Cairns Crocodiles, presented by Pinterest has revealed its first wave of speakers for 2027, with eight names from across Australia, Asia, Europe and the US set to take to the stage in Cairns next May.
The first drop brings together global marketers, creators, journalists and creative leaders from brands and businesses including ŌURA, Grab, IKEA Korea and Vacation.
Crocs 2027 will span everything from the business of wellness and building brands across Asia to creative plagiarism, the creator economy and why perhaps we should all care a little less about what the internet thinks. And more!
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“This is just a little taste of what’s coming,” said Cairns Crocodiles content director Pippa Chambers.
“We’ve deliberately kept this first drop tight because I want every speaker we announce to bring something different to the program, whether that’s a perspective, a market, a career story or an idea our audience hasn’t heard 100 times before.”
“We’re going much harder across APAC in 2027, while continuing to bring brilliant people to Cairns from all over the world. This first group gives you a sense of that mix, but there are some very big names and ideas still to come.”
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Check out below for a glimpse at some of the names heading to the Tropics next year:
Lindsey Belknap, global vice president, marketing, ŌURA
ŌURA has emerged as one of the most talked-about brands in health tech, as sleep, recovery and wellness move further into the mainstream. Global vice president of marketing Lindsey Belknap brings experience spanning Google, Nest, One Medical and Tia.
At Crocs, she’ll dig into the strategy behind ŌURA’s growth, where the brand is heading next, how marketing investment is evolving and what it takes to keep building momentum in an increasingly competitive category.
Joe La Pompe, creative plagiarism hunter, founder & author
For more than 25 years, Joe La Pompe has made it his mission to hunt down creative plagiarism in advertising. Known for appearing in his trademark balaclava, the French author and speaker exposes suspiciously similar campaigns and asks uncomfortable questions about where inspiration ends and imitation begins.
At a time when ideas can be replicated, remixed and reproduced faster than ever, La Pompe will explore originality, ownership and what it actually means to have an original idea in 2027. He’ll travel from Paris to join Crocs.
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Tetyana Denford, Founder of the Nobody Cares Movement, Author & Speaker
Ukrainian-American author and speaker Tetyana Denford is the force behind the Nobody Cares movement, a brilliantly simple antidote to an internet obsessed with telling us how we should look, behave and live.
Drawing on more than 20 years in publishing and media, Denford challenges people to switch off the noise, break free from performative habits and rediscover curiosity. Her rapidly growing platform cuts through digital perfection and unsolicited advice with a message that feels particularly relevant right now: perhaps we’d all be happier if we cared a little less about what everyone else thinks.
Based in New York, Denford will travel to Australia for Crocs.
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Cheryl Goh, group head of marketing, sustainability, loyalty and support, Grab
Cheryl Goh has been part of Grab’s journey from its early start-up days to becoming one of Southeast Asia’s most recognisable technology brands.
Named the 2025 WFA Global Marketer of the Year, becoming the first winner from an Asia-based brand, Goh brings a fascinating perspective on building a homegrown Southeast Asian business at enormous scale.
With session details yet to be released, it’s set to be unmissable! Goh will jet in from Singapore to join Crocs.
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Sherele Moody, award-winning social justice journalist, founder Australian Femicide Watch, She Matters Podcast Host
Award-winning Australian journalist Sherele Moody has built a powerful media platform around some of society’s most difficult conversations, particularly violence against women and children.
But there’s another fascinating story behind that work: how do you build (and monetise) a powerful personal brand, bring commercial partners into serious subject matter and grow a media platform without compromising the values at its heart?
Through the She Matters podcast and her wider work, Moody offers a compelling case study in purpose, influence, journalism and brand partnerships.
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Serena Kim, integrated media and marketing communications manager, IKEA Korea
Serena Kim sits at the intersection of media, marketing, communications and culture for one of the world’s most distinctive brands.
Before joining IKEA Korea, she worked in brand experience creative at Cheil Worldwide, bringing creative agency experience to her perspective.
Based in South Korea, she has a fascinating view on how a global brand like IKEA stays unmistakably IKEA while responding to the behaviours, tastes and cultural nuances of a fast-moving local market. Expect a window into Korean consumers, localisation, integrated marketing and what global marketers can learn from one of Asia’s most influential cultural markets.
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Lem Zakharia, Creator, brand builder, podcast producer & director, Bedou
Born and raised in Jordan, Lem Zakharia has built a career spanning media, marketing, production and the creator economy.
After five years working with Abbie Chatfield, including producing It’s A Lot, she founded Bedou and stepped into the creator seat herself with Twice Displaced, her acclaimed podcast exploring identity, displacement and belonging.
She brings a fascinating perspective on turning creativity, influence and audiences into sustainable businesses.
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Tristan Graham, VP, executive creative director, Vacation
Vacation took something as functional as sunscreen and turned it into a brand world people actively wanted to be part of, complete with distinctive design, humour, nostalgia and a personality unlike anything else in the category.
Tristan Graham was part of the creative force behind that universe, adding another chapter to a career spanning some of the world’s best-known brands and agencies. Before Vacation, he was executive creative director at Clemenger BBDO and spent nearly eight years at Goodby Silverstein & Partners in the US, with a career that has earned him more than 130 major advertising awards, a Cannes Lions Grand Prix and five Emmy nominations.
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The first speaker reveal comes as Cairns Crocodiles ramps up preparations for 2027, with further speaker announcements and program details set to roll out over the coming months.
In case you missed it, Cairns Crocodiles also unveiled its bold new creative identity for 2027, alongside refreshed advisory boards and a new regional ambassador program and the launch of Cairns Crocodiles Awards.
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The Topics in the Tropics submission portal remains open until 31 October, giving the industry the chance to pitch ideas for the 2027 program. Add your session idea here.
Cairns Crocodiles has unveiled a bold new creative look. Check it out here. The Awards are now officially open for entries too!
Cairns Crocodiles Presented by Pinterest takes place from 25–27 May 2027 at the Cairns Convention Centre. Secure your tickets now! Visit www.cairnscrocodiles.com
