FOUNDER, THEORY CREW & RISER COLLECTIVE

Felicity Grey is an award-winning marketing leader and the founder of Theory Crew and RISER Collective. With over a decade of experience, she specialises in modern PR, influencer marketing, and large-scale social campaigns, helping brands connect with Australian and New Zealand consumers. Felicity is known for her innovative, results-driven approach and her passion for challenging traditional marketing methods.

FOUNDER, BANGN BODY

Priscilla Hajiantoni the beauty and the brains behind Australia's favourite cult-beauty brand Bangn Body. Known for her yellow tube of goodness Priscilla launched her brand in 2019 after spending her house deposit on launching the brand over the past 6 years Bangn Body has been known for landing retail partnerships, turning social media yellow and talked about by some of Australia's most known influencers.

CO-FOUNDER, YORK ST BRANDS

Rachael Wilde, aka the Gen Z Boss in a Mini, is the co-founder of York St Brands and the powerhouse behind tbh Skincare, Bouf Haircare and BOOST LAB. As CMO, she's led all three brands to shake up their categories with viral marketing, bold storytelling and disruptive innovation.

From launching tbh Skincare from scratch to building Bouf into a sell-out success, Rachael is known for rewriting the beauty playbook, and having a bloody good time doing it.

CO-FOUNDER, SUNDAE BODY

Lizzie Waley is the visionary behind Sundae Body, the globally recognised body care brand redefining an overlooked category through joy and sensory innovation. At a time when body care felt uninspiring, Lizzie introduced an entirely new universe of multisensory rituals - reimagining everyday routines through innovative formats, colour, scent, and nostalgic food cues. That vision quickly resonated with consumers and global retail partners. Today, Sundae is stocked in over 8,000 doors worldwide and has become one of the fastest-scaling body care brands, driven by its distinctive brand world, sensory-led products, and Lizzie’s customer-first mindset.

FOUNDER, KIT

As a publicist, marketer and communications specialist, Cat Spanti is a creator who really knows what's up. She has her finger on the pulse of all things social and digital, she knows a good look when she sees one, and has the innate ability to anticipate the trends before they happen. Known for her elevated sense of style, Cat has a strong passion for beautifully curated beauty, fashion and lifestyle imagery on Instagram but loves TikTok for its raw and unedited feel. With that in mind, she focuses on how she can explore her creative side on the platform whilst also sharing vulnerability and real talk with her audience.

FOUNDER, 28 BY SAM WOOD

Sam Wood is one of Australia's leading health and fitness experts, entrepreneur, and media commentator with over 20 years of experience in the industry. Known for his role as The Bachelor in 2015, Sam has since become a respected figure in health and wellness, and today, he's the face behind the hugely successful online fitness program, 28 by Sam Wood.

In addition to his work with 28, Sam is the author of two best-selling books, '28 by Sam Wood' and '7

Minutes to Better Health', and is a regular contributor to Australian media, offering expert insights into fitness, business, and fatherhood.

Sam's commitment to health, his team, and his family shines through in everything he does.

Whether he's sharing his fitness expertise or his personal journey, Sam inspires others to prioritise their health while keeping things real.

FOUNDER, HIVE HQ

Meet the publicist behind the cult brands like tbh Skincare, Bangn Body and Naked Sundays. Jessy Marshall is the founder of Hive HQ, a PR agency that began on her bedroom floor in 2018 and has since grown into a buzzing team of PR pros working with some of Australia’s most iconic brands. Jessy began her career as a beauty therapist before pivoting careers to PR, working with names like Khloe Kardashian, Martha Kalifatidas, Bec Judd, Nadia Bartel, Indy Clinton and Abbie Chatfield. Hive HQ has delivered viral campaigns, headline-grabbing media coverage, and unforgettable events for brands like SWIISH, Bouf, Princess Polly, FAYT The Label, Showpo, STAX, tbh Skincare, Bangn Body and Naked Sundays, earning Jessy and her team of bees a reputation for brining the buzz.

CREATORS & PUBLIC FIGURES MANAGER, TIKTOK

As Creators & Public Figures Manager for TikTok, Emily Kirkman successfully onboarded the region's top talent and agencies - a challenge unresolved since launch. Previously at Mirvac, she revolutionized digital strategies for property brands and pioneered TikTok approaches for retail in 2021, well before mainstream adoption. Emily's approach transcends metrics, focusing instead on authentic community building and purposeful content creation. A finalist for both The DRUM APAC Marketing and Australian Marketing Institute Excellence Awards, she's become an authoritative voice in the evolving social landscape.

She represents today's ideal social strategist: data-informed yet story-driven, platform-savvy yet purpose-led, consistently pushing creative boundaries while delivering meaningful impact.

FOUNDER, VESTIRSI

After completing a Law degree in Perth, Monica felt the pull to pursue a more creative path, relocating to Melbourne to join MECCA’s Head Office in Public Relations. Immersed in the world of luxury beauty and media events, she quickly recognised a gap in the market for a chic, Italian-made leather handbag that was both timeless and attainable.
Unable to find the piece she was searching for, Monica turned to her grandparents’ native Italy to bring her vision to life. With a mission to create handbags of uncompromising quality and understated elegance (without the prohibitive price tag) VESTIRSI was born in Melbourne in late 2019.

Since then Monica has rapidly grown VESTIRSI which has become renowned for fusing Italian leather craftsmanship with Australian laidback luxury. Today VESTIRSI sells thousands of leather handbags each month to women across Australia and worldwide.

FOUNDER, PROCESS THE PODCAST

Arielle Thomas is a Melbourne-based motion director, content strategist, and the founder of Process The Podcast - a series of creative conversations with some of Australia's most celebrated names in fashion, media, and design. With a background in visual storytelling, Arielle has built a career directing and producing content that blends strategic insight with artistic vision. She is also the founder of Cinema Thom, a creative studio specializing in video production and brand storytelling. Through her work, Arielle champions authentic creative journeys, offering inspiring insights into the challenges and successes behind Australia’s creative industries.

HEAD OF PR & INFLUENCER, MECCA

Lucy Asker is the Head of PR & Influencer at MECCA, where she leads strategic communications and community initiatives for one of Australia's most iconic beauty retailers. With over a decade of experience in public relations and brand partnerships, Lucy has built a career spanning both the UK and Australia, working with leading brands and agencies in London before returning home to Melbourne.

A graduate of RMIT University with a Bachelor of Communications in Public Relations, Lucy combines her academic foundation with global industry insights to craft compelling narratives and drive brand growth. She is passionate about the evolving landscape of beauty and media and is dedicated to fostering authentic connections between brands and their communities.

CREATOR PARTNER MANAGER ANZ, SPOTIFY

Starting her career in beauty editorial, Jordyn has contributed to titles including marie claire, Harper's Bazaar and ELLE Australia before co-founding youth media company Centennial World in 2019. As co-founder, Jordyn was named on Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2022, featured as an expert on Gen Z for panels hosted by Pinterest and Instagram, and cohosted a weekly internet culture podcast that saw 30K+ monthly downloads. She also navigated media partnerships with some of the world's biggest consumer brands, including HP, Samsung, Bumble and DECIEM, helping them reach and resonate with Gen Z audiences.

Jordyn has since joined Spotify as Creator Partner Manager for Australia and New Zealand, working closely with creators and expanding the video category on the platform.

CO-FOUNDER, CHANGER

Farhad is the Co-Founder and Head of Strategy at Changer, where he oversees the development and execution of the company’s global programs. He has collaborated with some of the world’s top Creators, helping them rapidly grow their channels, diversify revenue streams, and unlock the full potential of their audiences.

WRITER, ANNA MACK’S STACK

Anna Mackenzie is a Startup Advisor, Portfolio Career Mentor and Writer who has emerged as one of the leading voices on portfolio careers globally. She's built a multiple-six-figure business around five income streams - consulting, fractional work, advisory, mentoring and digital products - and through her Substack Anna Mack’s Stack she's inspired tens of thousands of others to do the same.

Before becoming a portfolio career fangirl Anna worked in high-growth startups and for iconic consumer brands. She launched UNIQLO in Australia, brought Mecca’s ‘beauty store of the future’ to life and co-hosted the award-winning podcast lady-brains, where she interviewed over a hundred female founders and secured a multi-year partnership with Australian Fashion Week.

These days Anna splits her time advising VC-backed startups across consumer and tech, mentoring high performing professionals who are building portfolio careers of their own, selling my digital products and waxing lyrical about alternative work models on Substack, LinkedIn, Tiktok and Instagram.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR, MELBOURNE SOCIAL CO

Hannah Coombs is a production expert and podcast host passionate about content creation, team mentorship, and data-driven storytelling.

As Creative Director at Melbourne Social Co, Hannah oversees the coordination and execution of branding and social media shoots. She leads the native video content department, training her team to produce innovative, high-quality content that achieves impactful results.

Hannah co-hosts Approved, Melbourne Social Co's podcast, with her sister Nicole, where they discuss industry trends, career advice, and social media insights.

Combining analytics with creativity, Hannah drives strategies that meet brand goals and key performance indicators, positioning her as a dynamic and forward-thinking leader in the industry.

FOUNDER, THE SOLO CO.

Lizzie is a published travel author, internationally-experienced journalist and content creator with a passion for capturing connection and exploring the grey areas that make us human. Lizzie has aver 10 years' experience spanning journalism, PR and marketing throughout Australia, US, the UK and Europe. Having worked as a travel and lifestyle reporter for a national British publication, authored the Time Out Amsterdam Guidebook, and written features for a number of major publications including: HuffPost, Refinery29, Time Out, Body + Soul, Express Online, The Journal by Intrepidand more, Lizzie's marketing and communications portfolio spans the likes of Red Bull, Intrepid Travel, UN Foundation, Johnnie Walker, Dove and Magnum.

HEAD OF SOCIAL MEDIA, MELBOURNE SOCIAL CO

Ebony Coatsworth is a specialist in organic content and strategy and the podcast host of Can I Buy You a Coffee? - the podcast for marketing professionals seeking industry insights from the leading voices in marketing, PR, and advertising.

In 2024, Ebony used her social presence to build a community of young marketing professionals. She hosted seven networking events across Melbourne, Sydney, and London, creating spaces for connection and growth.

Ebony has now joined the Melbourne Social Co. team as The Head of Social Media, where she enjoys working across account management, business development, and creating strategies to drive client success. She. is also co-host of the Branding Personal Podcast alongside her colleague, Rosie Chong.

FOUNDER, THE SOCIAL COLLECTIVE

Loren Tomlinson is the Founder and Lead Digital Marketing Strategist of The Social Collective, a boutique agency helping entrepreneurs align their marketing to scale with confidence. Known for her holistic approach, Loren creates strategies that integrate social media, advertising, and email marketing to attract ideal clients and deliver measurable growth.

With nearly a decade of experience, Loren simplifies marketing for business owners, allowing them to focus on what they do best while their marketing works in the background. Loren is also the host of Coffees and Content, one of New Zealand’s top marketing podcasts, where she shares actionable insights and expert advice.

Whether coaching, mentoring, or creating full-service strategies, Loren’s mission is to help entrepreneurs connect authentically with their audience, grow sustainably, and feel confident in their marketing.

FOUNDER, INSIGHTLY MEDIA

With over 15 years in digital marketing, Josh Henry-Hicks has driven growth for some of America’s most prominent brands, including Fenty Beauty, PacSun,and Adidas.

He first led the transformation of City Beach from a brick-and-mortar retailer into a thriving omnichannel, digitally native business. Following this success, Josh moved to Los Angeles to join performance marketing agency MuteSix as a founding member and VP of Paid Social. There, he played a pivotal role in scaling the company into one of North America’s largest direct-to-consumer (DTC) agencies, helping to cement its position as an industry leader. 

Recognizing that the traditional agency model was losing relevance, Josh founded Insightly Media - an agency rooted in consumer psychology and creative innovation, designed to cut through the noise of today’s crowded news feeds. Today, Insightly Media partners with some of Australia’s leading fashion and lifestyle brands, including Dissh, July, Coco Republic, and Mr Zimi, helping them scale globally.

At The Social Summit, Josh will share how understanding human behavior - combined with powerful storytelling - can dramatically elevate advertising performance in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.

CONTENT LEAD, THE BREAKOUT HACK

Ashleigh Buchanan is the Content Lead at The Breakout Hack (formerly tbh Skincare), an Australian skincare brand stocked nationally and expanding internationally. From planning viral campaigns and influencer collaborations to delivering high-performing ad creative, Ashleigh blends big-picture thinking with platform expertise. She's worked on everything from launching a national partnership with MINI to turning a leaked product into a viral campaign, all while growing an engaged Gen Z audience through relatable, culturally tuned content.

DIGITAL DIRECTOR, CHAIN SOCIAL

Adele is the Digital Director at Chain Social, specialising in paid performance marketing across Meta, TikTok, Pinterest and Google. With 14+ years’ experience, she has scaled brands from startup to 7–8 figures through creative-led, data-backed strategy. Her background spans leading social at Retail Zoo and paid content for L’Oréal Paris, alongside consulting for growing businesses. She combines sharp strategy with hands-on execution to drive sustainable growth.