Mr. Simon Sproule has been Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Aston Martin Lagonda since November 2014. His responsibilities include global marketing and communications, brand communications, corporate social responsibility and internal communications. Simon reports to Dr.Andrew Palmer, President & Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin Lagonda.

Prior to Aston Martin, Simon served in executive marcom positions for Tesla Motors in Palo Alto, CA and between 2004 and 2014, for Nissan Motor Company based primarily at Nissan’s global HQ in Japan. Simon’s first position was with Ford Motor Company in the UK. In 1998, he relocated to Ford’s global operations in Michigan followed in 2000, leading communications in North America for Jaguar, Aston Martin and Land Rover. In 2003 Simon joined Nissan North America as VP Communications and a year later was moved to Japan to take up the global role. In 2000, Simon was named as a Young Achiever of the Year by the Automotive Hall of Fame in Detroit, MI.

He has been named several times to the PR Week Top 40 Power List and in 2013 was given an ‘All Star Award’ for Public Relations by Automotive News. Born in Hampshire, England, he earned a degree in Geography in 1990 from the University of London.

Edward Bell is responsible for the development of brand strategy, the development of commercial, operations and consumer insights, loyalty marketing and marketing communications for the group globally. Originally from Melbourne Australia, Mr Bell trained in psychology and later marketing. He is married with three children and happily calls Hong Kong ‘home’.

Suzana is the EGM Marketing & Customer Experience at NAB. She is also a member of the Melbourne Renegades Board of Directors, a BBL cricket team. Suzana has worked in various marketing and product leadership roles at GE, Optus Telecommunications, Medical Benefits Private Health Insurance Fund and 20th Century Fox in London.

Brent Smart is Chief Marketing Officer of IAG, Australia’s largest insurance company with leading brands including NRMA, CGU and SGIO. Brent leads group-wide marketing efforts, from brand strategy to creative execution. Previously Brent spent 20 years in the advertising business. He was CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi New York working on iconic American brands like Cheerios, Tide and Walmart. He spent 7 years with BBDO, leading their San Francisco office and before that Colenso BBDO which was recognised as Agency of the Decade in New Zealand.

Brent has led a body of highly awarded creative work, recognized with over 25 Cannes Lions and over 40 Effies. Originally from Melbourne which explains his love of footy, this time around Brent had to live near a beach after 6 years in New York, calling Bondi home with his wife and 3 sons who have weird accents.

Esmé Borgelt is Managing Director, Australia & New Zealand for the Kellogg Company – one of the worlds’ leading food companies. Esmé has been with Kellogg’s for 15 years working in various roles in both emerging and developed markets, including leading the market development for Sub-Equatorial Africa, and in New Zealand where she was the country lead. Holding a Law degree from University of Pretoria, Esme has also completed an executive enterprise leadership development program at Harvard Business School, and the INSEAD Women in Leadership Development Program, London. Esmé is passionate about developing people to their full potential and strongly believes in the power of diversity & inclusion; she led the establishment of the local Women of Kellogg employee resource group, which is focussed on the accelerated development and retention of female talent in Kellogg. She believes that a business can only be truly successful if leaders actively break down silos and effectively integrate business processes and goals across teams to unlock value for all stakeholders, including employees, customers, consumers and the community.

CMO for Kraft Heinz Australia – responsible for strategy, creative and execution for all categories for Kraft Heinz in Australia. Prior to that, spent 18 years in Unilever across global, regional and country roles in both marketing and sales. Winner of Cannes Lion, Effie and D&AD awards.

Over fifteen years’ global experience in Marketing growing some of the most iconic brands on client and agency side in London, New York and across Australia. Worked at NIKE, DDB (advertising agency), Octagon (partnership consulting agency) and now at Walt Disney Company based in Melbourne as Marketing Director. Marketing Academy Leadership Scholarship. One of thirty selected across Europe in recognition of achievements and senior leadership skills in marketing Led Walt Disney Australia Retail Marketing team in a retail transition period Led MasterCard’s biggest ever global integrated campaign across 11 countries, managing strategic plans, 120 staff and 8 agencies. Recognised in UK Marketing Week as most effective campaign and the most talked about brand in social Planned and delivered in the UK MARS Chocolate most successful marketing campaign which delivered £1.2million incremental sales and gained 1% market share Managed NIKE Pacific’s largest brand campaign and event, You’re The Run That I Want across multi channels and retailers Worked in Africa at a home to develop and nurture children and backpacked around Europe solo for six months  Described As: Catalyst of leadership and innovation to inspire others, whilst driving high performance results for brands and agencies

With over 20 years’ of blue chip strategy, digital & marketing experience, Leisa Bacon is passionate about ensuring audiences are at the heart of everything. Leisa has a strong track record in leading teams and developing a strong vision anchored in a deep understanding of the customer. She applies this experience to her current role as Director of Audiences for the ABC, where the team work closely with content makers to implement the ABC strategy and help audiences discover the great Australian content made by the ABC. Leisa is a brand and experience (Cx) evangelist, who prides herself on working for organisations who are leaders in their field, ensuring that they put customers at the heart of everything they do. Leisa is accustomed to working for large, complex and often global organisations at a Directors level, from P&G to the Coca-Cola Company, she has led some of Australia’s largest new product launches and marketing campaigns.

Jonathan Waecker is the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for The Warehouse Group. In this newly-created role he oversees all of the group’s marketing and communications activities, leading brand strategy and driving customer engagement for the group and its brands, including The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, Noel Leeming, Torpedo7.

Prior to joining The Warehouse Group, Jonathan was based in San Francisco as Vice President of Marketing Communications at Yahoo, the fourth largest online property in the world, reaching over one billion users every month. In that role Jonathan led the fully-integrated team responsible for delivering all marketing communications during a critical turnaround period for the company, winning numerous industry awards, while driving revenue and results for the business and brand.

Prior to Yahoo, Jonathan spent time in global marketing, brand strategy and business development roles at Zynga and The Walt Disney Company, two of the world’s most engaging and digitally innovative consumer brands.

He has been named one of Brand Innovators 40 Under 40, received an MBA in Corporate Strategy from HEC Paris, a second MBA in Global Finance from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and graduated from San Diego State University.

An accomplished and experienced CMO with depth in Marketing and breadth in Cross Functional Leadership across ANZ, Asia and North America. Has had successful roles in centralised/global and decentralised/local business models with a particular strength in realising the untapped potential of brands and people. Led both turnaround and acceleration strategies in multiple Food, Beverage and Personal Care categories with blue-chip companies such as Unilever, Lion, Optus, Colgate and currently Campbell Arnott’s (a division of the Campbell Soup Company).

Tamara Howe has been Marketing Director since October 2015. Tamara joined Kellogg Australia in 2003 as a Brand Manager and then relocated to the US Morning Foods Division in Battle Creek Michigan in 2006. Upon her return to Australia in 2007, Tamara assumed the Marketing Manager role, Adult Portfolio before relocating again to HQ in Battle Creek in 2009. There, Tamara took on a role in the Global Marketing team and was later promoted to Director, Special K Franchise in 2013, leading Kellogg’s largest brand at the time for North America.

In 2014, Tamara relocated back to Australia to assume the role of leading the Innovation team before being promoted to her current position. Prior to joining Kellogg’s, Tamara spent several years working in marketing roles within (the then) Dairy Farmers Australia. Tamara completed her Bachelor degree in Commerce at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Julian is one of Australia’s leading sport marketers. He currently heads up Marketing at the AFL and was previously with Cricket Australia, the Gemba group and General Motors. He has been at the forefront of some of Australia’s most innovative sporting programs including the launch of the Big Bash and introduction of eight new BBL sporting teams, the introduction of the AFL’s Fan strategy, new brand positioning, Sunday Funday and Super Rounds, AFLX and managing the Toyota AFL sponsorship.

He has worked on some of the country’s most effective, award winning, sports marketing campaigns including bringing back the “I’d like to see that” campaign and the AFL’s new “Don’t believe in never” campaign. He has a Masters degree from the University of NSW and has studied entertainment, media and sport at the Harvard Business School.

Suzanne was appointed as CBU Director of Chocolate for Mars Wrigley Confectionery Australia in 2017. Her passion for brands started as a young child when she would inspect every item on supermarket shelves while shopping with her Mum. Years later she has channelled her natural curiosity and passion for brands to forge an extensive marketing career working in the FMCG, retail, finance and not-for-profit sectors. With her career spanning more than 17 years’ at Mars, Suzanne has cultivated her marketing expertise in a variety of local, regional and global roles including Global Brand Director for MY DOG® based in Belgium and before moving to APAC Regional Brand Director for PEDIGREE® where for four years she led the development of a five-year strategy which resulted in a turnaround and return to growth. Driven by her passion to unearth what makes people tick and helping to enhance people’s lives through the brands, some of her proudest campaigns have come to life with MAKE A WISH®, CATERPILLAR®, PEDIGREE® & WHISKAS®, M&M’s® & SNICKERS. Suzanne also represents Mars on the Australasian Advisory Board for Ehrenberg Bass Institute for Marketing Science.

In a career spanning two decades, Mim has become recognised as one of Australia’s pre-eminent and most awarded leaders in marketing. In her role as Suncorp’s Executive General Manager Brand & Marketing, Mim leads Suncorp’s network of brands, which include AAMI, GIO, Apia, Shannons and Vero. She is also strengthening the Suncorp brand nationally and continuing to build the company’s digital marketing capabilities.

Previously General Manager for M&C Saatchi, Australia’s largest advertising agency, Mim has been globally awarded for building the brands of some of Australia’s most recognised companies including Woolworths, Lexus and Optus. In 2017 under Mim’s leadership, M&C Saatchi was named Australia’s most innovative company by the Financial Review.

Mim has a strong background in financial services, having led significant pieces of work for Commonwealth Bank, ANZ and IAG. She was pivotal in leading the strategic and creative development of the CAN brand platform. She also set the strategic and creative direction for the global ANZ brand campaign, which saw ANZ’s brand value double from $3.4 billion to $6.8 billion in just two years, rocketing it to the most valuable bank brand in Australia during that time.

Mim is known for delivering cut-through creative that delivers results. She is passionate about supporting the next generation of creative leaders and has been recognised as an industry leader for her drive to find new ways to move the industry forward, as well as being an active speaker and mentor.

Mukul Agrawal commenced as the Chief Citizen Experience Officer for the Department of Human Services in November 2017. Mukul is responsible for proactively supporting the department’s focus on improving the citizen experience as well as helping facilitate the design of relevant experiences to help meet policy intent. A key part of his role is to help the department engage citizens and community groups to understand their needs, their pain points as well as conduct relevant ethnographic and behavioural-based research to support the department formulate an adequate response. Prior to joining the department, Mukul had an extensive career in banking and finance with one of Australia’s leading financial companies, AMP. Mukul was a Director for Omni Channel Goals Solutions, leading the design and execution of the goals based architecture and operating model for AMP. This included design and delivery of channel, segment and product transformation. Mukul has held a variety of roles in the private sector focusing on strategy and business development, process improvement, digital transformation and customer experience. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM), a Bachelor of Commerce (with Honours in Accounting) from the University of New South Wales, is a Certified Practicing Accountant as well as a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Bettina joined QBE as Executive General Manager – Marketing in 2016, bringing a depth of customer-focused marketing experience from leadership positions at ANZ, TAL, BT Financial Group, St George Bank, Westpac and MLC.

In 2017 Bettina was appointed to Chief Customer Officer (CCO) to cement work undertaken to increase customer focus and spearhead an expanded customer experience capability. The role’s remit also includes leadership of the marketing, communications and digital functions of the business, taking responsibility for championing and enhancing the QBE brand and its assets.

Notably, and testament to her leadership skills and customer focus, Bettina is QBE’s first CCO. MBA qualified, Bettina holds more than 20 years’ business experience and a solid track record increasing engagement and sales through a focus on innovative strategies and data-led insights.

As Spotify’s Director of Marketing, Serena heads up all consumer marketing efforts in Australia and New Zealand and is responsible for acquisition and brand efforts across the region. With 15+ years music industry experience, Serena has held regional, national & international roles at Warner Music Group and Universal Music, and prior to that honed her direct sales skills at SalesForce Australia. Her previous roles have also covered all areas of music and technology sales, publicity, marketing, experiential, partnerships, digital, mobile, and social media. Born in Perth and raised in Adelaide, but now calling Sydney home, Serena has travelled extensively throughout Asia, Europe & America. She maintains a huge passion for music and spends any free time enjoying muddy music festivals at home and abroad, sharing carefully curated playlists, and shopping for random music and politically-minded books and art.

A passionate creative marketer, Luke has worked in various marketing roles across the FMCG range category including natural health, entertainment, food and now travel. Majoring in Marketing and Law, Luke has used his skills across multiple roles where he currently leads the brand strategy for one of the largest travel companies in the world, Flight Centre.

Recent work has had him launch the new brand direction and created their first ever travel series ‘The 48 Hour Destination’ on Network 10. He is currently working on his two new project, The second season of The 48 Hour Destination and a new series using SEO data and highlighting our consultants in ‘The Expert Series’.

As creative as she is data-geek, Nicole is a unique marketing leader, bringing a deep passion for technology and human behaviour to every customer interaction. With nearly 25 years of marketing and advertising experience, she has led brands such as Dell, Adshel, Pandora and eharmony towards transformative growth and financial success.

Now CMO at convergent mobile and media company OVO, Nicole is combining her creativity, commercial acumen and data-driven approach to a brand at the forefront of mobile AI personalisation, entertainment and utility.

Bridie Commerford has 21 years’ experience in Consumer Marketing and Brand Strategy in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Prior to working with AccorHotels, Bridie was head of Brand Strategy for Naked Communications and held Marketing Management positions at Treasury Wine Estates, Foster’s, KFC UK and Unilever.

Bridie is currently Vice President Marketing and Communications at AccorHotels and is responsible for 12 brands ranging from the Luxury Sofitel to Economy ibis, and a team of Communications/PR, Social Media, Marketing and Guest Experience specialists.

Mitchell has a definite point of view on the imperative for marketers to embrace accountability for revenue generation and to assert a mandate to influence the customer experience across the enterprise. As B2B and B2C converges into H2H (Human-to-Human), Mitchell says the key drivers must be personalization, ease and speed, with a focus on getting the basics right.

Mitchell is a global, commercial marketing executive with a record of delivering for Mercedes-Benz, Ansell and professional services consultancies. Prior to joining Ansell Limited, where he is their Marketing Director, Mitchell enjoyed nine years with Mercedes-Benz in global, regional and national marketing roles. He says the experience, which included four years at headquarters in the southern German city of Stuttgart, was a privilege.

However, it wasn’t all premium branding and luxury cars. As one of the few native English speakers on the German side, Mitchell witnessed and learned all about the importance of change management from the slow-motion train accident that unfolded when Board and C-level hubris inspired Mercedes-Benz’s flawed Chrysler acquisition that began in 1998 and ended in 2007.

Back in Australia, Mitchell has been recognized by CMO magazine as one of the nation’s top 50 marketers in both 2015 and 2016. And now that it has sold off its B2C condom business, Ansell is a dedicated safety company focused on the healthcare and industrial sectors. A $A 2bn global, Australian-listed enterprise, with a century-old brand heritage, Ansell manufactures approximately 80% of what it sells at factories in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Sri Lanka, Mexico and Portugal. Mitchell says the Ansell team is proud of the fact that they are not in the widget or sugar-flavored water business, that they are in the business of protecting workers.

Tessa is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of IntelligenceBank, a smart content management platform that helps businesses streamline processes and put governance around digital content. IntelligenceBank is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, with offices in the US and Canada. Prior to IntelligenceBank, Tessa was a member of the Executive Team at Hitwise, a leading audience measurement firm, where she managed the global expansion of Hitwise into Asia, the US and UK.  She has a background in start-ups and global marketing, and has held director (NED) positions on several boards.