Media Federation of Australia (MFA) has unveiled its Signature Judges for the 2026 MFA Awards, locking in a senior lineup of marketers to lead the judging process.
The appointments reinforce the Awards’ positioning as a benchmark for media effectiveness, with the panel bringing a strong client-side perspective to the evaluation of work.
Senior marketers take the lead
This year’s Signature Judges include senior leaders from major brands across retail, finance, tech and FMCG:
• Kate Bailey, GM Brand, Digital & Media, Coles
• Anneliese Douglass, Director Marketing & Communications, Nestlé
• Naysla Edwards, VP Customer Marketing & Member Experience, American Express ANZ
• Mim Haysom, EGM Brand & Customer Experience, Suncorp
• Megan Henderson, Global Head of Marketing, Flight Centre
• Michelle Klein, Chief Marketing Officer, Westpac
• Joe Lunn, International Head of Media, Uber
• Suzana Ristevski, Chief Marketing Officer, Google ANZ
• Sarah Sorrenson, Global Media Director, Diageo
The Signature Judges will lead a broader judging cohort of more than 100 industry professionals spanning agencies, media owners and technology companies.
Focus on effectiveness
The MFA said the Signature Judges play a key role in ensuring awarded work demonstrates real business impact and measurable outcomes.
The judging process includes independent auditing, strict conflict management and blind voting, maintaining a strong focus on effectiveness and media contribution.
MFA Awards Co-Chairs Catherine Rushton and Chris Colter said the calibre of judges reflects the growing ambition of the Awards.
“The MFA Awards continue to raise the bar for what great looks like in media – and that starts with the people in the judging room,” they said.
Naysla Edwards, Amex Vice President of Brand, Customer Marketing and Member Experience, said: “As a marketer, this role is an immense honour and a chance to contribute to the marketing industry that has given me so much. It allows me to ensure the most innovative campaigns receive the recognition they deserve and for everyone in the industry to learn from them.”
What makes a winning entry
American Express ANZ’s Naysla Edwards said winning work must go beyond meeting criteria.
“A winning entry goes beyond meeting criteria; it demonstrates creativity, innovation, and measurable results,” she said.
Entries for the 2026 MFA Awards are now open, with early bird submissions due by 21 April and final entries closing on 5 May.
The Awards are open to the entire industry, including MFA members, non-member agencies, clients and media owners. The winners will be announced at a black-tie gala dinner on 24 September at Randwick Racecourse.
The 2026 MFA Awards are supported by a range of industry partners, including Grand Prix sponsor Seven, alongside Platinum sponsors Meta, Reddit and SBS.
Main image: Media Federation of Australia