The Marketing Academy Australia has unveiled the 30 marketing executives selected for the 2026 Scholarship Program.
Here’s the list of The Marketing Academy Australia Scholarship Class of 2026:
- Alex Cogan-Briata, Commercial Growth Manager, NBL Group
- Alex Collins, Head of Marketing APAC, WEX
- Alvaro Bretel Tagliabue, Executive Head Brand Thinker, Thinkerbell
- Bec Alexander, Channel Marketing Lead, IAG
- Belinda Sanderson, Head of Marketing – Dark Spirits, RTD & Prestige, Pernod Ricard
- Chloe Jones, Head of Marketing, Princess Cruises
- Chris Stratton, Senior Digital Product Manager, Reflections Holidays
- Danielle Galipienzo, Group Business Director & Head of Impact, Initiative
- David Hustwit, Associate Director – Brand, Optus
- Denny Handlin, Executive Creative Director Australia, VaynerX
- Desmond Campbell, CEO, Welcome to Country
- Dylan Parker, Marketing & Communications Manager, Newcastle Airport
- Elaine Loke, Client Partner, VML
- Emma Dodd, Senior Brand Marketing Manager, Google
- Gab McKenzie, General Manager, Brand and Marketing, MYOB
- Gemma Healey, Director – Communications & Public Affairs, Johnson & Johnson
- Isabel Thomson-Officer, Managing Director, Manifest
- Jonathan Munschi, Senior Director Client Service, The Trade Desk
- Maria Paula Gudiño, Digital Marketing and Data Lead, Unilever
- Melissa Cicero, Chapter Lead (Executive Manager), Home Buying Marketing, Commonwealth Bank Australia
- Natasha Cormier, National Head of Client Marketing, News Australia
- Nathan Olivieri, Co-Founder and CEO, RightPaw
- Rebecca Psaltis, Head of Marketing (b2B), Domain
- Renee Barton, Senior Marketing Manager, Coles
- Renee Cathcart, Senior Director Marketing, Workday
- Rob Frost, Chief Strategy Officer, OMD
- Stuart Wragg, Chief Strategy Officer at Herd MSL and Managing Director at Salterbaxter
- Suzy Smiley, Managing Director, Apparent
- Tommy Pollock, Head of Data, Technology and AI, Razorfish (Publicis Groupe)
- Vincent Cotte, Senior Director Marketing, Salesforce
The fully-funded program is designed to harness the collective wisdom of C-suite leaders and prepare Scholars for broader leadership roles across business.
This year’s Scholars will benefit from a curriculum that includes one-to-one mentoring with industry leaders.
The mentor community includes Jo Boundy, CMO, CBA; Anubha Sahasrabuddhe, CEO, Lion; Brent Smart, CMO, Telstra; Margie Reid, CEO, Thinkerbell; Martin Brown, Director, eBusiness, Strategy & Marketing, Nestlé Australia; Jenni Dill, CMO, The Arnott’s Group; Susan Coghill, CMO, Tourism Australia; Cam Luby, CMO, Lyka; Michelle Hutton, Global Chief Client & Growth Officer, Burson; Georgia Hack, Chief Digital & Marketing officer, L’ORÉAL ANZ and Annabel Fribence, CMO, McDonalds Australia.
You might remember more than one of those names from B&T’s CMO Power List.
Scholars will also work with executive coaches, attend three immersive residential ‘Bootcamps’ featuring inspiring speakers, and participate in lectures and masterclasses led by globally recognised experts.
Sherilyn Shackell founder and global CEO of The Marketing Academy said: “Every year we meet extraordinary marketers through the Scholarship, but what makes the program special is what happens when they come together. The combination of generous mentors, a powerful peer group and the space to think differently about leadership creates something genuinely transformative. I’m incredibly excited to welcome our 2026 Australian Scholars and to watch the impact they’ll go on to make across our industry.”
Leandro Perez CMO ANZ at Salesforce and alumnus of both The Marketing Academy Scholarship and Fellowship said: “The Marketing Academy Scholarship is the leg up many emerging leaders need to reach the next level. They surround scholars with mentors who’ve built amazing brands to help them think bigger about the role marketing plays in business and society. I’m excited to see what this year’s cohort go on to build, and proud that Salesforce can back a program that keeps raising the bar for marketing talent development.”
