Keeping our finger on the industry pulse is how we help our clients stay sharp, relevant, and ready for what’s next.. That’s why we show up to a broad range of events - most recently attending the IMAA’s fifth annual Indie-Pendence Day — a high-energy event filled with sharp thinking, bold predictions, and real talk from some of the biggest names in media and marketing.
The day featured a number of fabulous panels with too much to share here - but our three standout takeaways follow. And we’d like to offer a shoutout with additional bonus points to Adam Ferrier (Thinkerbell) and Tim Burrowes (Unmade) for a lively session on how AI is reshaping content creation and audience engagement — both practically and philosophically.
1. Australian media needs more love — and investment
A heavyweight panel featuring Michael Miller (News Corp Australia), Matthew Stanton (Nine), Ciaran Davis (ARN), and Natalie Harvey (Mamamia) — moderated by Slingshot’s Jane Waterhouse — shone a spotlight on the importance of backing Australian-owned media and premium local content. The panel even floated the idea of a “Made in Australia” mark to help identify and support homegrown media. Keeping it real, this means that we should be actively considering how we can support homegrown media without activities.
And on a side note, while the panel was strongly of the view that hybrid work is here to stay, there was unanimous agreement on the irreplaceable value of face-to-face collaboration; the kind that sparks creativity and brings campaigns to life. Food for thought for us all.
2. Data privacy is everyone’s business
With data breaches regularly making headlines, consumer trust is on shaky ground. Gai Le Roy (IAB Australia) and Shannon Fitzpatrick (Fitzpatrick Media) called for stronger industry safeguards and better consumer education. Their message was clear: if we want to keep the benefits of targeted advertising, we need to lift our privacy game — and fast.
3. Measurement, media mix and regional reach are under the microscope
Huong Nguyen (Alchemy One) led a Channel Panel with leaders from ThinkNews Brands, Nine, OMA, Commercial Radio Australia and Boomtown. From the value of programmatic to closing the gaps in media measurement, the group agreed: data-driven insights and regional engagement are critical to cutting through in an increasingly fragmented landscape.