– 30 elite places have been awarded from a pool of 200 nominations to the inaugural Australian programme, after a rigorous 3-stage selection process.
– The nine-month intensive programme is designed to develop each delegate’s leadership skills and prepare them for their journey to board level business leader.
– 2015 programme sponsors include; Commonwealth Bank, Google, NewsCorp Australia and Foxtel.
At a party hosted by Commonwealth Bank, The Marketing Academy unveiled the line up of leaders from marketing, advertising and media selected to take part in their first Australia Leaders Programme 2015.
The cohort was selected from over 200 nominations following a rigorous three-stage selection process, where each applicant’s skills, experience and potential were put to the test. Finalists took part in a 90-minute face-to-face interview, facing the Marketing Academy selection panel. The entire judging panel comprised of 22 leading Australian based Human Resources professionals, Marketing practitioners and CEO’s of leading marketing membership bodies such as the AANA and ADMA.
Marketing Academy Founder & CEO Sherilyn Shackell says, “the calibre of applicants was extremely high and so many talented individuals showed exceptional talent, determination and skill throughout the selection process. It was a tough process for all applicants and we commend everyone who took part.”
The Marketing Academy is proud to announce the following delegates to our first Australia Leaders Programme:
- Amy Lee-Hopkins, Brand and Reputation Manager – Barnardo’s
- Claire Whish-Wilson, Brand Manager AAMI – Suncorp Group
- Justin Edward Taylor, Category Marketing Manager – Mondelez
- Nicole Bardsley, Director of Brand & Communications -Virgin Mobile
- Justin Robinson, Director of Marketing Operations & Media – Foxtel
- Vanessa Sanford, Executive Manager Digital & Social Channels – Commonwealth Bank
- Sharon Lewis, Executive Producer – M&C Saatchi
- Lucy Plunkett, General Manager – Play Communications
- Sean Hall, General Manager Employee Experience – Telstra
- Hamish Strahorn, Group Business Director – Starcom MediaVest Group (Aus)
- Ian Edwards, Group Business Director – MEC Global
- Tim Kirby, Head Of Account Management – Naked Communications Sydney
- Adam Ross, Head of Co-Creation – Mindshare
- Alex Light, Head of Content – Vice
- David Halter, Head of Digital – Clemenger BBDO
- Jo McAlister, Head of Group Marketing – SBS
- Jane Merrick, Head of Marketing Communications – IAG
- Ernesto Soriano, Head of Marketing, Google Play – Google
- Kim Hamilton, Head of Performance – OMD Australia
- Duncan Parfitt, Head of Performance & Analytics – Match Media
- Pia Coyle, Head of Trading & Amplification – Ikon Communications
- Paul Connell, Homecare Business Team Leader – Unilever ANZ
- Damon Robbins, Manager, Digital Marketing – Tabcorp
- Victoria Cooper, Marketing Director – Goodman Fielder
- Heilan Bolton, Marketing Manager – 20th Century Fox
- Mim Orlando, Marketing Manager – Carlton & United Breweries
- Rachel Taylor, Marketing Manager – PepsiCo
- William Papesch, Marketing Manager – DBG Australia
- Michael McKeown, Marketing Manager – Carlton & United Breweries
- Nick Turner, Senior Marketing Manager News Corp Australia


