ACA Business & Agency Leadership 2026

LEAD LIKE YOU MEAN IT

Confidence is a critical trait in leadership. Clarity, focus and a tone of certainty all build belief inside and outside of an organisation and importantly, in our ideas. It’s also fundamental to creativity, acting as the courage to explore and experiment. Without it challenging assumptions and trying new things is at risk.  

That’s a risk no agency can afford. The industry relies on confident leadership to evolve a business, its practices and inspire a culture to change. In this course we’ll help leaders see the opportunity in uncertainty and unlock their creativity to lead through any change with confidence.  

For more information, click here

IPA Speaker Booklet 2025 – download here

Session: Creating High-Performance Teams – DECK
Mike Read, Founder & Director, Pigs Can Fly Too

Session: Learning and Communication Preferences – HBDI GROUP SUMMARY – HBDI CHART
Mike Read, Founder & Director, Pigs Can Fly Too

Session: Confident Communication in Leadership – DECK
Mike Jenner, Director & Head Coach, in•flu•ence leadership development consulting

Session: The Future of Networks
Nick Garrett, CEO, Omnicom Oceania

Session: How Remuneration Can Be More Appealing to Clients – DECK Confidential — not for sharing
Josh Grace, Founder, Upscale Marketing Function

Session: It’s All About Talent – DECK
Lea Walker, Founder, Mrs Walker

Session: Great Design isn’t Enough. How to Keep Ideas Alive – DECK Confidential — not for sharing
Ellena Mills-Stainer, Chief Design Officer, Howatson+Company

Session: Psychosocial Hazards – DECK
Clinton Parr, Founder, The Lions and the Vibes

Session: Working with AI: A Case Study on Plus Also Studios – DECK REQUESTED
Jessica Coulson, Managing Director, Plus Also Studios

Session: View of the Industry
Brittney Rigby, Managing Editor AUNZ, Little Black Book

Session: Social Responsibility
Rob Galluzzo, CEO, FINCH

Panel – DECK REQUESTED
Justin Papps, Lead Partner, Tenet Advisory & Investments
Paul Brooks, Partner, Tenet Advisory & Investments

Session: Lego Game – DECK
Ashley Ringrose, Founder, SMG Studio

Session: The Effectiveness of Creativity
Brent Smart, CMO, Telstra

Session: Waking the Giant
Sir John Hegarty, Co-founder & Creative Director, The Business of Creativity

EXTRA RESOURCE
Create Space – https://advertisingcouncil.org.au/resource-hub/create-space/
RAP – https://advertisingcouncil.org.au/resources/rap/
TRAINING – SBS Inclusion –https://advertisingcouncil.org.au/courses/sbs-inclusion-program-online/
TRAINING – BlackCard – https://www.theblackcard.com.au/
MFA’s psychosocial playbook – https://www.mediafederation.org.au/talent-and-diversity/psychosocial-safety-hub

Kirsty Muddle
CEO Australia & New Zealand, Dentsu Creative & Merkle

Chris Howatson
Founder & CEO, Howatson+Company

Adam Hughes, Associate Design Director, Howatson+Company, Melbourne
Email: Adam.Hughes@howatsonco.com.au

Alex Davis, Group Account Director, Dentsu Creative, Sydney
Email: Alex.davis@dentsu.com

Caity Cowper, Team Lead, Special Group, Sydney
Email: Caity.cowper@specialgroup.com

Caroline Hutton, Business Director, Apparent, Sydney
Email: Caroline.hutton@apparent.com.au

Hannah Austin, Group Business Director, Leo Burnett, Sydney
Email: Hannah.austin@leoburnett.com.au

Hannah Day, Head of Production, Paper Moose, Sydney
Email: Hannah.day@papermoose.com

Harriett Larkins, Group Account Director, Plus Also Studios, Sydney
Email: Harriett.larkins@plusalsostudios.com.au

James Debono, Group Business Director, Leo Burnett, Melbourne
Email: James.debono@leoburnett.com.au

James Slevison, Senior Account Director, Fenton Stephens, Melbourne
Email: J.slevison@fentonstephens.com.au

James Turner, Head of Strategy + Planning, Howatson+Company, Sydney
Email: James.turner@howatsonco.com.au

Katherine Chen, Chief Client Officer, Howatson+Company, Sydney
Email: Katherine.chen@howatsonco.com.au

Lily O’Connell, Account Director, Cummins&Partners, Sydney
Email: Lily.oconnell@cumminsandpartners.com

Lisa Ramsey, Managing Director, Dig Agency, Sydney
Email: Lisa.ramsey@digagency.com.au

Liz Lonsdale, Investment Lead, Howatson+Company, Melbourne
Email: Liz.Lonsdale@howatsonco.com.au

Marnie Dunn, Business Director, Special Group, Melbourne
Email: Marnie.Dunn@specialgroup.com

Matthew Olanda, Client Service Director, Apparent, Sydney
Email: Matthew.olanda@apparent.com.au

Mitchel O’Donohue, General Manager/Co-founder, POPULA, Sydney
Email: Mitch@popula.com.au

Nicky Webster, Group Account Director, Dentsu Creative, Sydney
Email: Nicky.webster@dentsu.com

Samantha Nunura, Group Business Director, WiredCo, Sydney
Email: Sam@wiredco.com.au

Shivani Patel, VP, Dentsu Creative, Sydney
Email: Shivani.patel@dentsu.com

Zac Pritchard, Group Creative Director, Dentsu Creative, Sydney
Email: Zac.pritchard@dentsu.com

Simone Goldstein, Head of Professional Development, Advertising Council Australia
Email: simone@adcouncil.org.au
Mob: 0417 776 321

Hannah Sturrock, Head of Engagement, Advertising Council Australia
Email: hannah@adcouncil.org.au
Mob: 0424 155 221