Professor Byron Sharp is a globally renowned marketing expert and Director of the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute at the University of South Australia, the world’s largest centre for research into marketing. His influential book, How Brands Grow (Oxford University Press, 2010), has been translated into over a dozen languages and is widely regarded as the most impactful marketing text today.

With over 100 peer-reviewed articles, Professor Sharp is one of the world’s most cited advertising researchers. He serves on five international journal editorial boards and has organised conferences at Wharton on empirical advertising laws.

The Ehrenberg-Bass Institute’s fundamental research is financially supported by many of the world's leading corporations including Nestlé, Mondelēz International, PepsiCo, Mars Inc., and many others and has been featured in The Economist, the Financial Times, and Bloomberg TV.

Neil Patel is the co-founder of NP Digital. The Wall Street Journal calls him a top influencer on the web, Forbes says he is one of the top 10 marketers, and Entrepreneur Magazine says he created one of the 100 most brilliant companies. Neil is a New York Times bestselling author and was recognised as a top 100 entrepreneur under the age of 30 by President Obama and a top 100 entrepreneur under the age of 35 by the United Nations.

Karen Ferry is a multi-award-winning Executive Creative Director, writer, and television personality renowned for her expertise in marketing and cultural trends.

With nearly two decades of groundbreaking work, she’s held roles at some of Australia’s most prestigious agencies, including Leo Burnett, DDB, and The Monkeys/Droga5. She has transformed how brands embed themselves in culture, crafting campaigns for global icons like Volkswagen, McDonald’s, IKEA, and Netflix, as well as Australian stalwarts like Suncorp and Tourism Australia.

Karen’s innovative approach spans advertising, PR, and product development, earning over 200 industry accolades, including a Cannes Lion Grand Prix. A magnetic media presence, she has appeared on Gruen, The Project, Today, and Celebrity Apprentice Australia, while inspiring audiences at events such as SXSW and VIVID Sydney.

Passionate about nurturing talent, Karen revitalised AWARD School, Australia’s premier creative portfolio programme, mentoring over 1,000 emerging creatives and shaping the next generation of advertising innovators.

Alita Harvey-Rodriguez is a renowned expert in e-commerce education, digital marketing, and customer experience innovation in Australia. As the visionary founder of MI Academy, an award-winning training provider, she has spent over a decade transforming email marketing and customer experience strategies for global brands like REA Group, Estée Lauder,  ToyWorld, BlackMilk, Mountain Bikes Direct, and Alfa Romeo.

Alita's passion for education is evident in her commitment to empowering teams with advanced skills in Email Marketing, Project Management, Marketing Operations & Leadership. Her contributions were recognised with the prestigious “Industry Recognition” award at the ORIAS this year.

A dynamic personality and industry leader, she is an invaluable asset for anyone aiming to elevate their digital marketing and customer experience strategies.

Joe Brumm is the brilliant mind behind Bluey, the acclaimed animated series for preschoolers that has won the hearts of children and earned a spot on Rolling Stone’s list of the top 100 sitcoms of all time.

Winning over parents, grandparents, and even young adults without children, the show’s broad appeal has garnered numerous awards, including two Logie Awards, an International Emmy, and a BAFTA. Bluey has attracted celebrity fans and guest stars like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Natalie Portman, while setting streaming records on ABC iView and Disney+.

Produced entirely in Brisbane, the series maintains its authentic Australian essence. With 20 years of experience in animation, Joe Brumm continues to infuse Bluey with compelling storytelling that shines through every episode.

Zach Kitschke is the global CMO of Canva, a leading online visual communication platform with over 220 million monthly users. Since joining as the fifth employee in 2013, Zach has played a pivotal role in developing Canva's expansive marketing strategy, overseeing consumer, B2B, and international marketing efforts. His leadership spans multiple areas including product marketing, PR, brand, and performance marketing, among others.

Recognised for his innovative approach, Zach has received numerous accolades, including being named one of Forbes' Most Influential and Most Entrepreneurial CMOs, and Business Insider’s Most Innovative CMOs. He also won AdWeek Magazine’s 2024 Marketing Vanguard Award and serves on the boards of the AdCouncil and MMA Global. Zach is a sought-after media source and thought leader, frequently sharing insights on key industry topics.

Dilruk Jayasinha is one of Australia’s most in-demand comedians, headlining shows across the country and internationally. He has performed at the Sydney Opera House for the Just for Laughs festival and sold out his 2017 Melbourne Comedy Festival show, The Art of the Dil.

Dilruk has recorded two hour-long stand-up specials, one for the ABC and another for Amazon Prime, released globally in 2020. He starred in Amazon’s LOL: Last One Laughing Australia alongside Rebel Wilson and regularly appears on Have You Been Paying Attention? and Hughesy, We Have a Problem.

He competed in I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Australia and the Celebrity MasterChef semi-finals, winning hearts despite teaching himself to cook during lockdown. Dilruk also performed in the 2021 Melbourne Comedy Festival Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow, aired on ABC TV.

Jeremy is an award-winning, media-agnostic marketer, writer, and Global Head of Creative at Mailchimp, leading the in-house creative team Wink, named AdAge’s In-House Agency of the Year. For nearly two decades, he has helped brands accelerate growth through digitally led business transformation, branded content, and good ol’ fashioned advertising.

Before Mailchimp, Jeremy was a Global Executive Creative Director at WPP and J. Walter Thompson, working across FMCG, retail, automotive, and QSR categories. A keynote speaker at the Ad Age Digital Conference, he has consulted on global workshops and led one of the top product launches in SXSW history.

Jeremy’s work has earned two Guinness World Records, recognition from every major award show, and features in Fast Company and Wired. He has also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Anthony Capano is Intuit Mailchimp’s first Regional Director for Australian and New Zealand (ANZ), responsible for empowering Mailchimp clients and partners with best-in-class technologies to drive growth and deliver exceptional results. With over 25 years of commercial experience, Anthony has a wealth of expertise in both traditional and digital media industries. Prior to Mailchimp, Anthony was responsible for steering continued global growth and customer acquisition at Amplified Intelligence, and held a ten-year tenure as Managing Director at Rakuten Advertising across the Americas, EMEA and ANZ, where he built a strong reputation across the global AdTech and marketing ecosystem as well as vast knowledge in CTV and online marketplaces. Prior to this, Anthony was the General Manager at Australian marketing services provider, Salmat Group, where he was responsible for growing long-standing client relationships including Woolworths, David Jones, Telstra, and Westpac.