News from Down Under: The Marketing Academy Australia Scholarship Class of 2018

During an exclusive party hosted by Commonwealth Bank, The Marketing Academy Australia announced the cohort of marketing executives selected for the fourth year of their coveted Scholarship Programme. Following a rigorous 3 stage selection process that included more than 300 nominations, over 100 ‘pitches’ and 60 face to face interviews,  The Marketing Academy Australia has unveiled the 30 emerging leaders from client side brands, media owners and agencies selected to attend its 2018 Scholarship Programme. This free but highly selective leadership programme for talented brand, media and agency leaders is designed to develop the Scholars leadership skills and prepare them for their journey towards board level business leaders. Speaking of the selection process Academy Founder Sherilyn Shackell said ‘The quality of talent in Australia is remarkable. As we enter our fourth year the standard of applications continue to raise the bar. Whilst this is great to see, it also means that our job of selecting the just 30 becomes even harder! I’d like to say a huge thank you the industry CEO’s and CMO’s who nominated such an amazing array of talent this year.’ The prestigious Scholarship Programme, sponsored again in 2018 by Google, Commonwealth Bank, News Corp Australia, Microsoft and PwC, includes one-to-one mentoring sessions with Australia’s most experienced industry leaders.  Each year the line-up of Mentors who donate their time to invest in the Scholars reads like a who’s who of the industry and includes Mark Lollback, Monique Macleod,  Damian Eales, Therese Kallie, John Steedman, Stephanie Tully, Andy Lark and Brent Smart. In addition the mentoring Scholars are each assigned an Executive Coach, attend 3 residential ‘Boot Camps’ packed with inspirational speakers and experience 4 Lectures hosted by recognized subject matter experts. Alumni of the programme describe the experience as ‘a once in a lifetime opportunity’, ‘transformational’ and ‘life changing’. Here’s the line up of The Marketing Academy Australia Scholarship Class of 2018: Adam Slattery, Head of Media, Brand & Communications, Woolworths BWS Alex Conomos, Marketing Manager, SBS Alison Tilling, Co-head of planning, BMF Andrew Kolb, Head of Strategy, Y&R Brisbane Anna College, Head of Creative Management, Ikon Communications Anshika Grover, Associate Director, Optus Brooke Tierney, Head of Marketing, Monde Nissin Chiquita King, Managing Partner, DDB Sydney Ciaran Norris, Director, Marketing & Business Insights, American Express Danni Wright, Group Strategy Director, Carat Declan O’Dwyer, Group Director, UM Dorothee Gomez, Business Director, OMD Australia Evonne Williams, Marketing Communications Manager, Simplot Hannah Sturrock, Group Head, The Hallway James Boardman, National Head of Strategy, MEC Jules  Lund, Founder, Tribe Group Kammeron George, GM Consumer Sales & Marketing,     News Corp Katrina White, SMB Customer Program Manager, Microsoft Kelly Tagalan, General Manager, Code Club Australia Laura Johnson, Marketing Director, Xref Lucio Ribeiro, Managing Director, Online Digital Circle Martin Curtis, Head of Performance Agencies, Google Mitchell Parkins, Head of Sponsorships, Sportsbet Mollie Hill, Director of Strategy, 72 & Sunny Myriam Conrie, Head of Communications & Marketing, Museum of Contemporary Art Nicky Bryson, Brand Strategy Lead, PwC Richard Woods, Group Account Director, Naked Sarah Jane Knox, Marketing Capability Leader,     Lion Beer Sarah Murdoch, Global Marketing Director, Jurlique Tamara Carson, Executive Manager Small Business Marketing, CBA Full details on the Scholars, Alumni, Mentors, Coaches and Selection Panel can be found at www.themarketingacademy.org.au