The countdown is on. Just 20 sleeps to go until Cairns Crocodiles, presented by Pinterest, lands and, if you weren’t already excited enough, B&T’s own bon viveur, adland raconteur and MFA Hall of Fame-r, Greg ‘Sparrow’ Graham, has picked his most unmissable sessions.
And honestly, this year is shaping up to be something special. Pippa, our content powerhouse, has pulled together what might just be the strongest line-up we’ve ever had. And yes, the queen of the stage herself, Maz Farrelly, is back to keep everything sharp, smart and seriously entertaining.
With so much on offer, planning your days is no small feat.
Get your Cairns Crocodiles tickets now!
Trying to do everything at Crocs is ambitious. You’ll be bouncing between rooms wondering what just happened. So be strategic. Map out your must-sees, but leave room to follow your nose. Some of the best sessions are the ones you didn’t plan for.
And it’s not just happening inside the Cairns Convention Centre.
Hemingway’s, presented by News Australia, is back on the waterfront and bringing the energy again this year. Think great content, great setting, and brilliant networking.
To help you get started and avoid that painful “wait… you went to that session?!” moment, I’ve pulled together my top 15 picks.
Not going to lie, it was tough. There’s a serious bench this year. But whatever your focus, dive into the agenda, build your own hit list, and make it count.
Also, a personal highlight is the new Film & Screen track. This one’s close to my heart, and it’s going to be very, very good.
See the full Cairns Crocodiles agenda HERE!
Day 1
1. Nedd Brockmann in Conversation
Nedd Brockmann, Endurance Athlete and Founder
In conversation with Melinda Petrunoff, Country Manager Australia & New Zealand, Pinterest
2. In Conversation with Taika Waititi
Taika Waititi, Academy Award-winning filmmaker, writer, director and actor
In conversation with Edwina McCann, Editor-in-Chief, Vogue Australia
3. A Force for Good
David Ohana, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer, United Nations Foundation
4. Scale or Break: AI, Mergers and Modern Marketing
Sir Martin Sorrell, Founder & Executive Chairman, S4 Capital
In conversation with Tom Fogden, Editor, B&T
Day 2
5. Uncensored: A Fireside Chat With Jon Evans
Jon Evans, Chief Marketing Officer, System1
In conversation with Lizzie Young, Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA)
6. Visionaries Behind the Vision
Warwick Thornton, Academy Award-winning filmmaker and cinematographer
Toby Oliver ACS, Cinematographer
7. The Future of Cinema
Damian Keogh, President & Chief Executive Officer, The HOYTS Group
Stephanie Mills, Director Sales, Marketing & Content, HOYTS Group
Thomas Dobson, Executive Operations, Planning & Partnerships, NAB
8. Off Script, On His Own Terms
Karl Stefanovic, Television Presenter, Nine Network
In conversation with Maz Farrelly, Media Executive, Producer and TV Commentator
9. From Brandside: The Brand Race Inside Formula 1®
Alexandra Bokeyar, General Manager, MECCA-Maginations, MECCA Brands
Emma Pinwill, Chief Commercial Officer, Australian Grand Prix
Catherine Bowe, Senior Director Marketing ANZ, Salesforce
Naysla Edwards, Brand, Marketing & Member Experience, American Express
10. Marketing’s Next Big Headaches (and How to Flip Them)
Gill Zhou, Ex-IBM, Motorola, Condé Nast China, Chair Shenzhen International Fashion Week
Bec Darley, Consumer Chief Marketing Officer, TPG Telecom
Lauren Dawber, Acting General Manager Marketing, Optus
Moderated by Nick Garrett, Chief Executive Officer, Omnicom Oceania
Day 3
11. Defining Marketing’s Next Era
Jonathan Kerr, Chief Growth Officer, Auto & General Holdings (Budget Direct)
Florence Paoli, Marketing Director ANZ, Reckitt
Oliver Allis, Co-Founder, Yo-Chi
Moderated by Mel Fein, Managing Director, Media APAC, Accenture Song
12. Beyond Western Playbooks
Gill Zhou, Chair, Shenzhen International Fashion Week
Morihiko Hasebe, Global Creative Director, Hakuhodo
Humphrey Ho, Chief Executive Officer, Helios & Partners
Moderated by Clive Dickens, Managing Director, Meliora
13. Global Brand, Local Brilliance: Marketing IKEA Across Cultures
Yuli Park, Head of Marketing, IKEA Korea
Patrizia Rigassi, Head of Marketing, IKEA Japan
Kirsten Hasler, Head of Marketing, IKEA Australia & New Zealand
14. The Great Media Breakaway
Abbie Chatfield, TV, Radio and Podcast Host
Jan Fran, Co-Founder, Etta Media and Co-host, We Used to Be Journos
Osman Faruqi, Journalist and Co-host, Lamestream
15. Beyond the Script: Craft, Instinct and Creative Courage
Daniel MacPherson, Actor, Director and Television Presenter
In conversation with Poppy Reid, Global Head of Content, B&T
I also have to call out another standout session — the Experience Advocacy Taskforce (EAT), proudly presented by Tapt Media, at Hemingway’s on Wednesday at 3:20pm.
EAT, which advocates for an equal and diverse media and advertising workforce and an industry that values experience, has become an annual fan-favourite quiz show session and this year is bigger and better than ever.
Thanks to Tapt Media, attendees can win a Flight Centre travel voucher valued at over $4,000, so bring your A-game. And honestly, it’s one of those sessions where everyone walks away a winner.
Also, don’t miss the Hatchlings & Crocodiles Awards on Thursday at 4pm — easily one of the most fun (and coolest) awards shows in APAC.
Get your Cairns Crocodiles tickets now!
