Independent Media Agencies Australia (IMAA), the national industry body representing independent media agencies, has celebrated its Female Leaders of Tomorrow programme, with graduation ceremonies recently held across the country.
Graduation events were held in Sydney and Brisbane, hosted by oOh!media, and in Melbourne, hosted by Seven, with 39 mentees successfully completing this year’s programme.
The 2026 Female Leaders of Tomorrow programme was the biggest on record, attracting the highest-ever number of applicants and mentee-mentor pairings. Successful mentees were drawn from independent agencies and media organisations in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia to participate in the six-month mentoring programme, which included more than 225 hours of one-on-one leadership training and professional development.
The 38 mentees were paired with some of the nation’s top media and marketing executives and IMAA media partners, to gain valuable insights into the Australian media sector, leadership and professional development across online and face-to-face sessions.
This year’s participants were overwhelmingly positive in their feedback on the programme, with nine in 10 mentees feeling more confident to use their new found leadership skills in more difficult situations, and eight in 10 noting an improvement in actively applying their new leadership capabilities after the programme.
Nearly seven in 10 participants called their mentor-mentee match “outstanding”, noting that the ability to choose their mentor was one of the programme’s real strengths.
Now in its third year, Female Leaders of Tomorrow is designed to empower and mentor emerging female leaders, pairing them with senior industry leaders to build leadership skills and career pathways.
Developed by the IMAA to foster up-and-coming female talent, the programme is part of the IMAA’s commitment to addressing the gender imbalance in the industry, particularly the under-representation of women in leadership roles and the gender pay gap.
“With almost seven in 10 mentees rating their mentor match as ‘outstanding’, it’s clear the Female Leaders of Tomorrow programme has once again delivered,” said programme facilitator and WeGrow founder ,Wendy Gower.
“The impact on leadership confidence speaks to how these female leaders of tomorrow – and indeed today – are thriving, thanks to their mentors and the ongoing support of the IMAA. I’m genuinely thrilled to play a part in enabling these women to find their voice, their confidence, and their leadership swagger.”
“My involvement in this year’s programme has been one of the highlights of my year thus far,” said IMAA chair and chief operating officer of The Media Store, Jacquie Alley.
“As IMAA chair, an agency leader and someone who wishes she’d had programmes like this earlier in her career, I can’t tell you how proud I am of this initiative. To see phenomenal female leaders step more boldly into rooms where they can have influence, find their unique voice and leadership styles, face their blind spots and realise they have all they need within them is truly inspiring.”
Commenting on her experience as a mentee, Gabby Corcoran, sales director NSW and NZ at Channel Factory, said: “The Female Leaders of Tomorrow programme has been such a valuable experience, both professionally and personally. Having dedicated time with my mentor, John Arnott, gave me the opportunity to step outside the day to day and really reflect on how I show up as a leader, where I want to grow, and how I can continue to back myself as my career progresses.
“One of my biggest takeaways has been learning how to ‘bend my superpower’ – the qualities that have helped me get to where I am today are still incredibly valuable, but great leadership is also about knowing when to lean into those strengths and when to adapt. I’ve walked away from the programme with more confidence, greater self awareness and some really practical tools that I know I’ll carry with me throughout my career. I’m incredibly grateful to John and the IMAA for the experience!”
The 2026 IMAA Female Leaders of Tomorrow mentee graduates are:
- Maryellen Arkinson – Impressive
- Cassandra Atherinos – Seven Network
- Tania Babela – Hatched Media
- Raksha Bandu – Media Republic
- Mallory Cassidy – Sunny Advertising
- Emily Changizi – REA Group
- Gabby Corcoran – Channel Factory
- Luisa Estigoy – Apparent
- Clare Farrugia – Hatched Media
- Tatiana Fernandez – Admatic
- Emma Fry – SCA
- Caitlyn Grant – This Is Flow
- Sarah Halliday – BFJ Digital
- Maddie Kulk – C7EVEN Communications
- Adrienne Le Mura – Pivotus
- Kathy Lu – Nexxen
- Hannah Mannion – Yango
- Aimee McCall – JCDecaux
- Ella McConnell – oOh!media
- Maddie McMahon – News Australia
- Esha Nandhra – QMS Media
- Elaina Opare – The Media Store
- Natalia Papas – News Australia
- Haemund Pong – Slingshot
- Alison Powell – Bishopp
- Stephanie Pratt – Cummins and Partners
- Katherine Rafferty – The Marketing Room
- Ana Reyes – Orange Line
- Alex Rhead – StackAdapt
- Angie Angel Singmin – The Speed Agency
- Jemelle Silvestre – AdTorque Edge
- Megan Simmonds – Network 10
- Erin Stafford – Joy Agency
- Vanessa Thaler – Soup Agency
- Lauren Tyler – News Australia
- Nicole Wagenecht – ABL Digital Media
- Ramona Wardan – Equality Media
- Brittany White – REA Group
- Ella-Jane Williams – Rare
The 2026 Female Leaders of Tomorrow mentors were:
- Marilla Akkermans – Managing Director, Equality Media & Marketing
- Jacquie Alley – Chief Operating Officer, The Media Store
- Peta Allsopp – Fractional Chief Marketing Officer, Ask Marketing
- John Arnott – Director, Small Business and Personal Banking, AMP
- Cath Brands – Chief Growth Officer, Social Pinpoint
- Shaun Briggs – Director of Marketing Planning ANZ, Specsavers
- Tennille Burt – Chief Marketing Officer, QMS
- Belinda Cook – Head of Audio Sales, Mamamia
- Antonell Doyle – Group Commercial Director, Nova Entertainment
- Craig Ellis – Advisor
- Nic Fry – Chief Marketing Officer, Merlo Coffee
- Bel Harper – Chief Product and Marketing Officer, oOh!media
- Virginia Hyland – Chief Executive Officer and Commercial Partner, Squad M&A
- Chloe Jones – Head of Marketing, Princess Cruises
- Karla Judge – Head of Marketing Tourism, Ingenia Communities Group
- Jenny La Brooy – Mentor and Coach
- Sarrah Le Marquand – Head of Entertainment Multi-Platform and Audio, News Australia
- Vanessa Lyons – Chief Executive Officer, ThinkNewsBrands
- Jessica Miles – Country Manager ANZ, IAS
- Stephanie Mills – Managing Director, HOYTS Cinemas
- Philippa Moig – Chief Executive Officer, UNLTD
- Renee Murray – Chief of Staff, Half Dome
- Ali O’Connor – Fractional Chief Marketing Officer
- Camey O’Keefe – Director and Founder, Gambol Creative & Suit School
- Lynda Pallone – Head of Marketing, Horticulture Innovation Australia
- Jenny Parkes – Senior Media and Ad Tech Executive
- Louise Rathbone – General Manager Marketing AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, Football Australia
- Amanda Reid – Head of Partnerships, Dilate
- Catherine Reynolds – Chief Executive Officer, Open Universities Australia
- Genevieve Reynolds – Partner Customer and Brand, Tenet Advisory & Investments
- Suzanne Robertson – Head of Member Engagement and Communications, Australian Super
- James Rose – Managing Director, Channel Factory
- Michelle Rowling – Head of Marketing and Sales, Sydney Zoo
- Renee Stopps – Regional Sales Director Partner Sales, APAC Microsoft
- Mandi Tapp – Business Owner
- Essie Wake – Chief Marketing Officer, JCDecaux Australia
- Louise Wilson – Head of Growth and Mid-Market ANZ, LinkedIn
- Sara Dunseath – Executive General Manager Marketing, Fitness and Lifestyle Group
- Lauren Joyce- Fractional Executive Leader – Gun For Hire
A graduation ceremony for the Western Australian Female Leaders of Tomorrow intake will be held in Perth in October.
The Female Leaders of Tomorrow programme is available to IMAA members. It is designed for women who currently hold manager/director positions, with a minimum of five years’ experience in any media agency discipline.
Applications for the 2027 intake will be announced soon.
