MFA EX Melbourne has revealed Wavemaker’s associate strategy manager Zoe Stanek, Carat’s senior strategy director Annika Barrett, and Match & Wood’s media coordinator Ashley Hill will take to the stage with their hot takes at this year’s Inspiration X sessions.
MFA EX, which will be held at The Timber Yard in Melbourne on 5 September, aims to educate, challenge, and inspire people working in the Australian media and communications industry, from newcomers to the most experienced media professionals.
Hill’s presentation will examine how agencies can be better seen as a partner to growth, rather than a cost on a balance sheet. Barrett will discuss why dating apps are the ultimate focus group.
Meanwhile, Stanek will remind the MFA EX audience that while there is no shortage of ambition or intention in sustainability, there is a shortage of short-term personal action.
The presenters were selected in a competitive process by the MFA EX panel of curators after employees of MFA member agencies with less than 15 years of experience in the industry were invited to submit Inspiration X proposals.
The aim of the four-minute presentations is to present a new or provocative perspective, inspire the industry to change its thinking or behaviour, and address the theme of the MFA EX conference: Change for the Better.
“A highlight of MFA EX each year, the Inspiration X presentations consistently strike a balance between being informative and entertaining, with a healthy dose of provocation thrown in,” MFA CEO Sophie Madden said.
“Once again, I feel inspired and optimistic at the level of innovative thinking among our industry’s future leaders and can’t wait for everyone to be challenged and inspired by these talented individuals in September.”
More than 2,500 people attended MFA EX in Melbourne and Sydney in 2023. This year’s Melbourne event is taking place on Thursday 5 September at The Timber Yard, and in Sydney on Thursday 19 September at White Bay Cruise Terminal.
The Sydney speakers and topics will be revealed in the coming weeks.
The 2024 MFA EX sponsors are:
Grand Prix Sponsor: Seven Network
Platinum Sponsors: Meta, Outdoor Media Association, SBS
Gold Sponsors: Ad Standards, Foxtel Media, Google, News Corp, OzTAM
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Top image: Zoe Stanek, Annika Barrett and Ashley Hill