After weeks of fierce competition and countless hours of deliberation from our incredible judging panel, the wait is finally over. The finalists for the 2026 B&T Women in Media Awards, presented by Are Media, have officially been revealed.
Before you start scrolling through the list (we know you’re shaking with anticipation), we want to take a moment to recognise this extraordinary group of leaders, innovators, storytellers and changemakers.
Across media, marketing and advertising, these finalists are not only excelling in their fields but helping reshape the industry for the better and paving the way for the next generation of women to follow in their footsteps.
From established leaders to rising stars, this year’s finalists highlight the rigorous talent, courage, creativity and determination that continue to drive our industry forward. Making the shortlist is an outstanding achievement in itself, and we congratulate every finalist.
The winners will be revealed in a star-studded event on 28 August at the White Bay Cruise Terminal in Sydney.
Buy your tickets for B&T’s Women in Media Awards, presented by Are Media Now!
Without further ado, please take a look at the 2026 B&T Women in Media Awards finalists.
If you spot any errors, please email [email protected] and let us know. The below will appear on your trophy should you win!
Agency Sales/Account Management
- Ashley Ng – Weave
- Catherine Tomlinson – Thinkerbell
- Clare Stewart-Hunter – Gemba
- Emma Gronow – OpenX
- Jacqueline Ingram – WPP Media
- Matilda O’Sullivan – Wink
- Rachael Webb – Sticki
- Raisa Rao – Fourteen10
- Sally Borda – Ogilvy
- Sorcha Doran – dentsu
- Stephanie Theonas – WPP Beauty Tech Labs
- Suzanne Leong-Scott – dentsu
Best Ad Campaign – Championing the Equality Cause
- The Open Arms, ‘ What Kind of Man Do You Want To Be?‘, Respect Victoria
- Ogilvy, ‘Could This Be Perimenopause?’, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- The Guardian, ‘The Sandwich Generation’, Australian Unity
Business Support
- Gigi Duong – ARN
- Imogen Lee-Lindsay – MIQ Digital
- Kaitlin Brooks – Atomic 212
- Kate Orsborn – Are Media
- Lauren Bockholt – Maker Media
- Niamh Ryan – News Australia
- Nikolina Gavranic – IMAA
- Paula Torres – Fink Group
- Priska Raharjo – Scentre Groupe BrandSpace
- Rhiannon Fowler – dentsu
- Sarah George – Foxtel Media
Champion of Change – Sponsored by ARN
- Abigail Dawson – Enero Group
- Andie Tickner – Lion
- Beatrix Fisher – Havas Play
- Charlotte Adorjan – TABOO
- Elle Whittaker – Publicis Australia
- Jacquie Alley – The Media Store
- Jessica Hunter – Gumtree Group
- Lauren Thornborough and Lou Wilson – The Village
- Marilla Akkermans – Equality Media + Marketing
- Megan Kay – Zenith
- Nicola Barnes – dentsu
- Ros Reeves – ARN
Client Services
- Alexandra Hazlehurst – Foxtel Media
- Brittany Rees – OpenDoor
- Clare Stewart-Hunter – Gemba
- Fleur Lancaster – Howatson+Company
- Kate Blakeley – Amazon Ads
- Kate Smailes – Havas Red
- Kelly Jack – dentsu
- Maddison Keogh – EssenceMediacom
- Mary Storey – dentsu
- Nicola Calder- Sparro by Brainlabs
- Nisha Rajamani – dentsu
- Samantha Nunura – WiredCo
Creative
- Casey Schweikert – BMF
- Cat Williams – Thinkerbell
- Charlotte Berry – Howatson+Company
- Claire Sutton – Those That Do
- Fong Ong – AKQA
- Genevieve Clay-Smith – Inclusively Made
- Justine Mitchell – Chippa Creative
- Katie Bird – AKQA
- Michelle Walsh – Leo Australia
- Simone Elder – Ortolan
- Zoe McKenzie – Are Media
Creative Producer – Sponsored by The Fair Treatment
- Anna Scarff – Maker Media
- Caitlin Perz – The Pool Collective
- Lucy Erasmus-Green – Lion
- Shauna Anderson – ARN
- Tash Johnson – Special
Education/Research *NEW*
- Amelia Johns – UTS
- Kerrie Davies – UNSW
Employer
- BMF
- History Will Be Kind
- Publicis Groupe ANZ
- Pure Public Relations
- The Digital Picnic
- The HOYTS Group & Val Morgan
- Wink
- WPP Media
Entrepreneur / Founder
- Alana Stocks – Circul8
- Cherie Clonan – The Digital Picnic
- Dena Vassallo – SOCIETY
- Felicity Grey – Theory Crew & RISER Collective
- Genevieve Clay-Smith – Inclusively Made
- Jenny Lennon – Born
- Kym Treasure – Audacia Audio
- Leilani Abels – Thrive PR + Communications
- Marilla Akkermans – Equality Media + Marketing
- Sally Harley – littleBIG
- Shannon O’Meara – Weld Stories
- Vanessa Liell – Orizontas
Executive Leader
- Aisling Colley – BMF
- Amy Bradshaw – TikTok
- Chloe Rickard – Jungle Entertainment
- Hazel McGuire – Intrepid Travel
- Jacquie Alley – The Media Store
- Jasmin Bedir – Innocean Australia
- Jo McAlister – Initiative
- Melanie Spencer – Thompson Spencer
- Shivani Maharaj – INFLUENCE @WPP Media
- Sian Whitnall – OMD
- Snezna Kerekovic – Thrive PR + Communications
- Zara Jane Curtis – Mamamia
Finance & Accounting
- Emma Johnman-Pereira – Flight Centre Travel Group
- Esther Selvanayagam – Ogilvy Network ANZ
- Justine Jones – Zenith Media
- Kate Madden – WPP Media
- Michelle Day – WPP Media
- Michelle Harper – Audience360
- Morgan Ohren – Intender Media
- Natasha Jost – Atomic 212
- Penny Chiang – JCDecaux
- Ting Zhang – Bench Media
- Vicky Simister – Southern Cross Media Group
Glass Ceiling Award
- Adele Gibb – dentsu
- Effie Athanassiou – Plus Also Studios
- Erin Ferreira – Fox Sports
- Haley McDonald – 3P Studio
- Jenny Parkes – Audience360
- Jo Scard – Fifty Acres
- Natalie Morley – Atomic 212
- Petra Buchanan – Women in Media Australia
- Sive Buckley – Born Creators Group
- Suzie Cardwell – Nine Entertainment Co
- Tiffany Sayers – Loft Social
Innovator
- Anne Louise Brown – Akin Agency
- Claire Bryan – dentsu
- Dr Karen Nelson-Field – Amplified
- Gen Reynolds – Tenet Advisory and Investments
- Haley McDonald – Neosframe
- Katy Eng – Omnicom
- Kristy Kinzett – Wavemaker
- Lisa Squillace – WPP Media
- Priya Addams Williams – Dylan Alcott Foundation
- Stephanie Drabble – Nine
- Wendy Thompson – Thompson Spencer
- Zoe Kostos – Paramount Australia
Journalist / Producer
- Kate Donnison – Nine Entertainment
- Nicole Madigan – Freelance Journalist
- Nina Funnell – Freelance Journalist
Marketing – Sponsored by Mamamia
- Andreana Walton – Paramount Australia
- Claire Bennett – Bennett Agency
- Ellie Xuereb – Are Media
- Emily Meier-Murren – Carma
- Francesca Ryan – Boomtown
- Grace Eadie – Wesfarmers Health
- Jo Rao – Wink
- Jodi Theisen – Digital Nomads HQ
- Naomi Gorringe – SCA
- Sara Herbert – Audience360
- Sarah Kutrolli – Origin Energy
- Tennille Burt – QMS
Media Planner/Buyer – Sponsored by Paramount
- Alexandra Gerner – Sparro by Brainlabs
- Annie Marendaz – The Media Store
- Bess Kershaw – Atomic 212
- Brodie McMaster – Bonfire
- Clara-Jane O’Brien – Pearman Media
- Danni Stanton – Wavemaker
- Emma Greenhalgh – Initiative
- Jacki Colman – dentsu
- Katherine Pochroj – EssenceMediacom
- Kristy Kinzett – Wavemaker
- Lara Wendland – Mediahub
- Natalie Gyftopoulos – Atomic 212
Media Sales/Account Management
- Amelia Allan – QMS
- Annaliese Norsworthy – Scentre Group BrandSpace
- Ashleigh Schultz – News Australia
- Ellie-Ann McDonald – Meta
- Esha Nandhra – QMS
- Jacqui Kilkeary – SBS
- Koll Hang – Multicultural Outdoor
- Lauren Turner – Mamamia
- Rachel Quinn – Cartology NZ
- Sally O’Brien – Meta
- Susan Dickens – ARN
- Tanaya Oxley – TikTok
- Tina Andrew – Nine
Mentor – Sponsored by Are Media x IMAA
- Genevieve Brammall – News Australia
- Jacquie Alley – The Media Store
- Jaime Mills-Blayney – Hearts & Science
- Jenny Parkes – Audience360
- Joana Inch – Hat Media
- Liz Nable – Nable My Business
- Michelle Holland – Ogilvy Network ANZ
- Philippa Moig – UnLtd & MOOD
- Sarah Scott Paul
- Shannon Latty – Dentsu
- Zeina Khodr – Paper + Spark
People and Culture
- Eloise Baker – Atomic 212
- Jacquie Alley – The Media Store
- Jessica Howse – Zenith Media
- Jodi Rosenthal – QMS
- Lois Sharpe – MIQ
- Nicolle Stuart – Mamamia
Project Manager
- Dana Reed – Nine Entertainment
- Danielle Farrelly – QMS
- Grace Robinson – WPP Beauty Tech Labs
- Jyoti Kakkar – Resolution Digital
- Kerry Ray – Nine Entertainment
- Lovisa Jaegrell – Bonfire
- Mariam Belle – ARN
- Melanie Aslanidis – MFA
- Samantha Wessell – ARN
- Stephanie Croucher – Q Agency
- Tara O’Keefe – QMS
Public Relations
- Anastasiia Nazarenko – Palin Communications
- Edwina Brook – History Will Be Kind
- Genevieve Brammall – News Australia
- Georgia Coleman – Tonic Communications
- Julie Wright – Third Avenue Group
- Madeleine Page – Dentsu Creative
- Maya Ivanovic – Palin Communications
- Skye Lambley – Herd MSL
- Sofia Polak – Akin Agency
- Sophie Breheny – Lion
- Vanessa Liell – Orizontas
- Yvonne Sewankambo – Sedgwick Communications
Rising Star – Sponsored by Are Media x NGEN
- Cassandra Green – Mamamia
- Chloe Cripps – Mediahub
- Daphne Yeung – White Fox Boutique
- Eliza Storey – ABC
- Jazmaree Bell – EssenceMediacom
- Kate O’loughlin – Wavemaker
- Kirtee Unchadiya – Wink
- Michaela Tan – WPP Beauty Tech Labs
- Pawena Kaniah – Initiative
- Phoebe Peralta – Special
- Rachael Webb – Sticki
- Ramona Wardan – Equality Media + Marketing
- Whitney Portwine – QMS
Social Media
- Alicia Ng – Paramount ANZ
- Grace Robinson – WPP Beauty Tech Labs
- Hannah Coombs – Melbourne Social Co
- Michaela Tan – WPP Beauty Tech Labs
- Shivani Maharaj – INFLUENCE @WPP Media
- Steph Edwards – WiredCo
- Vinessa Sestoso – Jack Nimble
Social Change Maker – Sponsored by Are Media
- Danielle Galipienzo – Initiative
- Elizabeth Malcher – Poppet
- Genevieve Clay-Smith – Inclusively Made
- Jacquie Alley – The Media Store
- Jess Lilley – The Open Arms
- Laura Stone – ABC
- Lauren Thornborough and Lou Wilson – The Village
- Nina Funnell – Freelance Journalist
- Philippa Moig – UnLtd & MOOD
- Priya Addams Williams – Dylan Alcott Foundation
- Samantha Payne – Pink Elephants Support Network
- Shyaire Ganglani – Leo Australia
Strategy
- Celia Garforth – Special
- Elizabeth Nan Tie – Starcom
- Fran Clayton – Ogilvy
- Georgia Pritchard – Howatson+Company
- Jessica Hunter – Gumtree Group
- Kasey Jamison – Amazon Ads
- Katharina Vassar – Howatson+Company
- Marine Turner – EssenceMediacom
- Sam Turley – Mindshare
- Sarah Heitkamp – Digitas
- Sophie Gallagher – M+C Saatchi Group
- Tanvi Singh – The Media Store
Tech – Sponsored by Perion
- Chloe Schumacher – Plus Also Studios
- Danielle Carr – Wink
- Ebony Ager – ARN
- Eloise Russell – Mindshare
- Fiona Roberts – MIQ
- Kelli Dudley – Nine Entertainment
- Kim Loasby – SCA
- Kym Treasure – Audacia Audio
- Lara Gouliotidis – dentsu
- Mansi Shukla – Audience360
- Sarah Salameh – Bonfire
- Sharon Gray – Special
