IMAA – The Independent Media Agencies of Australia has confirmed a record 39 mentees for its 2026 Female Leaders of Tomorrow programme, marking the largest intake since the initiative launched.
The nationwide professional development programme attracted its highest-ever number of applicants, with successful mentees drawn from independent agencies and media organisations across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.
Now in its third intake, the Female Leaders of Tomorrow programme is designed for women currently in manager- or director-level roles, with a minimum of five years’ experience in media agencies or related disciplines.
Record demand reflects growing appetite for leadership development
IMAA said the strong response highlights continued demand for structured leadership pathways in the independent media sector, particularly for women seeking to advance to senior roles.
Programme facilitator Wendy Gower, founder of WeGrow, oversaw the selection process alongside former Audible APAC regional general manager Leanne Cartwright-Bradford and fractional CMO Belinda Gruebner.
Candidates were assessed across multiple criteria, including written submissions outlining development goals, agency endorsements, and 90-second video applications.
“The judging process for this year’s programme was once again a testament to the incredible female talent in our industry, all seeking to accelerate their careers with support from experienced mentors,” Gower said.
“While the calibre of candidates gives us confidence in the industry’s future, it also made our decisions difficult, as we just couldn’t select everyone.”
Pairing emerging leaders with senior industry mentors
The selected mentees will be matched with senior media and marketing executives and will receive leadership support, professional development, and industry insights through a mix of online and face-to-face sessions, facilitated by Gower.
IMAA chief executive Sam Buchanan said the programme continues to deliver measurable impact for participants.
“Every year, we continue to be blown away by the quality of applicants for our Female Leaders of Tomorrow programme,” Buchanan said.
“Last year, 100% of mentees said they had improved in actively applying the leadership capabilities and learnings from the programme to their current roles. It’s a testament to the programme’s ability to give mentees a more strategic approach to leadership, helping them develop their communication, problem-solving skills and individual leadership style.”
Buchanan added that the initiative remains central to IMAA’s broader education strategy.
“This programme continues to be a vital part of the IMAA’s education and professional development offering. Since its inception, Female Leaders of Tomorrow has been designed to future-proof the independent media sector and help address the shortage of women in senior agency roles.”
National rollout across four cities
The 2026 Female Leaders of Tomorrow programme commenced on 3 February in Sydney and will roll out across Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth throughout the year.
The programme is supported by oOh!media, which will host speed networking sessions at its offices. Mentors for the 2026 intake will be announced in the coming weeks.
The 2026 Female Leaders of Tomorrow mentees are:
· Maryellen Arkinson – Impressive
· Cassandra Atherinos – Seven Network
· Tania Babela – Hatched Media
· Raksha Bandu – Media Republic
· Mallory Cassidy – Sunny Advertising
· Emily Changizi – REA Group
· Gabby Corcoran – Channel Factory
· Luisa Estigoy – Apparent
· Clare Farrugia – Hatched Media
· Tatiana Fernandez – AdMatic
· Emma Fry – Southern Cross Austereo
· Caitlyn Grant – This Is Flow
· Sarah Halliday – BFJ Digital
· Maddie Kulk – C7EVEN Communications
· Adrienne Le Mura – Pivotus
· Kathy Lu – Nexxen
· Hannah Mannion – Yango
· Aimee McCall – JCDecaux
· Ella McConnell – oOh! Media
· Maddie McMahon – News Australia
· Esha Nandhra – QMS Media
· Elaina Opare – The Media Store
· Natalia Papas – News Australia
· Haemund Pong – Slingshot
· Alison Powell – Bishopp
· Stephanie Pratt – Cummins and Partners
· Katherine Rafferty – The Marketing Room
· Ana Reyes – Orange Line
· Alex Rhead – StackAdapt
· Angie Angel Sigmin – The Speed Agency
· Jemelle Silvestre – AdTorque Edge
· Megan Simmonds – Network 10
· Erin Stafford – Joy Agency
· Vanessa Thaler – Soup Agency
· Lauren Tyler – News Australia
· Nicole Wagenecht – ABL Digital Media
· Ramona Wardan – Equality Media
· Brittany White – REA Group
· Ella-Jane Williams – Unify