Mediaweek has officially unveiled the judging panel for the 2025 Next of the Best Awards, assembling a distinguished group of industry leaders to evaluate and celebrate the trailblazers shaping Australia’s media, marketing, and advertising landscape.
Submissions close on 9 May, 2025, so there’s still time to enter, here.
Celebrating Leadership and Innovation
The Next of the Best Awards recognises professionals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and influence within their organisations and the broader industry, and there’s no age-based critera. You just need to be mid-career (15 years or less in the industry) and ready to be recognised for your achievements.
The Judging Panel
The cross-industry panel includes a selection the industry’s most successful figures.
Alana Chetner, Founder & Director, ÉTOILE PR
Angela Smith, Co-founder & CEO, Affinity
Dean La Rosa, General Manager Commercial Data, News Corp
Jess Torpy, Head Media Thinker, Thinkerbell
Louise Romeo, COO, Starcom
Nat Harvey, CEO, Mamamia
Tiff Ng, Founder and Chief Storyteller, The Social Story
Ori Gold, CEO, Bench Media
Natarsha Belling, Journalist and presenter, Seven
Sam Buchanan, CEO, IMAA
Sally Hellyer, National Head of Business Insights, Mindshare
Sasha Mackie, Senior Director of Marketing – Streaming, Studios & Networks, Australia and New Zealand, Warner Bros. Discovery
Paula Kruger, CEO, Media Diversity Australia
Scott Purcell, Co-founder, Man of Many
Alana Chetner Founder and Director ÉTOILE PR, Angela Smith Co-founder and CEO Affinity, Dean La Rosa General Manager Commercial Data News Corp, Jess Torpy Head Media Thinker Thinkerbell, Louise Romeo COO Starcom, Nat Harvey CEO Mamamia, Tiff Ng Founder and Chief Storyteller at The Social Story
Ori Gold CEO Bench Media, Sasha Mackie, Senior Director of Marketing – Streaming, Studios & Networks Australia and New Zealand Warner Bros. Discovery, Sam Buchanan CEO IMAA, Sally Hellyer National Head of Business Insights Mindshare, Natarsha Belling Journalist and presenter Seven, Scott Purcell Co-founder Man of Many, Paula Kruger CEO Media Diversity Australia
Entries will close on 9 May, 2025 and the awards will be presented at a ceremony on 13 June 2025 at W, Sydney.
You can find details of criteria and entry here.