Just over a year since its launch, The Village, Australia’s first industry-wide initiative dedicated to supporting working parents in the Australian media industry has announced a series of major milestones that highlight its growth and influence.
Among the key announcements are the launch of a new podcast in partnership with Mamamia, The Village’s first Melbourne event and the addition of new commercial partners committed to driving cultural change across the industry.
Podcast Launch with Mamamia
The Village has announced it will soon debut its original podcast, It Takes a Village, produced in partnership with Mamamia. The series will feature candid conversations with parents working in media, uncovering the real stories behind the juggle of deadlines, pitches, client wins, and family life.
“This podcast is about telling the real stories of parents in our industry celebrating the wins, acknowledging the challenges, and building connection through honesty,” said Lauren Thornborough, co-founder of The Village. “By sharing these experiences, we hope to inspire change and strengthen our community.”
Mamamia has also reaffirmed its commitment as a second year partner, cementing its support for initiatives that elevate the voices of working parents.
National Growth: Melbourne Event Debut
Since launching in May 2024, The Village has grown to a thriving community of over 800 members nationwide, hosting four successful events in 2025 alone.
On Thursday, September 11, The Village will expand its footprint with the first Melbourne event, hosted by oOh!media.
Titled Fill Your Cup, the mentor event will begin with a personal conversation featuring Sarah James, CIO of EssenceMediacom, and Bel Harper, chief product and marketing officer at oOh!media. Attendees will then join mentor circles grouped by the age of their children, creating space for parents to connect with others navigating similar stages and challenges.
“Expanding into Melbourne is an important step in making our community truly national,” said Louise Wilson, co-founder of The Village. “We’re committed to creating spaces where parents in media feel seen, supported and empowered, wherever they are.”
Year 2 Partnerships
The Village’s momentum is fuelled by the support of industry partners committed to advancing inclusion and belonging in the workplace.
oOh! media has renewed as a foundational partner for a second year and PubMatic joins as a new partner, reflecting its commitment to inclusion and to building a more supportive industry for working parents.
“Being part of The Village board and involved in its events, it felt natural to ‘walk the walk’ and bring PubMatic ANZ into this incredible initiative. I’m genuinely grateful for the support from every level of our business, who were eager from day one to partner and help The Village grow its positive impact on our industry. We are also proud that we’re the first adtech company to step up, and we hope this inspires other global adtech partners to join us in making a difference”, said Ricky Chanana, director of sales Pubmatic ANZ.
“The void that The Village are filling in our industry can’t be underestimated. So many parents in our industry struggle with the pressure and demands of our jobs along with the juggle of being a present and caring parent. oOh! are thrilled to continue our support and help drive awareness of the amazing events, mentoring connections and support that Lou, Lauren and The Village team have created to help sustain the great talent we have in the media industry”, concluded Harper.
