Boomtown, the media collective representing the 10 million people living in regional Australia, revealed its 2027 Boomtown Insiders Advisory Council, welcoming the next generation of regional media champions.
This year’s Boomtown Insiders are:
- Nerissa Barker, Senior Investment Executive, Zenith
- Nicholas Fankhauser, Account Manager, Nunn Media
- Sylvia Kramlik, Media Implementation Manager, OMD
- Natasha Mann, Implementation & Activation Associate Manager, EssenceMediacom
- Jackson McGowan, Investment Manager, Zenith
- Henrietta Pigot, Partnerships Manager, Metcash/LocalEyes
- Eliza Rich, Strategy Manager, PMG
- Ainsley Riordan, Associate Investment Director, Initiative
- Samar Shabbir, Insights Manager, ACM
- Katie Sharp, Account Manager, OMD
- Henrietta Winterstein, Media Implementation Manager, PHD
“I’m looking forward to gaining a deeper understanding of the opportunities regional media offers, and sharing these insights with my team to help drive greater consideration of regional audiences in our planning. For me, the Insiders program is a unique opportunity to build relationships, learn more about the power and potential of regional audiences, and to play a part in championing the future of regional media in Australia,” said Riordan.
Applications doubled for this year’s program, with a record number of emerging media agency professionals applying for the 2027 cohort.
The Boomtown Insiders program, now in its second year, is an advisory council of emerging media agency talent from across Australia who are passionate about Boomtown and its value for brands and agencies.
The Boomtown Insiders act as an advisory group to the broader Boomtown collective, attending meetings to share their insights, while also promoting Boomtown initiatives.
As part of their new roles, the Boomtown Insiders will participate in a Boomtown Masterclass in a regional location, featuring panel discussions and sessions with some of the industry’s leading regional media experts. They will have the opportunity to attend the 2027 Cairns Crocodiles.
This year’s Boomtown Insiders were selected by a panel of media industry experts, including Boomtown chairman, Nathan Patrick, and marketing lead, Francesca Ryan, Network 10 national regional sales partner, Holly Staveley, Marketing Association of Australia senior marketing and communications manager, Ant Gattari and Third Avenue group managing director, Julie Wright.
All the successful applicants bring between three and six years’ media experience to the council, along with a strong interest in the power of regional marketing.
“Our Boomtown Insiders program is about building the next generation of regional media champions. We’re bringing together up-and-coming industry talent who believe in the power of local storytelling and the important role that media plays in connecting regional communities, to share their knowledge, learn from industry experts and take their insights back to their clients and colleagues,” said Ryan.
“These individuals represent the future of our industry – they are the next generation of media decision-makers, planners and strategists who will influence where advertising investment goes and how regional audiences are valued. I’m looking forward to seeing how this year’s Boomtown Insiders take what they learn back to their agencies, spark new conversations and help shape how regional media is understood, considered and planned,” said Staveley.
