Leadership in Motion
Where influence becomes leadership
Next of the Best is Mediaweek's awards program recognising the leaders driving outcomes across Australia's brand, media, marketing and technology ecosystem.
From brand marketers and agency strategists to platform innovators, publishers and founders, these awards celebrate the individuals already shaping the industry's direction.
Next of the Best moves beyond emerging talent to recognise the operators trusted with responsibility – the people leading teams, building products and delivering real impact today.
Categories
Brand & Growth+
The marketers and brand guardians.
Recognising individuals driving measurable growth, market share and customer value through strategy, performance and commercial outcomes of their brands.
Publisher & Platform+
The architects of the media ecosystem.
Recognising individuals shaping the commercial, audience or product strategy that keeps a publisher or platform relevant, competitive and profitable.
Agency Media+
The media architects.
Recognising agency leaders delivering exceptional commercial returns through media planning, trading and investment strategy.
Agency Creative+
The architects of attention.
Recognising creative and strategic leaders whose ideas achieve cultural impact and commercial effectiveness.
Partnerships+
The deal-makers.
Recognising leaders who build high-value collaborations, integrations and alliances that deliver shared outcomes.
Retail & Commerce+
The closers.
Recognising leaders who bridge brand and transaction through retail media, eCommerce and omnichannel conversion.
Product & Innovation+
The builders.
Recognising leaders who design products, platforms or tools that solve real business problems and create new capability.
Data & Insights+
The translators.
Recognising leaders who turn complex data into clear insight that changes strategy, performance or decision-making.
Influence & Audience+
The community builders.
Recognising strategists who convert attention into loyal audiences, advocacy and growth.
Audio & Entertainment+
The modern broadcasters.
Recognising leaders shaping audio, entertainment and content formats that drive audience habit, retention and commercial value.
News & Journalism+
The guardians of trust.
Recognising journalists and editors delivering agenda-setting work with integrity and real-world impact.
People & Culture+
The architects of high performance.
Recognising leaders transforming culture, talent and organisational effectiveness.
Sustainability & Purpose+
The guardians of the future.
Recognising leaders embedding sustainability, responsibility and ethics into core business strategy.
Sales & Commercial+
The rainmakers.
Recognising commercial leaders driving sustainable revenue growth, margin protection and resilient client relationships.
Entrepreneur+
The disruptors.
Recognising founders and leaders building scalable businesses from unmet market needs.
The Change Maker+
The standard setter.
Recognising the individual whose influence reshapes industry standards, ethics or capability.
FAQ
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Visit our FAQ page or contact the Mediaweek events team for more information.
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Our Judges

Amy Bradshaw
General Manager, Global Business Solutions
TikTok ANZ

Sam Buchanan
CEO
IMAA

Sara Dunseath
Executive General Managing Marketing & PR
Fitness & Lifestyle Group

Fiona Ellis-Jones
Head of News & Information
ARN

Katie Finney
National Television Sales Director
Seven

Del Fordham
Head of Podcasts
Tapt Media

Mark Frain
CEO
Foxtel Media

Sam Geer
MD Media
Accenture Song ANZ

Ryan Hedditch
General Manager, Commercial Video, Audio & Branded Content
News Australia

Sarah Heitkamp
National Head of Strategy & CX
Digitas Australia

Aden Hepburn
CEO
Akcelo

Paul Hewett
CEO
In Marketing We Trust

Peter Horgan
Principal & CEO
Joy.

Jimmy Hyett
CEO & Founder
This Is Flow

Virginia Hyland
CEO & Commercial Partner
Squad M&A

Jane King
Director, Member Engagement & Marketing
AANA

Wade Kingsley
Founder
Podtential

Michelle Klein
Chief Growth, Brand & Marketing Officer
Westpac

Leigh Lavery
General Manager
The Growth Distillery

Simon Lee
Chief Creative Officer & Founder
Enigma

Vanessa Lyons
CEO
Thinknewsbrands

Elizabeth McIntyre
CEO
OMA & MOVE

Jessica Miles
Country Manager ANZ
IAS

Adrian Mills
Co-Founder and CEO
A Time and Place

Rowena Millward
Co-Founder & CEO
MacMORGAN Next Practice Growth

Philippa Moig
CEO
Unltd.

Lucy Formosa Morgan
Principal
Formosa Morgan

Olly Newton
Executive Head
LiSTNR Commercial

Troy Pearce
Marketing Director
NOVA Entertainment

Patricia Powell-Hughes
Managing Director
EP Australia

Louise Romeo
Chief Operating Officer

Julia Sheehan
General Manager
Leo

Lauren Sheens
Director P&C
The Guardian

Sharyn Smith
Founder & Executive Director
Social Soup

Lyndall Spooner
CEO
5D

Brittany Stack
Head of Communications
Seven

Jenn Thomas
Director of Marketing and Membership
IAB Australia

Ashleigh Thomas
Commercial Director, Publishing Sales
Nine

Anthony Toovey
Strategic Advisor
ADMA

Michael Usher
Chief Network Anchor
Seven News

Michelle Wee
GM of Marketing
Hisense

Patrick Whitnall
Managing Director
AiMCO

Sian Whitnall
CEO
OMD Australia

Hope Williams
Managing Director, Australia & NZ
Podean

Darren Woolley
Founder & Global CEO
Trinity P3

SCA's Alyce Wilson on making change count after Next of The Best win
Read More
Next Of The Best winner Jess Eva on self-doubt, storytelling, and building a business
Read More
Next of the Best: Beyond The Win Natasha Lee sits down with Henry Innis, co-founder and CEO of Mutinex, to talk bold moves, big insights, and what it really takes to lead in a shifting landscape.
Listen Now
Next of the Best: Beyond The Win we speak with Tiff Ng, founder of social media agency The Social Story and winner of Mediaweek's Next of the Best Change Maker Award.
Listen NowThanks to our sponsors

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