The Australian Financial Review has unveiled its Fast 100 list, with indie full-service agency Equality Media + Marketing landing in spot 55, with National Media in spot 62 and TFM Digital following behind at spot 90.
Now in its 34th year, the AFR Fast 100 recognises the fastest-growing companies that started trading before July 1, 2020.
This year, the list’s top 10 was (ranked in order) Wickton, Choice Chemist, Water Analytics Australia, Uleads, LEATHERBACK TRAVEL, York St Brands, EatClub, Contour Education, Source Funding, Bridgeford Group.
Equality Media took the 55th spot on the list. The indie full-service agency was founded in 2018 by Marilla Akkermans. Founded in media buying, the agency has grown into a full-service media agency spanning strategy, planning and buying, digital performance, analytics and creative, with a strong track record in the property and SME sectors.
Equality Media’s momentum is underpinned by a values-led model, including a four-day work week and inclusive leave policies that prioritise retention and wellbeing. These initiatives have helped Equality achieve 65 per cent team growth and delivering nearly $1 billion in client sales in the last financial year.
“I’m proud to be on this list because it proves that being a culture-led business is not only possible but profitable and scalable,. This recognition reflects years of consistent, values-driven growth, and we’re incredibly proud that so many of our clients have grown alongside us on that journey,” Equality’s founder and managing director Marilla Akkermans said.
Equality plans to continue scaling sustainably and deepening its long-term client partnerships. Also certified as a Great Place to Work by the AFR in 2025, the agency remains focused on shaping a workplace that reflects its values and supports sustainable growth for its people and business.
Spot 62 was taken by National Media, headquartered in Gold Coast, with offices in Sydney and Melbourne. For over three decades, the company has created, acquired, and operated B2B events and media assets across various markets and audiences.
National Media recently acquired Cafe Culture and Café Biz Expo, expanding its footprint across Australia’s booming café and coffee sector. It marks a step in the company’s growth across the food, beverage and hospitality space, welcoming Sean Edwards as strategic advisor to head up the expansion into the café and coffee sector.
Café Biz Expo will evolve into the Café & Coffee Show, launching May 2026 as part of Food & Hospitality Week at ICC Sydney, while Cafe Culture will be reimagined as a digital hub for Australia’s vibrant café community.
Also on the list in spot 90, featured for the second consecutive year, was TFM digital, indie digital marketing agency specialising in franchise and multi-location marketing.
The agency welcomed 20 new clients this past year, and continues to expand its suite of services, delivering data-driven, full-funnel marketing solutions across media buying, programmatic advertising, SEO, paid and organic social, and traditional media channels. The agency’s ability to scale rapidly while maintaining a focus on transparency, creativity, and measurable results has seen it grow rapidly.
“Super proud of the team for this recognition. Making the FAST100 list, especially as one of the only media agencies in 2025, feels pretty epic. It’s a massive testament not just to how hard we work, but to the way we run the business: backing our people and reinvesting profits into new initiatives and opportunities. That mentality has attracted fresh clients and led to real growth across the agency,” TFM Digital’s CEO Taylor Fielding said.
“From day one, TFM Digital set out to do things differently in the franchising and multi-location space. The past 12–18 months have been challenging across the media industry, but our focus on this niche has helped us keep momentum and deliver results for both our clients and the team. Long-term sustainability, not ‘growth-at-all-costs’, is always front-of-mind for me. We’re committed to building a business where growth for our clients and for our people remain aligned,” Fielding added.
The agency followed up its 2025 Breakthrough Culture award from Australia’s Most Loved Companies To Work For, with reaching the second round of AFR’s Best Places To Work 2026.
The agency’s client portfolio spans fitness, health & wellness, retail, hospitality, and government sectors, with long-term relationships and new wins including Price Attack, Retail Food Group and Healthia.
