre of leaders who have agreed to review our entrants’ work, bodes well for a brilliant awards program.
We didn’t just tap the usual suspects. We went directly to the chief executives, chief marketing officers, and managing directors who actively run the biggest holding companies, the fiercest independent agencies, and the most profitable media brands in the country. No pressure.
We are talking about industry titans like Sian Whitnall (chief executive officer at OMD Australia), Sam Geer (managing director of media at Accenture Song ANZ), Virginia Hyland (chief executive officer and commercial partner at Squad M&A), and Simon Lee (chief creative officer and partner at Enigma).
Check out the full list here.
A terrifyingly good audience
Winning a heavy, shiny object for your desk always feels good.
But putting your best commercial results, product innovations, and creative campaigns directly in front of this specific echelon of leadership offers a completely different kind of value.
These judges control the massive budgets. They dictate the market trends. They also hire the top tier of talent across the ecosystem. Basically, they hold the keys to the kingdom.
If you genuinely do the heavy lifting in your sector, you need these leaders to see your work. Having your strategy reviewed by the very people who define the industry standard will serve as a career-defining opportunity.
Just ask Alyce Wilson, head of audience experience and product at LiSTNR. Last year, she claimed the Change Maker category and is still shaking herself.
She said, “Being recognised as a Change Maker validated that going against the grain can be the right thing. And it gave me the confidence to keep lifting the bar even when it feels uncomfortable.”
Find your category
We’ve mapped this year’s awards into four distinct tribes that keep the media and tech world spinning. Our judges will look for the ultimate leaders across each group:
The Growth Engines: The commercial heavyweights and sales leaders driving the bottom line. Categories include Sales & Commercial Leadership, Partnerships Leadership, Retail & Commerce Leadership, and Agency Media Leadership.
The Architects: The structural masterminds building the platforms and structuring the data. Categories include Product & Innovation Leadership, Data & Insights Leadership, Publisher & Platform Leadership, and Entrepreneur.
The Magnets: The creative, brand, and audience powerhouses setting the cultural pulse. Categories include Agency Creative Leadership, Audio & Entertainment Leadership, Influence & Audience Leadership, and Brand & Growth Leadership.
The Guardians: The purpose-led leaders reporting the truth and driving meaningful impact. Categories include News & Journalism Leadership, People & Culture Leadership, Sustainability & Purpose Leadership, and Change Maker.
Don’t miss the chance to get your name on their radar.
The Q4 sprint has officially started, and you only have until 23 April 2026 to claim your space before we shut the portal doors.
You can view the full list of our esteemed judges at the Next of the Best website. Or click here to go straight to the entry portal.
And big thanks to our sponsors… News Australia & LiSTNR.