The IMAA launched its inaugural Female Leaders of Tomorrow programme with its first networking event, hosted at the oOh!Media offices in North Sydney on Tuesday.
The evening was opened by Sam Buchanan, CEO of the IMAA, alongside oOh!Media CEO Cathy O’Connor and Tim Elder, oOh!Media’s national head of sales – direct clients, independent agencies and boutique agencies.
Tim Elder and Angela Smith
Sam Buchanan
Elsewhere in the evening, Angela Smith, IMAA DE&I Council Chair and AFFINITY’s chief brand officer, spoke to attendees and shared her thoughts about the programme and the women in the industry.
Smith told attendees: “If you look at this as one of those sliding door moments in life… there are many possibilities for what might happen. What we do know you’ve been presented with a great opportunity, perhaps a life-changing opportunity. And it will be what you make of it.
“You might forge life long relationships and friendships. It may be the critical difference for you in your career and personally
“With this opportunity you have the chance to help shape yourself the independent media community and the world more broadly by taking this opportunity and working with your mentor to become a stronger more effective leader, to be proud of who you are and what you can offer those around you.”
Attendees also took part in a speed dating-like activity that saw mentors sharing their career advice and industry insights with mentees.
The IMAA’s Female Leaders of Tomorrow programme is part of the industry body’s commitment to fostering long-term diversity and inclusivity across independent media agencies nationally.
The six-month programme aims to create a support network between accomplished industry leaders and their mentees by matching senior staff with up-and-coming women in indie media agencies for knowledge-sharing and professional development opportunities.
Through a series of online and face-to-face sessions, mentees will have the chance to learn from the experience of their mentors while gaining valuable industry insights, expanding their professional networks and enhancing their skill sets.
In Sydney, mentors will include Cathy O’Connor (CEO at oOh!media), Lauren Joyce (Chief Strategy & Connections Officer at ARN), Nikki Rooke (Sydney Sales Director at Nine), Lara Brownlow (Head of Channel Sales APAC at LinkedIn), Mark Fairhurst (Executive General Manager at QMS), Liam Loan-Lack (Head of Marketing APAC & Canada at CMC Markets), Melinda Petrunoff (Country Manager at Pinterest) and Gaye Steel (Marketing and Content Director Consultant and Academic Lecturer at Torrens University Australia).
See also: IMAA Female Leaders of Tomorrow: LinkedIn’s Lara Brownlow
In Melbourne, mentors will include Andrea Salmon (National Head of Audio Sales at SCA), Peter Whitehead (Chief Commercial Officer at ARN), Natalie Warren-Smith (Head of Strategic Marketing at Westpac), Emma Fulford (Head of Marketing at Smiggle), Rachel Page (Network Digital Sales Director at the Seven Network) Amanda Connors (Global Chief Marketing Officer at Total Beauty Network) and Karl Winther (Chief Marketing Officer at Kogan).
See also: IMAA Female Leaders of Tomorrow: Pinterest’s Melinda Petrunoff
At the time of launch, CEO Buchanan, said: “This is the most significant initiative for the IMAA since we founded our Diversity Council in 2022, with the aim of taking diversity and inclusion among our members from ‘niche to normal’ and to demonstrate the value of embracing a diverse and inclusive workplace.
“There is nothing like our programme of Female Leaders of Tomorrow in the industry and is a fantastic opportunity for emerging female leaders in our member agencies. I would also like to thank our amazing mentors, who will generously give their time and expertise to the lucky mentees for this programme.”
Female Leaders of Tomorrow is exclusively available to IMAA members and designed for individuals who currently hold manager/director positions, with a minimum five years’ experience in any media agency discipline and applicants can apply from any state. To ensure the best match between mentors and mentees, the programme will feature a ‘speed dating’ introduction.
See also: IMAA launches Female Leaders of Tomorrow programme
–
Top image: Sam Buchanan, Cathy O’Connor and Tim Elder
