YouTube has been ranked Australia’s number one platform for streaming video content, according to new Kantar research released at YouTube’s annual Brandcast showcase in Sydney.

The research, based on a study of 2,161 weekly video viewers aged 18–64, found YouTube outperformed both traditional TV and streaming competitors across entertainment and brand decision-making metrics. Mel Silva, Managing Director of Google Australia and New Zealand, told attendees that YouTube’s strength lies in combining cultural relevance with platform scale.

“YouTube’s not just engaging for fans, it’s incredibly effective for brands,” Silva said. “Great content attracts passionate fans, creating a trusted environment where your brands can achieve incredible growth.”

YouTube’s audience reach and performance

According to Ipsos iris data, YouTube reached more than 20.1 million Australians aged 18+ in May 2025, 96 per cent of the adult online population. Its connected TV (CTV) audience also rose to 13.3 million, up from 12.9 million a year earlier.

Australians watched an average of 87 minutes of YouTube per day across all devices in May. The growth in big-screen viewing has been central to YouTube’s strategic pitch to advertisers, with Ipsos reporting an 11 per cent year-on-year increase in YouTube CTV watch time.

Separate research cited at Brandcast showed YouTube ads deliver 2.4x greater lift in purchase intent than those on other digital platforms (Kantar), and generate an average 2.9 return on ad spend for offline sales (Nielsen).

New product updates for advertisers

Caroline Oates, Head of YouTube Australia and New Zealand, announced several new tools designed to improve campaign effectiveness, particularly on connected TV. These include:

• Immersive Masthead on CTV: A full-screen format on the YouTube homepage for maximum visual impact.
• 60-Second Non-Skippable Ads: A new format for YouTube Select allowing deeper storytelling in premium inventory.
• Shoppable CTV: Enables viewers to shop directly from their TV or transfer product details to their phone.
• Cultural Moments Sponsorships: Allows brands to own key events like the FIFA World Cup or the Met Gala.
• Peak Points: An AI-powered tool using microsignals to serve ads when users are most emotionally receptive.
• Attributed Brand Searches: Connects YouTube video ad views to brand search lift on Google.

“YouTube’s 20-million-plus reach is driven by culture, and that culture is driven by authentic connections between fans and creators, artists, and sport,” said Oates.

Creator growth and L’Oréal case study

YouTube now hosts more than 500 Australian channels with over one million subscribers—five times more than five years ago. The creator ecosystem took centre stage at this year’s Brandcast, hosted by Olympian and YouTuber Sam Fricker, with appearances by Pierson, Kita Alexander and Cyril.

Georgia Hack, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer at L’Oréal Australia and New Zealand, shared how the beauty group uses YouTube to engage diverse audiences. A sponsorship of the NRL’s YouTube channel for its L’Oréal Paris Men Expert brand resulted in an 85 per cent video completion rate. For Maybelline Superstay, user-generated style creative lifted brand searches by 122 per cent and ad recall by 30 per cent.

“(YouTube) provides high reach and engagement – which is particularly important for the beauty category,” said Hack. “It delivers strongly for short and long-term ROI.”

About the event

Brandcast 2025 was held at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday 10 September, attended by more than 600 industry representatives. The event marked YouTube’s 20th birthday and showcased its continued evolution as a platform for culture, creators and commerce.

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The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found four radio licensees in breach of the Commercial Radio Code of Practice following derogatory on-air remarks about women’s sport aired during the Marty Sheargold Show.

The ruling applies to Triple M Sydney Pty Ltd, Triple M Brisbane Pty Ltd, Gold Coast FM Pty Ltd, and Maryborough Broadcasting Company Pty Limited, all of which broadcast the segment in question.

During the program, the host compared the Matildas, Australia’s national women’s football team, to “Year 10 girls,” before mimicking their behaviour in a stereotypical manner. The comments were made in a demeaning tone and were followed by further inappropriate references, including one involving the host’s genitalia, which the ACMA described as “exacerbating” the offensive nature of the segment.

Carolyn Lidgerwood, Authority Member, said the show’s content “went beyond generally acceptable standards of decency.”

“Sexist comments like this don’t belong in Australian broadcasting,” Lidgerwood said. “Even if the comments were an extremely ill-judged attempt at humour, a reasonable listener would have found them offensive and to have crossed the line.”

In response to the incident, Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), which owns the Triple M network, ended its relationship with the host and cancelled the program. The decision was made shortly after the broadcast aired.

The ACMA confirmed it is now considering enforcement action against the four licensees and will make further announcements once a decision is finalised.

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Once upon a time, women’s magazines built their empires on telling women what they weren’t.

Cue America Ferrera’s now infamous monologue from the Barbie movie: “You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to lead, but you can’t squash other people’s ideas. You’re supposed to love being a mother, but don’t talk about your kids all the damn time.” Et cetera, et cetera, and et cetera forever and ever.

But in recent years, the tone has shifted. Instead of fuelling insecurity, they’re leaning into empowerment: championing education, ambition, creativity, and confidence.

Leading the charge is marie claire, editor Georgie McCourt.

Her focus on International Day of the Girl reflects the magazine’s modern mission – moving beyond glossy covers and leaning into conversations that matter.

This morning, she’s waking up after hosting another of the magazine’s signature events – not just a gathering, but one with real weight behind it.

The event, entitled ‘Rewrite Her Future’ and in support of World Vision’s 1000 Girls campaign, heard stories from actor, and author Maria Thattil, MasterChef star Kishwar Chowdhury and rugby trailblazer and proud Kamilaroi woman Mahalia Murphy, each sharing their lived experiences and perspectives.

For McCourt, that kind of personal storytelling is what makes their events so meaningful. “I think hearing those perspectives, personal stories, and experiences in person really changes your perspective.”

“It’s all about connection,” McCourt told Mediaweek. “We know that we are one of the loneliest generations of all time, and you only really feel something when you’re listening to someone speak in person and you’re having that real moment of connection.”

For McCourt, the issue of championing girls is both professional and personal.

“marie claire is all about style and substance and while I love the style part, the thing that I love most about marie claire is the substance part and we spend all year championing women. But what I’m also really passionate about is championing girls because they’re the future generations that we need to take care of,” she said.

With two daughters aged 11 and 12, she admits the subject is close to home. “It’s an issue very close to my heart. This year we’re working with World Vision, which is honestly quite a career highlight for me because I’m so passionate about helping girls have a better future.”

Finding purpose

McCourt’s belief in purpose-driven work is also what drew her to marie claire in the first place.

After years working for other fashion titles, she said she needed something deeper. “They just didn’t connect with me anymore and I was looking for somewhere where my work could be more purpose-focused. marie claire is a brand that has been talking about advocacy in Australia for 30 years and using the word advocate long before advocate was even a word that people used.”

That sense of purpose is reflected in what she hopes for her own children.

“I don’t want them to be scared,” she said.

“I think a lot of us live in fear. So many women know that feeling of walking alone in a car park or down a dark road at night. I also want them to have confidence because I think so many women have imposter syndrome. I want them to know they have a right to be there,” she said.

For McCourt, the message is simple: championing girls today shapes tomorrow.

“We need to tell girls not to be scared to face their dreams, and to keep reminding them that they can do anything that they put their mind to,” she said.

Main image: Georgie McCourt

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Tonight media buyers, partners, and journalists will saunter into the White Bay Power Station events space in Rozelle for Foxtel’s 2026 upfronts presentation. It is an event that has been in the planning for around six months, with Head Of Marketing Communications Erin Zillman taking the lead on the event.

Events like this are a triumph in logistics. There’s not only the challenges of planning the event, which is expected to cater to around 600 guests, but also working through the stakeholder aspects of the task.

Among the biggest concerns for Zillman: Finding a venue that is unique.

“You want to get your venue and your invites out before your competitors, because you don’t want anyone to snag them. The venue choice is so important and why we really try to think differently and choose really cool and interesting venues each year. We really try to avoid the Hordern Pavilion and the Carriageworks and the usual places because… I think there’s three upfront events at the Hordern this year. Not saying that’s a bad thing, but it’s not the Foxtel Media way,” Zillman told Mediaweek.

This will be the second consecutive year that the White Bay Power Station has been used by Foxtel for its upfronts presentation. It was chosen again largely because last years event was deemed to be a big success by the business. Plus, as Zillman explained, “It’s such a large scale venue and a bit of a blank canvas too that you can really do whatever you want inside and make it feel like a new and interesting experience for your guests.”

With a six-month lead-time, Zillman would have safely assumed that by the time the event was staged this year, new owners DAZN would have taken control of the business. The chosen Enter The Game theme certainly has a nod to the new ownership by the European sporting media giant.

“Sporting offering is obviously very important to us. It probably was led a little bit by our acquisition of DAZN. We always like to tread the line carefully between sport and entertainment. Entertainment is also still another massive pillar of growth for us. So, we like to treat each equally. But this year, yeah, leaning a little bit more towards the sport purely because of the DAZN takeover,” Zillman said.

The need to service the entertainment side of the business ruled out going all in on using a sports-focused venue.

Attendees are going to find a lot more talent from Foxtel on stage this year. It won’t just be a parade of executives. This is one of the bigger challenges for Zillman, with talent wrangling always a hurdle.

“In previous years, it’s probably been more exec or staff heavy than talent heavy on stage. But this year, I think we are flipping it on its head. Historically, talent are really hard to try and get involved in these kinds of events. But, we’ve got a really strong presence this year, which will be great,” Zillman revealed.

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Foxtel Group has appointed Choreograph, WPP Media’s data and technology company, to deploy an open-source Marketing Mix Modelling (MMM) solution across its portfolio of brands including Kayo Sports, Binge, Hubbl and Foxtel.

The partnership, built on Google’s Meridian codebase, is the first of its kind in the industry and gives the Group greater transparency, scalability and IP ownership in its marketing analytics.

The MMM capability will allow Foxtel to measure the impact of creative quality, programming strength and other non-media factors on business performance, while supporting faster scenario planning to optimise media investment.

Developed by Choreograph in partnership with Google, the solution will be deployed directly onto Foxtel’s cloud infrastructure, ensuring data security and integration with the Group’s wider commercial analytics suite.

Tim Micallef, Foxtel Director of Media, said: “This project is a true game-changer for Foxtel’s marketing measurement capabilities. For the first time, we have a transparent, fully owned MMM solution that integrates seamlessly with our complex data ecosystem.

“This gives us the agility to adapt as our business evolves and ensures our marketing investments are truly optimised for growth.”

Tom Braybrook, Managing Director of Choreograph Australia & New Zealand, said: “This is measurement built for modern marketing. Often conventional MMM approaches have been limited by costs and lack of data ownership.

“Our Meridian solution truly enables Foxtel to take the best of both worlds – access to an intuitive, automated Marketing Mix Modelling platform; alongside the benefits of IP ownership and extensibility. We’re excited to usher in a new era of transparency and client ownership for Foxtel with this open-source MMM solution.”

For WPP Media, the Foxtel deal builds on recent momentum following global wins with Mastercard, Electronic Arts and Heineken.

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Amazon Ads and Netflix have announced a new partnership that will allow advertisers to buy Netflix ad inventory programmatically through Amazon DSP, with the rollout beginning in Q4 2025.

The integration will be available in 11 markets, including Australia, the United States, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Italy, and Germany, giving marketers direct access to Netflix’s ad-supported tier.

The move signals a further maturing of Netflix’s advertising model, following the global launch of its ad-supported subscription in late 2022. For Amazon, it adds another premium streaming environment to its programmatic offering, leveraging its DSP’s first-party insights and clean room capabilities to improve campaign efficiency and performance.

“We’re delighted to enter into this partnership with Netflix enabling brands to reach their subscribers and extensive library of premium content with Amazon DSP,” said Paul Kotas, Senior Vice President, Amazon Ads. “Our goal is to remove the guesswork for advertisers by making it simple to manage all of their TV planning and buying with Amazon Ads.”

Amy Reinhard, President of Advertising at Netflix, added: “This partnership with Amazon perfectly aligns with our commitment of bringing advertisers even greater flexibility in their buys to achieve their marketing goals. By integrating Amazon DSP and enabling even more advanced capabilities together over time, we’re making it easier than ever to connect with Netflix’s global engaged audience.”

Amazon DSP (demand-side platform) provides access to programmatic video, display, and audio inventory both on and off Amazon, underpinned by data from Amazon’s own retail and media ecosystem. The integration with Netflix is expected to further attract brand advertisers looking to combine reach with data-driven targeting.

It’s the latest move in a broader wave of consolidation and integration across the connected TV ad market, as platforms seek to offer buyers more seamless, scalable access to premium streaming content. The announcement also follows earlier speculation that Netflix was preparing to reduce its reliance on Microsoft as its exclusive sales partner in favour of multiple programmatic pathways.

The companies have not disclosed whether advertisers will need to meet specific minimums or conditions to access Netflix inventory via Amazon DSP, though further details are expected closer to launch.

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Mamamia revealed it is shifting its strategy from a “branded house” to a “house of brands” model in 2026 at the NSW State Library on Tuesday.

Media buyers from holding companies and indies are on board with the investments the independent publisher is making in the year ahead, and Mediaweek caught up with several to get their thoughts on the presentation and what stood out to them.

Sharyn Keller, Client Partner at UM, said the biggest selling point for her was Mamamia’s research and deep understanding of its audience base, built over 18 years.

“Mamamia have literally written the rulebook for relevance, creating a playbook for brands to tap into culture, capture attention through connection and foster community.”

She called the publisher’s partnership with Vudoo and investment in video-first content and shoppable ad products “a natural evolution” as they “meet audiences where they are and turn its connections into conversions.”

Keller pointed out the notable absence of Squad, Mamamia’s in-house branded content agency, as the publisher’s partnership with Fabulate appears to signal a new direction for creator partnerships and amplification.

She called the announcements an attractive investment for media buyers as brands look for avenues to stand-out and win attention.

“‘Encore’ sessions open the door for media buyers to leverage Mamamia’s rich audience understanding to engage with audiences authentically, beyond the upfront.

“Growth in social amplification via video-first content and the undisputed influence of women on purchasing decisions deliver a powerful brand-safe proposition.

“Brands that embrace the rules for relevance, or build vibrancy as we call it at UM, in alignment with their brand values, will reap the rewards,” she added.

For Sarah Keith, Managing Director of independent media agency Involved Media, the Mamamia upfront was “not your average media presentation.”

“Nat Harvey, Zara Curtis, and Georgie Nicholls brought full TV event energy, fast-paced, high-impact, and loaded with insight.”

Among the key takeaways for Keith was, “Relevance = Culture + Connection + Community (underlined or divided by…not too sure about the maths here) Trust. That’s the formula. Simple, but powerful. Brands that miss the trust factor? Irrelevant.”

She noted that Harvey was clear to define Mamamia as a “house of brands” rather than a branded house. Keith said: “Yes, Mia is still present (e.g. the Mamamia Out Loud podcast segment), but Mamamia has clearly shifted into ecosystem mode. You’re not buying a name; you’re entering a network.”

The Involved Media MD noted that the content is no longer one- dimensional and said: “With formats like Parenting Out Loud and the expansion of The Spill, creators and audiences are building content ecosystems, not just one-off shows.”

Keith said: “Ultimately, women are the economic engine and marketers still underestimate them. Mamamia reaches 7.5M+ women monthly. Her purchasing power? Equivalent to four men. She controls up to 90% of household spend. Ignore her at your brand’s peril.

“Video gets serious and seriously shoppable. Think pods with vods. Think brand-led storytelling where commerce meets culture, especially with Gen Z, by Gen Z.”

“Final thought? This felt more like an AI-age TV upfront than a traditional media pitch. And honestly, that’s exactly what it needed to be.”

Ray Ly, Business Director at This is Flow, called Mamamia’s presentation a reminder of the publisher’s ability to “re-calibrate and reload their offering every year on their continued quest to connect with Women through” which what he coined “vigorous relevance.”

For Ly, Mamamia nailed the hyper topical nature with its new slate of products but was most excited for the shoppable social video format.

“With their ability to inspire and heavily influence women’s behaviour that’s unrivalled, adding a shop for product capability within the same ecosystem is a through the line experience I’m keen to witness.”

Enigma Media’s Managing Director Amy Dascanio described Mamamia’s upfront solid, intimate and stylish, “but not flashy.”

“They didn’t need to be. By placing trust, relevance, and attention at the core, they reminded me how Mamamia has built a brand for all women.”

Dascanio highlighted the focus on how brands now need to show up differently and embed themselves in the lives of the women in their communities and networks.

She applauded the publisher for backing themselves with its house of brands strategy and called it “a smart move to diversify into new audiences, and double down on what current works well for them.”

Dascanio called the new podcast launches and insights from their State of Women Survey “a particularly powerful statement.”

She also called the Vudoo partnership a highlight and a “natural extension of the brand, rather another forced tech partnership.”

Dascanio also said the content and influencer partnership with Fabulate indicated to her how the publisher is “thinking more holistically around how brands can fit into the Mamamia ecosystem and tap into the trust developed by the brand over the years.”

“It was made very clear, that if women trust you, they’ll buy from you,” she added.

Megan McMurdo, Associate Account Director at Havas Play, called the clear link between content and commerce as the biggest selling point from Mamamia’s presentation.

She called that defined link proof that “influence drives measurable brand growth”

“By positioning themselves as relevant and trusted through culture, community, and connection, they can take listeners from a podcast, straight through to a shoppable experience that converts.”

She called Mamamia’s investment in relevance, by doubling down on diversifying its content, and technology with its Vudoo partnership as attractive in offering reach and results.

“These investments show they’re serious about building a modern performance layer on top of their storytelling strength, something many publishers talk about, but few execute.

“Buyers get trusted, engaged audiences alongside tools that prove ROI, which is exactly what the market is demanding.”

McMurdo said Mamamia is “future-proofing by blending authenticity with measurable outcomes. They’re acknowledging how fragmented attention is, then leaning into formats people already live in (short-form video, podcasts, and social commerce).

“The real test will be seamless integration of these tech offerings, but if they deliver, Mamamia will be one of the few Australian publishers truly bridging storytelling with commerce at scale.”

Orna Flanagan, Senior Performance Manager at Bench Media, said Mamamia’s strength in is that 74% of its audience trusts its talent recommendations, and 63% act on them.

“That’s a conversion engine most publishers can only dream of,” Flanagan said.

She added that the economic weight of women in the market of one woman carrying the shopping influence of four men is influence that goes beyond traditional ‘female’ categories like beauty or fashion, but drive purchasing decisions across finance, tech, and even automotive.

“The expansion into shoppable formats and video-on-demand podcasts is a smart play. It aligns with how women are already engaging, multitasking, discovering, and buying in the same breath.

“For advertisers, the takeaway is simple: in an era of fragmented consumption, trust-led environments like Mamamia don’t just capture attention, they convert it.”

Nick Murdoch, Managing Partner at Yango for you for Mamamia highlighted the publisher double downing on the simple truths that make them a great business.

“They know who they are and where their strengths lie,” he said.

Murdoch’s highlights included:

1. They are excellent content makers, they understand their audience and are on the cutting edge of culture and trends that affect them. They remain relevant.
2. They are a safe and trusted publisher, they have the runs on the board and credibility in a fragmented marketplace where AI looms large and trust is currency.
3. The female audience has four times the buyer power of males; women are the household buyers, always have been, always will be. This is super important.
4. Ecommerce and shoppable ad units seem made for this audience , if they can make it user friendly and a generally a good UX, it could be huge for them.

He said: “Overall the presentation was really enjoyable, they pushed their strengths without going over the top. It made sense.”

Top image, left to right: Sharyn Keller, Sarah Keith, Ray Ly, Amy Dascanio, Megan McMurdo and Orna Flanagan

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Alex Cullen is set to return to television presenting, eight months after leaving the Nine Network.

The former Today show news and sport presenter has signed with Channel Seven to front a new afternoon news program.

Speaking on GOLD104.3’s The Christian O’Connell Show (where Cullen also works as the resident sports guru) Cullen said the move marked an important new chapter.

“It was a significant day yesterday with me, signing a contract with Seven, which was really exciting. I’m going to be the Afternoon Host on Channel Seven. So we’re going to be taking you through the afternoon from three o’clock” he explained.

Cullen also outlined the program’s target audience, saying with a laugh: “We’re going to get all the nannas, the pensioners, the stay-at-home mums! We’re going to do something a little bit later in the month.”

The father-of-three hinted the show had been in the works for some time, saying: “Commercial TV moves at a glacial pace and we want to get this right.”

O’Connell joked that Cullen would be up against Tipping Point, Channel Nine’s afternoon game show and consistent ratings juggernaut. But Cullen responded confidently: “They are doing well… but not for long!”

The new show will launch later this month, with Seven positioning it as an alternative news-led option in the mid-afternoon slot.

Homecoming

Cullen announced he would be joining not only Seven, but the GOLD network back in July this year.

The appointments come after Cullen stood down from his on-air role at the Today show after controversy erupted over his acceptance of a $50,000 gift from billionaire Adrian Portelli.

At the time Today host  Karl Stefanovic confirmed Cullen’s departure on-air, describing him as a “terrific fella” and praising his five years with the team. “We’re going to miss him terribly,” Stefanovic said, wishing Cullen and his family all the best.

The drama began after Portelli, eager to ditch his “Lambo Guy” label, offered the cash to the first TV journalist to call him “McLaren Man.” Cullen took the bait during a lighthearted exchange on Today with Stefanovic, only to face disciplinary action from Nine soon after.

The network immediately sidelined the host, releasing a statement to the media saying they were arranging for the money to be returned to Portelli, adding they were taking the matter “very seriously”.

Man image: Alex Cullen

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Kimberlee Wells has been named chief executive officer of TBWA\Australia, extending her leadership across both Sydney and Melbourne.

Wells has led the agency’s Melbourne arm for nearly a decade, overseeing consistent growth and major client partnerships including NAB and Australian Defence Force Recruiting.

Her expanded remit follows the rollout of Omnicom’s new Oceania model, led by Nick Garrett, CEO, Omnicom Oceania,, designed to give agencies access to greater scale, data, and specialist talent across Australia and New Zealand.

As CEO, Wells will oversee TBWA’s national operations while continuing in her global role as Practice Lead of Sustain by TBWA.

“I’ve known Kimberlee for more than a decade and have huge respect for her,” Garrett said.

“She’s passionate, tenacious and curious – qualities that make her stand out as a leader. Her ability to build strong client partnerships and lead people with conviction sets her apart.

“As CEO of TBWA\Australia, Kimberlee will define the agency’s vision, setting it up for even greater success. I’m looking forward to working closely with her and her leadership team to design the future for our clients, supported by the full strength of Omnicom Oceania.”

Wells said of her appointment: “I’m delighted to accept the role of CEO for TBWA\Australia. Working alongside Nick and our national leadership team, our clients will experience the full potency of TBWA’s Disruption philosophy, amplified by the scale and capability that only Omnicom can offer.”

Erin Riley, Global CEO, TBWA\Worldwide, said: “Disruption® has always been the heartbeat of TBWA, creativity that challenges convention and builds growth which lasts.

“Kimberlee is the right leader to carry TBWA\Australia into this next chapter. She brings clarity in complexity and conviction in creativity, alongside a track record of strong commercial problem solving with her client partners.

“She is equal parts head and heart, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.”

Top image: Kimberlee Wells

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Dentsu Creative has named John Mescall as Global Chief Creative Partner, based in New York.

Mescall will work with dentsu Global Chief Creative Officer Yasu Sasaki to align creative standards across markets.

His remit will include strengthening creative craft, fostering a global creative community, integrating AI and emerging tools into workflows, and building talent development opportunities across the network.

Mescall was previously Global Executive Creative Director and President of the Global Creative Council at McCann Worldgroup, and Chief Creative Officer of McCann Melbourne.

He has won more than 100 Cannes Lions, including eight Grand Prix, and multiple D&AD, One Show, Clio and LIA awards. Most recently, he was Chief Creative Partner at by TheNetwork.

Mescall said: “What drew me to Dentsu Creative is its deep belief in the power of creativity to drive meaningful impact across the board.”

“It’s rare to find a global organization so aligned in purpose, yet so attuned to the unique strengths of its local teams. I’m excited to be a part of a creative culture full of talented, passionate people, that values excellence, fosters innovation, and puts humanity at the centre of everything we do.”

Abbey Klaassen, Global President, Dentsu Creative, said: “John’s creative legacy speaks for itself, but what excites us most is his ability to unite teams around a shared vision.”

“He knows how to translate big ideas across markets, unlocking the strongest creative thinking from each region. As a champion of evolution and transformation — not just in the work, but in how we work — John will play a pivotal role in driving creative alignment, elevating our craft, and delivering work that’s both culturally resonant and strategically unified, as we continue to scale our creative impact.”

Sasaki said: “Transformative Creativity is the driving force that connects our network’s capabilities to create meaningful impact for people, businesses, and society, and John’s commitment to creativity is a reflection of that.”

“As Global Chief Creative Partner, John will collaborate closely with our Chief Creative Officers in markets, serving as a trusted advisor to elevate their strategies, while also uniting and inspiring our global creative community, ensuring alignment on purpose, amplifying creative excellence, and unlocking the full potential of our talent.”

Top image: John Mescall

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The Australian Radio Network (ARN) InspHERation series returned to Perth for its fourth year, drawing the city’s media agency community together to discuss the role of personal branding in shaping careers.

The event, themed ‘Unlocking the Power of Your Personal Brand’, aimed to spark practical conversations around how women in media can build and maintain authentic professional identities.

This year’s keynote featured journalist, podcaster, and entrepreneur Georgia Love, who spoke candidly about how she navigates public life and builds a brand that feels true to her values.

Love reflected on her career across journalism, television, and business, offering grounded advice on how to balance authenticity with audience expectations.

Agency leaders share perspectives

The panel discussion brought together Jodie Allen (Group Director, Match & Wood WA), Molly Trumble (Client Advice & Comms Design Director, Initiative WA), and Jodie Garner (Planning Director, Hearts & Science WA). Moderated by ARN’s Jessica Steliou, the session explored how personal branding plays into leadership, visibility, and career growth.

Trumble spoke about the importance of internal culture, saying personal branding is just as much about what leaders bring to their teams as it is about external image.

Allen, meanwhile, pointed to adaptability, describing how evolving her brand has helped her shift between roles in a changing media environment. While Garner highlighted the value of visibility, encouraging women to take ownership of their expertise in decision-making spaces.

The panellists also offered attendees practical ways to strengthen their professional presence, including clarifying personal narratives and identifying the right platforms to amplify their voices.

InspHERation’s growing community

Reflecting on the event, Steliou said: “There is something truly electric about being in a room full of women who are not only ambitious, but also deeply supportive of one another. Every year, InspHERation leaves me feeling uplifted and inspired, and this year was no exception.

“I’m so proud of how this event has grown bigger and better each year, and the community we’re building together,” she said.

Aaron Bryant, ARN’s Agency Sales Director, added: “The InspHERation series has become a standout event on the Perth calendar, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for the ARN team to connect with our clients in a meaningful way. This year’s focus on personal branding delivered practical takeaways people can put into action straight away; while also shining a light on the incredible talent and leadership we have in our local industry.”

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Hamish Macdonald is about to become a weekday fixture on ABC Radio Sydney, adding Fridays to his regular Mornings program from October.

The move follows a strong ratings result for the broadcaster in GfK Survey 5, with the network recording audience lifts across key slots.

A growing role

Macdonald, who has been presenting the program Monday to Thursday, said he was looking forward to taking on the full week.

“We’re having heaps of fun on Mornings; breaking stories and building this big daily conversation with Sydney. It’s really wonderful to see the audience responding in this way. And it’s a huge testament to the hard work of our wonderful team,” he said.

“I can’t wait to add Fridays and of course thanks to my dear mate Kath who will still be all over the 702 schedule, as one of the hardest working broadcasters in the biz.”

Kathryn Robinson will continue in her current Afternoons slot on 702, while also maintaining her role with ABC News.

Macdonald’s extended commitment follows a solid ratings lift. He posted a +1.0% increase in Mornings, reaching a 5.6% share. In Drive, Chris Bath also recorded growth, up +0.9% to 5.6%.

Across the network, the ABC added 1.2 points to finish on an 18.3% share in Survey 5, with weekly reach climbing 3.6% to 4.75 million listeners.

On digital, the ABC remains the country’s leading live-streaming network, growing its share by +2.7% to 28.6%, and lifting reach 7% to 1.45 million.

Read more: Sydney Radio Ratings: Survey 5

Read more: Melbourne Radio Ratings: Survey 5

Main image: Hamish Macdonald

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Jana Hocking is taking her much-talked-about “saucy” brand from the page to the airwaves, with a new national show launching across the KIIS FM network on Sunday nights.

Saucy Secrets with Jana Hocking will air in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with episodes also released as a podcast and on YouTube for international audiences.

From columns to the airwaves

The program is an interactive extension of Hocking’s popular columns “Saucy Secrets,” “Ask Jana,” and “Sealed Section,” which have attracted loyal readers in Australia, the US, and the UK.

Her mix of candid relationship advice, confessions, and offbeat stories has sparked plenty of debate, and now she’s bringing that same energy to radio.

“It’s a safe space for bad decisions, bold advice, and the kind of confessions that make you feel better about your own life choices,” said Hocking.

“Nothing’s off limits: sexless marriages, wild one-night stands, revenge bodies, secret affairs. If someone’s lived it, I want to talk about it.”

What listeners can expect

Each Sunday, Hocking will dive into real-life listener confessions, relationship dilemmas, and celebrity stories with the no-filter approach she’s become known for.

The show aims to balance outrageous anecdotes with the kind of honesty that keeps audiences coming back.

To tap into her international following, Saucy Secrets with Jana will be available as both a podcast and a YouTube series.

The multiplatform approach reflects Hocking’s growing reach, which recently saw overseas outlets like the New York Post and Daily Mail competing for her voice.

The show is supported by JOUJOU, described as Australia’s leading online retailer of premium adult toys.

Read more: Sydney Radio Ratings: Survey 5

Read more: Melbourne Radio Ratings: Survey 5

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After nearly 25 years, Clint Stanaway yesterday resigned from his on-air role at Nine, which saw him toggle the roles of Weekend Today co-host and 9News Melbourne Weekend Sport Presenter.

Stanaway made the call so that he could focus on his full-time role as the newsreader for Nova 100’s Jase & Lauren.

This morning, on the very radio show which played such a huge role in his decision, Stanaway revealed the very human reason behind the move.

“I was burnt out,” he told co-hosts Jason Hawkins and Lauren Phillips.

“I’m relieved, because I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. I needed to make a decision, because looking back on how I was feeling and and where my head was at.”

Stanaway first joined the Breakfast show with the intention of only staying for “six months”.

“And four years later, you have been working seven days a week, and hand on heart, I think Jase and I both agree, you are the hardest working human we know, and you’re exhausted!” Phillips said.

Stanaway admitted the role quickly became more than he expected. “Well, first and foremost, you know, I think you’re right. I did do this for six months initially, and I became very quickly addicted to it. And now I see it as my life and my future, which is just such a beautiful feeling to have,” he said.

Hawkins added: “Mate, you took the radio like a duck to water, honestly.”

Stanaway admitted he’d been feeling deeply emotional since announcing the news. “I’m not going to sit here and lie. I did shed a tear, because it’s been my entire life. It’s been my entire professional life, and it will be hard to walk away from Channel Nine after near on 25 years, and I plan to do so at the end or in November sometime,” he said.

He went on to say that fatherhood also played a big decision: “I want to get my life back. I want to do some normal things. I want to share some incredible moments with my family, my friends, and one day, I want to be a dad as well, you know, I want to meet someone. And at the moment, I can’t do that.”

Nine pays tribute

Hugh Nailon, Nine’s National News Director, praised Stanaway’s contribution across the newsroom and beyond: “Clint’s career at Nine is a stellar example of what can be achieved through sheer hard work and dedication. From the news library to the host chair of Weekend Today, he has excelled in every role.

“He’s a brilliant journalist and storyteller, and an equally brilliant presenter. He has a terrific instinct for a story and has been a wonderful mentor to many in our newsroom.

“While he will be sorely missed by the Nine family, we wish him every success in his next chapter and thank him for his outstanding service,” Nailon said.

Stanaway’s departure will mark the end of a significant era for Nine, but as both he and his colleagues have suggested, it may not be the last time viewers see him on their screens.

Main image: Clint Stanaway

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UniSuper has launched RetireMentors, a new national campaign and content series created with independent agency ATime&Place.

The platform aims to spark conversation about retirement by sharing real stories of UniSuper members and how they’re approaching life after work.

A six-part content series profiles members including a former school principal who makes toys, a teacher who trains ducks and a PhD scientist who plays bass in a rock band.

The campaign is live across digital, social and owned channels and follows The Never Too Late Show, ATime&Place’s first campaign for UniSuper in 2024.

Leah Mackenzie, Head of Marketing at UniSuper, said: “We wanted to show that retirement isn’t a full stop and our members prove that every day. From flying planes to training ducks to playing in rock bands, their stories are full of purpose and energy.

“RetireMentors is about allowing people to imagine their own next chapter and feel confident stepping into it. ATime&Place have done a fabulous job bringing these stories to life as we continue to shift the stigmas around retirement.”

It is the second campaign ATime&Place has created for UniSuper since winning the account in late 2024.

Where the first campaign, the award-winning Never Too Late Show, asked Australians to imagine their next act, RetireMentors shows what it looks like when people go out and live it.

Charles Baylis, Executive Creative Director at ATime&Place, added: “Working with UniSuper has taught us that it’s not just wealth you need to accumulate to feel ready for retirement, it’s knowledge.

He said: “RetireMentors is one more way we’re helping bring that knowledge to people. And while we’d love to take all the credit, the real stars are the members who agreed to share their experiences, inspiring and educating Australians on what a good retirement looks like and how to get there.

“We hope these stories resonate with Australians everywhere and help them feel more prepared, and more excited, about what’s ahead. I know I am.”

Backed by UniSuper’s Retire with Purpose research, the campaign reflects shifting attitudes toward retirement, focusing less on finances alone and more on identity, aspirations and quality of life.

Credits
Client: UniSuper
Chief Marketing and Growth Officer: Dani Murrie
Head of Marketing: Leah Mackenzie
Manager, Marketing Strategy & Activation: Mark O’Brien
Manager, Creative & Creative Director: Dave Buttigieg

Agency: ATime&Place
Chief Creative Officer: Matt Lawson
Executive Creative Director: Charles Baylis
Copywriter: Andy Matthews
Executive Producer: Marlese Byfield
Producer: Hannah Cleary
Head of Realisation: Rob Weir
Managing Director: Adrian Mills
General Manager: Britt Rigoni
Head of Strategy: Sally Denniston
Account Manager: Evelyn Dalton

Production:
Kilogram Director/DOP: Nick Rieve
Kilogram DOP: Lachie Argy
Underwater DOP: Stefan Jose

Post Production:
Colourist: Dan Stonehouse – Crayon
Online Editor: Adrian Katz
Sound Studio: Squeak E Clean
Sound Producer: Ceri Davies
Sound Engineer: Dee Gjedsted

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Australian-founded marketing intelligence company Mortar AI has opened its first international office in Singapore as part of its global expansion strategy.

The Singapore hub will serve as Mortar’s Asia regional headquarters, covering markets including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea and India.

From the hub, Mortar will oversee strategy, delivery and market development, while tailoring operations to local market needs.

Shane Mitchell has been appointed APAC strategy director to lead the new office. Based in Singapore, he brings more than 20 years of experience across tech and media, including leadership roles at Exact AI. Mitchell will be responsible for strategy and client partnerships across the region.

James Zipeure, group CEO of Mortar AI, said: “By anchoring ourselves in Singapore, we can manage and support every key Asian market from one strategic hub.

“Welcoming Shane to lead our regional strategy ensures we have the experience and vision to deliver on that promise. His track record in driving transformation across various organisations makes him the ideal partner for our clients and our team.”

Mitchell added: “Asia has a dynamic and rapidly evolving advertising landscape, and Mortar is arriving at just the right moment. Business and marketing leaders now have a real opportunity to unlock new value by combining Mortar’s global platform with deep local insights.

“I’m excited to help our clients cut through complexity and create evidence-led measurement and growth strategies.”

The Singapore launch follows the recent appointment of former oOh!media CRO and Yahoo APAC head Paul Sigaloff as Mortar’s global chief customer officer.

It also sets the blueprint for further international rollouts, with additional launches planned for 2026.

Mortar AI provides a privacy-safe measurement platform that unifies MMM, incrementality testing and digital tracking. It is currently used by clients across retail, automotive and FMCG sectors to connect CRM, CDP and advertising platforms.

Top image: Shane Mitchell

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