Independent Media Agencies of Australia (IMAA) has announced the Victorian launch of its Female Leaders of Tomorrow program, kicking off with a speed networking event in Melbourne.
The 2024/2025 program, which follows the inaugural program last year, officially launched with an event at the oOh!media offices in South Melbourne.
The Queensland edition was rolled out earlier this week.
Mentees will have the chance to interview each of this year’s mentors in a 'speed dating' environment, before selecting the top five mentors they would like to be paired with for the program. The feedback will help guide the final pairings in Melbourne, which are set to be announced in the coming weeks.
Speaking at the event were IMAA CEO, Sam Buchanan, WeGrow CEO and Female Leaders of Tomorrow program facilitator Wendy Gower and oOh!media National Head of Sales – Direct Clients, Independent Agencies and Boutique Agencies, Tim Elder, who is also a 2024/2025 mentor.
This year’s Melbourne mentors are Belinda Gruebner, Chief Marketing Officer at Moose Toys; Adam Jacka, Head of Marketing at Seven-Eleven (7-11); Deb Trela, General Manager of Sales (Victoria) at Val Morgan; Donna Gordon, Marketing Director at ARN; Peter Charles, Managing Director (Victoria) & National Independent Agency Sales Director at Seven Network; Sara Lappage, Chief Operating Officer at QMS; Jenny La Brooy, Marketing Media Lead; Nikki Clarkson, Chief Marketing Officer; Marcia Allan, Executive General Manager – Marketing & Membership, Melbourne Royal; and Jodi Murray-Freedman, Director of Marketing, Bakers Delight.
This year’s successful Melbourne mentees are: Tayla Alkilic, The Media Store; Susan Axford, Slingshot Media; Nicole Dipierdomenico, Half Dome; Alex James, Assembled Media; Ashley Grey, The Pistol; Claire Piotrowski, Momentum Marketing; Miya Min, Impetus; Alana Zanardo, oOh! Media; Georgia Maccan, Val Morgan Digital; andLucy Piccolo, Seven Network.
The Female Leaders of Tomorrow offers IMAA members the opportunity to be paired with some of the industry’s top leaders for mentoring and professional development.
IMAA chair, Jacquie Alley, said it’s fantastic to see the Female Leaders of Tomorrow programme extend to Melbourne and to attract some of Australia’s best media and marketing industry leaders who are generously volunteering their time to help mentor the industry’s up and coming female talent.
“The program has already been so well received again this year and we are looking forward to seeing how the mentors and mentees work together to develop our female talent," she said.
The Female Leaders of Tomorrow is exclusively available to IMAA members and partners nationwide. It is designed for individuals who currently hold manager/director positions, with a minimum five years’ experience in any media agency discipline.
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