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Ryan Egan, Presenter/Producer at Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Ryan Egan is the presenter and producer of Tech Stream, a weekly technology radio program broadcast into Asia and the Pacific on ABC Radio Australia.  Tech Stream covers everything from phones to gaming consoles, sensors to censorship, laptops to life support systems and the communities that adopt them first.  Ryan has worked for the ABC for over ten years, in a variety of roles across almost all of the radio networks and divisions. He has also travelled extensively within the region for the ABC's international broadcaster.  Ryan caught the media bug young, running a Melbourne-wide student radio station while still in his teens.  He continues to indulge his passion for new local music by presenting programs on community radio station Triple R and recently spent a year in the UK working in the morally dubious but exciting world of broadcast PR.

LinkedIN
Twitter.com/rynobi
Twitter.com/tech_stream

Leni Mayo, Director, Sitepoint

Leni Mayo has been working in IT and related industries since the early 1980's.  After 15 years as a freelance software engineer in Australia and the US, he started a company and never looked back. Leni is an investor in and board member/advisor to sitepoint.com, 99designs.com and flippa,com - a group of online marketplace and media companies based in Melbourne Australia.

http://twitter.com/lenidot
 

Martin Hosking, Co-Founder, Red Bubble

Martin Hosking is an entrepreneur. He is co-founder of RedBubble, one of Australia’s leading web 2.0 sites, providing a social network and market for artists and designers. He is the Chairman of Aconex, a SaaS provider to construction firms.  And he sits on the board of Southern Innovation, a digital pulse processing solution.  He was instrumental in the development of NASDAQ listed search company, LookSmart. He started his career as a diplomat in Egypt and Syria before joining McKinsey & Company, serving clients focusing on emerging technologies.
Linkedin.

LinkedIN

Robert Wong, Founder & CEO, Catalogue Central

With more than 18 years experience in analytics consulting, advertising, direct marketing & interactive online marketing, Robert founded Australia’s first online catalogue business which provides a tailored yet cost effective marketing message. With a Bachelor of Business from Monash & an MBA from Mt Eliza Business School, Wong has gone on to use his marketing prowess with an impressive list of clients. He has worked with Australia’s top marketing gurus such as Kevin Luscombe OAM, the founding head of Growth Solutions Group. His strategic insight into the marketing industry was also strengthened when he joined the Young & Rubicam Group’s direct marketing business, & in his roles worked with its agencies Impiric & Brand Dialogue. In 1997, Wong was chosen for the Young & Rubicam’s inaugural Young Lions executive development program, offered to only 20 people world-wide.

LinkedIN

Kate Elton, Online and Evetns Manager, Sports Girl

A marketing and digital specialist, Kate Elton has taken her understanding of emerging technologies and relationship building to roles with some of Australia’s leading new media projects over the last 3 years. As Marketing and Relationships Manager for Portable, Kate designed and directed online media marketing, content and PR strategies for the cutting-edge Portable Film Festival (an international online film festival event based in Melbourne), and brings her cross-platform know-how to her current role as Online and Event Manager at Sportsgirl, managing Australia’s first retail-based online community and melding her experience across events and digital media.

LinkedIN

Dan Ferguson, Online Channel Manager, General Pants Group

A career spanning leadership in advertising, marketing, direct marketing, online, and online business management. Key themes through different roles include;
- delivering significant & measurable value to the business in form of sales, market share growth, profitability ,brand & customer experience.
- leading high performance, committed, passionate and happy teams
- creation and successful implementation of profitable new ideas, innovations, directions, cost savings, incremental businesses or markets and processes.

LinkedIN

 

Peter Noble, CEO, Citrus

Peter Noble is CEO of Citrus, a digital agency which provides a full suite of interactive services including digital strategy, creative web design and development, user experience, branded eCommerce, relationship marketing, and analytics and optimisation to leading Australian brands including Sportsgirl, Crown, CPA Australia, Victoria Racing Club, and Toys R Us.

www.citrus.com.au
LinkedIN
http://twitter.com/pete_noble
 

Stephen Smorgon, Head of Digital, Perfumania

Steve has more than 12 years of digital experience at both ends of the spectrum; strategy and implementation. Steve has always had a passion for emerging technologies, such as Social Media ,  and the correct use of online, in particular, implementation and strategy. His goal is to ensure clients harness online technology and use it effectively as part of their ongoing advertising and marketing program. He has been featured in the Australian Financial Review and has appeared on the 7pm Project. He has completed a Bachelor of Design (Graphic Design), a Masters of Business Administration (MBA), and is a Webby Awards Judge.

LinkedIN
www.twitter.com/stevesmorgon

John Curtin, Brand Manager, Onelove Music Group

Based in Melbourne, John Curtin is Marketing/Brand Manager for Onelove Music Group which is a youth marketing/events company that specialises in Music Festivals and Events. Stereosonic is one of Australias most popular festivals attracting over 130,000 people nationally over 5 events in 2009. John also is a partner in one of Melbournes hotspot bars in Chapel St,  Electric Ladyland (Opened in 2007) and loves social media: he setup for fun a Facebook Page facebook.com/topmelbourne which now has over 15,000 members and is currently developing a website for that. John previously worked for various other hospitality and entertainment groups and consulted for numerous events. He studied Marketing at Bond University, loves travelling and collecting t-shirts.

http://au.linkedin.com/in/johncurtin80803
www.onelove.com.au
www.stereosonic.com.au
www.creamfields.com.au
www.electricladyland.com.au
www.twitter.com/johncurtin

Ben Shepherd, Commercial Director, Sound Alliance

Ben is the Commercial Director of Sound Alliance, one of Australia's leading diversified digital businesses, incorporating media assets inthemix, Faster Louder, Mess&Noise, SameSame; creative and communications consultancy Thought By Them; and ticketing business QJump. Prior to joining Sound Alliance Ben was the Head of Digital for media agency Maxus and in his decade long media career has held leadership roles at Mindshare and Yahoo! In addition, Ben is the author of award winning blog, Talking Digital, and a contributing media commentator to Business Spectator.

http://thesoundalliance.net
http://talkingdigital.wordpress.com
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/talking-digital
LinkedIN

Debra Allanson, Managing Director, Ish Media

Debra Allanson has worked continuously in the screen production industry for more than 20 years, in Australia and in the UK. Operating at senior executive and director level for private sector and government organizations, and in an independent capacity, she has been involved in production financing, distribution and content strategy. Commencing in 2001, Debra began extending her experience within the traditional screen production sector to developments in the digital media space, initially through involvement in the successful funding of pioneering media ventures and projects. This led to her decision to establish Ish Media in 2006, with the company now recognised for its leadership role in the creation of innovative multi platform entertainment properties and communication strategies, and related commercialisation activities. Currently, as Managing Director of Ish Media, Debra provides Executive Producer support to the company’s various cross platform projects - including the AIMIA-award winning comedy for mobile and online, Girl Friday - and business support to its growing service arm. Ish Media’s diverse clientele includes independent producers and distributors, advertising and communications agencies, broadcasters, international travel and publishing groups. Recent work has been completed for Publicis Mojo, ABC TV and Online, Intrepid Travel, and Penguin Publishing. The common thread is Ish Media’s knowhow in marrying traditional storytelling and content production skills with digital tools and communication platforms.

LinkedIN
Twitter.com/ish_lady

Ben Liebmann, Vice President, Licensing (Aus/NZ), FremantleMedia Enterprises

FremantleMedia is one of the world's largest international creators and producers of entertainment brands – owned by RTL and forming part of the Bertelsmann Media Group. As Vice President of Licensing, Australia/New Zealand for FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME), Ben is responsible for the development and commercialisation of FremantleMedia properties off-screen in areas such as online, interactive television and wireless, as well as more traditional ancillary rights businesses including brand licensing and sponsorship, live entertainment, gaming, brand funded entertainment, consumer products and merchandise. The FremantleMedia Enterprises portfolio encompasses both wholly-owned brands and managed third-party properties from partners including Paramount Pictures, CBS Corporation, 19 Entertainment, Shine Reveille and The Weinstein Company. Properties include MasterChef Australia, The Biggest Loser, Australian Idol, The Apprentice, Project Runway, Australia’s Got Talent, The Price Is Right, The Farmer Wants A Wife, Neighbours, Australia’s Next Top Model, Star Trek, CSI, The Godfather, Tintin: The Movie, Gladiator, Forrest Gump, Grease, Footloose, So You Think You Can Dance, The MySpace Road Tour and Merlin. Prior to joining FME, Ben established himself as a leading digital media and content specialist, working with companies including Warner Music Group and Vodafone. Ben holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and Business Economics from the University of NSW.

LinkedIN

Brendan Lewis, Chairman, Churchill Club

Described regularly as a key player nationally in the Entrepreneurship scene, Brendan Lewis is a new venture specialist who chairs The Churchill Club Ltd and runs Flinders Pacific, a Strategic Business Development Agency. He has started 5 businesses (with 3 successful exits) and deployed new technology business branches for others in 4 countries. His unique insights and approach come from a career that has spanned diverse roles including Software Engineer, Army Officer, Salesman, Accountant, Entrepreneur & running an Advertising Agency. Brendan holds an undergraduate degree in business computing from Curtin University and post graduate qualifications in Accounting & Finance from Monash University.

LinkedIN
http://twitter.com/one_sock

http://twitter.com/Churchill_Melb

Kate Cornick, Executive Director, IBES

Kate Cornick undertook her PhD at the University of Melbourne in optical telecommunications and, as part of her studies, spent time at AT&T Research Laboratories, USA. After completing her studies Kate worked as a Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne prior to joining the office of Senator Stephen Conroy, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, as the Senior Telecommunications Adviser and Deputy Chief of Staff. Kate’s rolls included advising on the National Broadband Network policy, consumer issues and regional telecommunications. Kate is now the Executive Director of IBES.

Russell Yardley, Deputy Chair VIC, Australian Information Industry Association

Russell is a pioneer in multimedia and the internet industries. He has a science degree and studied law at the University of Melbourne. IBM gave him a sound knowledge of computer technology, management and marketing. In 1985 Russell launched his own multimedia company. He has represented Australian industry on the Australian eGovernment Mission to the UK (2001) and the Australian European High Tech Tour (2002), the Victorian Premier’s Task Force on Communications and Multimedia (1994-1999), the Victorian Government Technology Round Tables (2000-2002), Ministerial Advisory Group for ICT (2003-2006). He is the deputy chair of the Australian Information Industry Association in Victoria. Russell sold his company Acumentum in late 2007 now coaches and mentors younger CEOs to drive innovation and ideas to develop a much deeper understanding of technology innovation in value creation.

www.RussellYardley.com/opinions
LinkedIN
Twitter: rmyardley