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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.

Get in touch with us or read the full criteria

FAQ

Have questions about entering or attending?

Visit our FAQ page or contact the Mediaweek events team for more information.

Get in touch with us or check out our FAQ

Take me to FAQs

Our Judges

Amy Bradshaw

Amy Bradshaw

General Manager, Global Business Solutions
TikTok ANZ

Sam Buchanan

Sam Buchanan

CEO
IMAA

Sara Dunseath

Sara Dunseath

Executive General Managing Marketing & PR
Fitness & Lifestyle Group

Fiona Ellis-Jones

Fiona Ellis-Jones

Head of News & Information
ARN

Katie Finney

Katie Finney

National Television Sales Director
Seven

Del Fordham

Del Fordham

Head of Podcasts
Tapt Media

Mark Frain

Mark Frain

CEO
Foxtel Media

Sam Geer

Sam Geer

MD Media
Accenture Song ANZ

Ryan Hedditch

Ryan Hedditch

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

Sarah Heitkamp

Sarah Heitkamp

National Head of Strategy & CX
Digitas Australia

Aden Hepburn

Aden Hepburn

CEO
Akcelo

Paul Hewett

Paul Hewett

CEO
In Marketing We Trust

Peter Horgan

Peter Horgan

Principal & CEO
Joy.

Jimmy Hyett

Jimmy Hyett

CEO & Founder
This Is Flow

Virginia Hyland

Virginia Hyland

CEO & Commercial Partner
Squad M&A

Jane King

Jane King

Director, Member Engagement & Marketing
AANA

Wade Kingsley

Wade Kingsley

Founder
Podtential

Michelle Klein

Michelle Klein

Chief Growth, Brand & Marketing Officer
Westpac

Leigh Lavery

Leigh Lavery

General Manager
The Growth Distillery

Simon Lee

Simon Lee

Chief Creative Officer & Founder
Enigma

Vanessa Lyons

Vanessa Lyons

CEO
Thinknewsbrands

Elizabeth McIntyre

Elizabeth McIntyre

CEO
OMA & MOVE

Jessica Miles

Jessica Miles

Country Manager ANZ
IAS

Adrian Mills

Adrian Mills

Co-Founder and CEO
A Time and Place

Rowena Millward

Rowena Millward

Co-Founder & CEO
MacMORGAN Next Practice Growth

Philippa Moig

Philippa Moig

CEO
Unltd.

Lucy Formosa Morgan

Lucy Formosa Morgan

Principal
Formosa Morgan

Olly Newton

Olly Newton

Executive Head
LiSTNR Commercial

Troy Pearce

Troy Pearce

Marketing Director
NOVA Entertainment

Patricia Powell-Hughes

Patricia Powell-Hughes

Managing Director
EP Australia

Louise Romeo

Louise Romeo

Chief Operating Officer

Julia Sheehan

Julia Sheehan

General Manager
Leo

Lauren Sheens

Lauren Sheens

Director P&C
The Guardian

Sharyn Smith

Sharyn Smith

Founder & Executive Director
Social Soup

Lyndall Spooner

Lyndall Spooner

CEO
5D

Brittany Stack

Brittany Stack

Head of Communications
Seven

Jenn Thomas

Jenn Thomas

Director of Marketing and Membership
IAB Australia

Ashleigh Thomas

Ashleigh Thomas

Commercial Director, Publishing Sales
Nine

Anthony Toovey

Anthony Toovey

Strategic Advisor
ADMA

Michael Usher

Michael Usher

Chief Network Anchor
Seven News

Michelle Wee

Michelle Wee

GM of Marketing
Hisense

Patrick Whitnall

Patrick Whitnall

Managing Director
AiMCO

Sian Whitnall

Sian Whitnall

CEO
OMD Australia

Hope Williams

Hope Williams

Managing Director, Australia & NZ
Podean

Darren Woolley

Darren Woolley

Founder & Global CEO
Trinity P3

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