Mediaweek is thrilled to announce the inaugural 2023 Next of The Best Under 40 Awards finalists.
We received an overwhelming number of nominations from an incredibly talented pool of media professionals.
Mediaweek’s esteemed panel of judges carefully reviewed each submission and selected the top finalists in each category.
So to all those shortlisted, congratulations! This is your moment to shine!
Tickets are on sale from today, and with limited tickets available, make sure to secure your spot ASAP. Purchase them here.
Scroll down for the full list.
About the Next of the Best Awards
The Next of the Best awards winners will be announced at Doltone House – Jones Bay Wharf on the first night of Vivid Sydney on Friday, May 26.
Take in the stunning sights of Vivid with a prime view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge while enjoying a premium three-course meal and first-class entertainment alongside leading media professionals.
But the festivities don’t end there! Get ready to party the night away at the after-party, featuring a special musical performance to be announced soon.
To all the nominees, we appreciate your outstanding contributions to the media industry and encourage you to continue pushing boundaries and driving change in your respective fields.
We also want to thank our panel of judges for committing time and effort in selecting the finalists.
Congratulations again to our finalists! We look forward to celebrating your achievements and the future of media with you.
Next of the Best key info:
Date: Friday, May 26 2023
Location: Doltone House – Jones Bay Wharf
Tickets: Here
Ranking Australian Influencers
The event will also reveal the Top 50 Influencers in Australia, using world-class data to rank the Influencers who cut through the most in the past 12 months. Having the Top 50 Influencers and Australia’s Top Talent Under 40 will make for an epic networking opportunity.
Finalists
* In no particular order
Ad Tech
Nik Kontoulas – Founder and CEO, JustEggs Digital
Dylan Dharmadasa – Head of Product, Finecast
Richard Palmer – Director of Market Development APAC, Triton Digital
Berina Colakovic – Director of Sales APAC, StackAdapt
Luke Spano – Founder & Managing Director, Avid Collective
Robert Perry – Regional Director APAC, Taboola
James Betlehem – Head of Operations, Finecast Australia
Joshua Wilson – Commercial Director JAPAC, Crimtan
Joshua Lee – National Head of Digital & Data, Zenith & Performics Australia
Giuseppe Martoriello – Co-Founder, iion.io
Radio Producer
James Willis – Executive Producer, Ben Fordham Live (2GB Breakfast)
Andrea Thiis-Evensen – Supervising Producer, News Corp
Zach La Cava – Executive Producer, “Smallzy’s Surgery”
Pedro Vitola – Executive Producer, The Kyle & Jackie O Show
Millie Michael – Executive Producer, Jonesy and Amanda, WSFM
Ashleigh Smith – Executive Producer, B105 Brisbane for Stav. Abby & Matt
Siobhan McDonnell – Executive Producer, 4BC Breakfast
Jenna Benson – Senior Digital Content Producer & Podcast Lead, Jonesy & Amanda, WSFM
Madeleine Wilson – Producer, Mike E & Emma on RNB Fridays Radio
Romy Sher – Podcast Producer, Factual & Drama – LiSTNR Original Podcasts
TV Producer
Mike Searle – Supervising Casting Producer, Endemol Shine Australia
Jasmine Kostas – Managing Editor, Sunrise, Seven Network
Dave Emery – Executive Producer, Farmer Wants A Wife (S1) Eureka Productions for Fox Entertainment USA
Emma Lamb – Founder, Mischief Maker within the Dreamchaser Studio
Mitch Finlayson – Creative Producer/Director, The Moments Company and JAMTV
Lizzie Bampton – Creative Producer – Brand Studio, Paramount ANZ
Maddie Cook – Line-up Producer, The Morning Show, Seven Network
Nick Everard – Chase Producer, The Morning Show, Seven Network
Marketing – Media
Stephanie Stone – B2B Marketing Manager, TikTok AUNZ
Georgi Oates – Head of Media, Southern Cross Austereo
Novy Wong – Marketing Manager, SBS
Sam Trevethan – Head of Design, Seven Network
Megan Parkes – Senior Trade Marketing Manager, SCA
Alicia Brown – Trade Experience Manager, ARN
Jules Martin – Product Marketing Manager, TikTok
Heather Jenaway – Digital Marketer, Tonic Media Network
Alyce Zerner – Client Solutions Manager, NewsAmp, News Corp Australia
Katie Hughes – Digital Trade Marketing Manager, SCA
Marketing – Agency
Rosie Baker – Group Communications Director, GroupM Including Mindshare, Wavemaker, EssenceMediacom, GroupM Nexus, Finecast, Sightline, INCA
Chris Parker – Founder and Group CEO, Awaken Media and Awaken Creative
Hannah McElhinney – Chief Creator & Co-Founder, Snack Drawer
Lauren Thornborough – Senior Client Director, UM Sydney
April Ford – Chief Innovation Officer, April Ford
Corey Middleton – Planning & Strategy Director, Murmur Group
Emily Cook – General Manager, dentsu Queensland
Chloe Leamon – Marketing Manager, Half Dome
Robert Millett – Group Digital Director, Starcom Melbourne
Hannah Eastwood – Experience Design Director, Starcom
Marketing – Corporate
Alexander Concannon – Head of Growth Marketing, Employment Hero
Joey Nguyen – Partner, Deloitte Digital
Tess Herrett – Marketing Manager, Michael Cassel Group
Elysse Jones – Brand Marketing Manager, Sky News Australia.
Georgina Gellert – Marketing Lead APAC, Channel Factory
Publishing
Katya Wachtel – Editorial Director, Broadsheet Media
Julia Naughton – Head of Life – Culture, Lifestyle and Travel, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Times and WAToday
Chris Paine – Head of Premium Content, Nine Metropolitan Publishing
Poppy Reid – Editor In Chief, The Brag Media, Rolling Stone Australia & New Zealand, Variety Australia
Jessica Chandra – Audience Editor, Nine.com.au
Tanya Hennessy – Author/comedian/tv presenter/tv panelist/creator
Freya Noble – Digital Chief of Staff, 9News.com.au
Lauren Meisner – Co-Founder & Director of Content, Centennial Beauty
Crystal Andrews – Founder & Editor, Zee Feed
Emma Shepherd – Head of Editorial APAC, The Current (The Trade Desk)
New Business/Growth- Agency
Matt Stephens – Head of Client Engagement, Finecast Australia
Rory Heffernan – Managing Director, Atomic 212
Taylor Murray – Head of Growth, Alley Group
Sam Geer – National Managing Director, Initiative Australia
Joe Frazer – Head of Growth/Founder, Half Dome
Creative Agency & Content Agencies
Olivia Warren – Managing Director, MBCS
Tiff Ng – Founder and Chief Storyteller, The Social Story
Psembi Kinstan – Executive Creative Director, DDB Group Melbourne
Michelle Lomas – Co-Founder / General Manager / Chief Strategy Officer, Ampel
Emily Naismith – Branded Content Director, frankie magazine
Chloe Mckenzie – Director of Entertainment Partnerships, OMD Create
Davy Rennie – National Managing Director, Tribal Australia
Adam Ireland – Managing Director, BRING Agency, Universal Music for Brands (AU & NZ)
Tim Collier – Strategy & Planning Partner, Connecting Plots
TV Talent
Sarah Abo – Co-Host, Today
Brooke Boney – News and Entertainment Presenter, Today
Tanya Hennessy – Comedian/tv presenter/tv panelist/creator
Georgie Tunny – Co-Host and Reporter, The Project
Michael Hing – Co-Host, The Project
Radio Talent (Audio)
Brittany Hockley – Podcast and Radio Host, ARN
Mitch Churi – Radio Host, ARN
Chris O’Keefe – Radio Host, 2GB Sydney’s Drive Program
Jack Laurence – Podcast Host, ‘One Minute Remaining – Stories from the inmates’
Allan Aldworth – Announcer, Hit WA Breakfast
PR – Media
Tess Fisher – Senior Publicist, Paramount ANZ
Robert Sharpe – Head of Corporate Communications, Seven West Media,
Eliza Elliott – National PR Manager, SCA
Jessica Seaborn – Senior Publicist, Stan
Vanessa Menser – Communications Manager, Paramount ANZ
Jana Hocking – National PR Manager, SCA
PR Agency- Independent
Kate Lord – Managing Director, Akin Agency
Alex Hayes – Principal, Clear Hayes Consulting
Grace Garrick – Director and Founder, MVMNT Agency Pty Ltd, No Boundaries
Adelaide Haynes – Communications and Media Consultant, Akin Agency
Sari-Elle Kraemer – Managing Director, Alpha Consult
PR – Agency
Rosie Baker – Group Communications Director, GroupM
James Griffiths – Executive Creative Director, BRING Agency, Universal Music for Brands (AU & NZ)
Candice Jackson – Senior Publicity Consultant, Ogilvy PR
Josh McDonnell – Marketing Director, PHD Australia
Media Agency Specialists – Independent
Jimmy Hyett – CEO and Founder, This Is Flow
Jonathan Henshaw – Head of Product & Innovation, Ryvalmedia
Isabella Jackson – Head of Client and Talent, Ryvalmedia
Sam Enshaw – National Strategy Director, Match & Wood
Catherine Edghill – General Manager, Hatched Sydney
Jessica Bray – Head of Media, Audience Precision Media Agency
Sally Lawrence – Group Director, Enigma Media
Daniel Molyneux – Head of Digital Performance, The Media Store
Sasha Smith – Head of Media, Howatson+ Company
Rory Heffernan – Managing Director, Atomic 212
Media Agency Specialists – All agencies
Philippa Noilea-Tani – Chief Investment Officer, Wavemaker
Chris Colter – Chief Strategy and Product Officer, Initiative Australia
Tom Kirkham – Head of Transformation, OMD Sydney
Kate O’Loughlin – Associate Strategy Director, Initiative
Dervla McGivern – Head of Group (Executive Client Lead), OMD
Emma Batch – Business Director, Zenith
Justin Arlt – Head of Investment, Initiative Melbourne
Rebecca Ho – Sydney Head of Investment, Starcom
Georgina Wall – General Manager, Product & Partnerships Resolution Digital
Salesperson – Media
Rachel Miller – Senior Group Business Director, Foxtel Media
Stephanie Evans – Account Director – Independent Agencies, ARN Brisbane
Michila Macleod – National Sales and Partnerships Director, Broadsheet Media
Rian Wisemantel – Head of Melbourne Sales, Digital, Foxtel Media
Jem Salcedo – Head of Sales, Azerion in Australia and New Zealand
James Rose – Head of VIC/SA/WA, Channel Factory
Adriana Mastroianni – Strategy Manager – Brand Studio, Paramount ANZ
Rob Maclean – National Sport Sales Director, Seven West Media
Emma Jones – Strategy Manager – Brand Studio, Paramount ANZ
Tammy Dobrow – Group Sales Manager, SCA
Tara Duncan – Consortium Advertising Sales Manager, News Corp