Last night, Sue Fennessey, the Founder of WeAre8, alongside WeAre8 Australia CEO, Lizzie Young hosted drinks at the world’s only Carbon Neutral Gin Distillery, Four Pillars, ahead of the launch of the sustainable social media app.
WeAre8 launches in Australia on the 8th of August and aims to reshape the social media market by providing a sustainable model that delivers users a hate free platform. Its content feed is focused on delivering 8 minutes of mindful media every day, with the aim to reconnect people with the world around them during that time.
Lizzie Young
The company hired Young to lead the Australian operations in March of this year, after being at Nine Entertainment Co for 12 years, most recently as managing director of local markets and group marketing.
When Young’s departure from Nine was announced, Nine chief executive Mike Sneesby said: “Lizzie Young has made a significant contribution to Nine since she joined us 12 years ago and we thank her for her passion and energy which she brought every day. We wish her well in her new role as CEO of WeAre8 in Australia,”
Sue Fennessey
In July, more key hires followed with Danika Johnston appointed chief commercial officer and Luke Robinson named chief marketing officer,
Johnston has been in leadership roles at Nova Entertainment, Mamamia, SBS and TikTok throughout her 25-year career in media working across both agency and client teams, across all disciplines.
Robinson has worked in senior marketing roles at Channel 9, Bauer Media, Sony Music and most recently at Nine where he was responsible for the Group’s B2B Marketing Strategy across television, radio, publishing and digital.
The WeAre8 Team
Young said of the new appointments at the time: “Danika and Luke are outstanding media professionals. Danika is passionate about delivering results for her clients.“More importantly, she is passionate about delivering the right results – ones that guarantee transformational performance, all while enabling brands to drive positive outcomes for people and the planet.
“Luke is recognised for the success he has delivered building brands across a number of different media and content businesses. He has a unique mix of strategic and creative capability and I can’t wait to see him build our community.“We are excited to get going and are committed to building a media offering that delivers serious results and has a positive impact on social and environmental causes facing Australians,” Young added.
The App aims to encourage people to reduce their social media use and is a shift away from doom scrolling, and more focus on quality content that inspires people.
WeAre8 is the only carbon negative social media platform, with 50% of profits going back to people’s pockets through a revolutionised advertising experience, 5% to charities and carbon offsetting and 5% to a creator fund.
WeAre8 aims to encourage brands to shift 6.5% of their social budgets through WeAre8, which would enable them to make their entire social media budget spend carbon neutral.
WeAre8 is b-corp certified and has partnerships in place with AdNet Zero, and Ecologi and is audited by PwC.
WeAre8 is funded by leaders and organisations who want to change the world, including former English footballer, Rio Ferdinand, the UK’s Channel 4, and BBC Studios through UKTV.