Independent Media Agencies of Australia Unveils New Leadership Team

Independent Media Agencies of Australia (IMAA) today announced its new Leadership Team for 2021, after a successful launch in February 2020.

The 2021 Leadership Team has strong national representation, with agencies in Victoria, Queensland and NSW, and will change each year. It includes:

Angela Smith, Managing Director, MediaSmiths (NSW)
Steve Fagan, Director, Media Republic (Victoria)
Jacquie Alley, Chief Operating Officer, The Media Store (NSW)
Tom Frazer, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Half Dome (Victoria)
Phil McDonald, Partner and Managing Director, BCM Group (Queensland)
Ant Colreavy, Chairman, Sandbox Media (NSW).

“The IMAA has had a remarkable first year, attracting more than 50 members nationwide in under a year and several media sponsors, developing an alliance with the world’s largest independent agency network, thenetworkone and hosting an exclusive series of COVID-19 and Insights and Innovations webinars for our members, all during a pandemic!” IMAA General Manager, Sam Buchanan said.

“The new IMAA Leadership Team is a great reflection of our national presence and it’s pleasing to see a range of agencies step up to the team for 2021. It’s going to be another big year for us with several initiatives planned.

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our inaugural outgoing leaders Dominic Pearman, Nick Behr, Dan O’Brien, Darren McKenzie and Ant Colreavy – who is staying on the 2021 leadership team. Their passion and energy have made the IMAA what it is today.”

The IMAA’s second Pulse Survey of its members showed that independent media agencies are predicting a strong recovery from the effects of COVID-19, forecasting an increase in staff and revenue in 2021.

The results revealed that almost 90% of agencies expected to boost their workforce numbers this year, while 31% said they had already financially recovered from the impact of the pandemic.

IMAA Leadership Team Bios

Angela Smith, Managing Director, MediaSmiths

Before founding independent agency MediaSmiths in 2007, Angela had worked on both the agency, broadcast and publishing sides of the media industry so she has an incredible insight into how each world works. Since that time Angela has worked across a number of well-known brands across the whole spectrum of media which she leverages with her experienced wider team to get the very best results for all of her clients.

Steve Fagan, Director, Media Republic

Steve has been a part of the media industry for 32 years working for some of the largest agencies in Australia. Eighteen of those years were working for Harold Mitchell, leading a team that serviced some of the most well-known brands in the country, including ANZ Banking Corp, Australian Defence Force, Australian Electoral Commission, Don Smallgoods, Simplot Australia, Ansell Pharmaceuticals, Yakult, Samsonite and Betfair. In 2012 Steve founded Collaborate Communications, which later rebranded to Media Republic in 2018. As a highly experienced media professional, Steve has built strong relationships with his clients and media, becoming a trusted advisor to many over the years. When not working in the business, Steve can be found pacing the sidelines of a basketball court coaching elite junior basketballers. He starts his day open water swimming with the iconic Brighton Icebergers rain, hail or shine.

Jacquie Alley, Chief Operating Officer, The Media Store

Jacquie Alley has a passion for people and business development, with a 23 year career at The Media Store. With a thirst for learning, she has a BA (Mass Communications), is a qualified Counsellor, Women & Leadership Australia Alumni and Human Resource Management practitioner.

Currently she sits on the Advisory Board and is the Chief Operating Officer at TMS focused on supporting a great workplace culture, people development, new business growth, operational excellence, increased efficiencies and client intimacy.

Her love of people extends into her extensive volunteering and paid work experience with youth and domestic violence survivors and she is currently championing TMS’s charity partner – Youth off the Streets.

Tom Frazer, Managing Partner and Commercial Lead, Half Dome

Tom started his career in banking and operations, at the time focusing on high growth Tier 1 clients across Australia. After identifying an opportunity to work with similar companies in their growth phase, the idea for Half Dome was born, and he co-founded the media agency alongside Joe Frazer and Will Harms, who brought with them media strategy and buying experience. Since then, the agency has prided itself on creating an environment where people want to work, and companies want to work with, recently being named the fastest growing media or technology business in Australia in the Deloitte Fast 50.

Phil McDonald, Partner and Managing Director, BCM Group.

Phil is as versatile as he is experienced. In his 25 year career he has been a director of strategic planning, a global account lead, and a regional CEO of a multi-national agency network. Today he is one of two partners at integrated media company, BCM Group, one of Australia’s longest running independent agencies.

Anthony Colreavy, Chairman, Sandbox Media

Ant has been part of the media industry for 25 years working on both the sales and agency side. Through his various roles he built deep trusted connections with clients and media. This formed his biggest strength – bringing people together and sparked his entrepreneurial spirit. He initially launched the 6DOS company (6 Degrees of Separation) and later went on to be the founder of his agency, Sandbox Media in 2011.

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