FOUNDER, THE BEAUTY CHEF

Carla Oates is the founder of The Beauty Chef, a pioneering inner beauty brand based on the philosophy that glowing skin begins in the gut. After a decade as a fashion stylist, Carla shifted to beauty writing, becoming concerned with synthetic ingredients in skincare. Her passion for natural alternatives led her to create Feeding Your Skin and begin experimenting with fermented wholefoods in her Bondi kitchen.

In 2009, she launched Glow®, a groundbreaking fermented powder that sparked The Beauty Chef. Today, she works with a team of experts to develop supernutrient-rich formulas powered by prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics—supported by their unique Flora Culture® process and exclusive GUT5Y™ strain.

Carla is the author of two books, a longtime columnist for Wellbeing Magazine, and a speaker at global wellness and beauty events.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

CONTENT OPERATIONS LEAD, TIKTOK

Ellie is the head of Content Operations for TikTok LIVE at TikTok Australia, where she leads a growing team across content strategy, partnerships, campaigns, product marketing and social media strategy for TikTok LIVE in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Before working at TikTok, Ellie worked at Meta, curating content, forecasting trends and educating local creators and global product teams on how to organically, and editorially, grow Instagram Reels in Australia, New Zealand and the US.

CREATOR

Unice is a dynamic force hailing from Perth, capturing the attention of millions of followers on her social media accounts with her unique style and dance moves. Not content with just dominating the online realm, Unice is set to make waves in the traditional media landscape, poised to advocate for representation and diversity. This has led Unice to some great achievements, including livestreaming her walk down the runway for P.E Nation at Australian Fashion Week, a collaboration with Gucci and MCing the Red Bull Dance Your Style 2023 National Final. With a passion for empowering the youth and reshaping Australian media, Unice embodies the essence of a modern-day trailblazer. Her journey stands as an inspiration for aspiring content creators and change-makers alike.

FOUNDER, CREATE YOUR LIVING

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.

FOUNDER, DEJA MARC

Rosie Collins is the founder of Deja Marc Jewellery, a brand dedicated to crafting meaningful, sentimental keepsakes that celebrate life's most precious moments. With over 10 years experience in Advertising and Marketing, Rosie transformed her expertise into entrepreneurial success, channeling her creativity and business acumen to build a thriving global brand. In just four years, she has cultivated a dedicated team of 12 women, inspiring people around the world to celebrate the connections that matter most.

SOCIAL CONTENT MANAGER, MELBOURNE SOCIAL CO.

Rosie is a LinkedIn and Personal Branding aficionado, known as the 9-5 Personal Branding Gal on-LinkedIn. She has become one of Australia's leading Top Voices in the industry over the last 4 years, showcasing the power of a personal brand both online and in real life regardless of your job title. She has recently joined the Melbourne Social Co team as a Social Content Manager, helping brands find their distinctive voice online and stand out in the market. She is also the co-host of the Branding Personal Podcast alongside her colleague Ebony Coastworth.

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.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHALLENGE, 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 a Social Media Executive, 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.

HEAD OF PRODUCTION, MELBOURNE SOCIAL CO.

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

As Head of Production 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.

CEO, MERCHGIRLS

Di Laws is the CEO of Merchgirls. With extensive experience in strategic leadership roles for national and global brands across fashion, FMCG and general merchandise. Di is a facilitator, an independent advisor, non-executive director, and a leadership coach. Her superpower is working with SME's on strategy, execution and commercialising their why.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR, MERCHGIRLS

Hannah is the Creative Director of Merchgirls, a creative agency that is doing corporate merch differently. Since 2015, Merchgirls has been designing and manufacturing quality custom merch for high profile clients such as Google, Mecca, Vogue, ANZ and David Jones. Merchgirls manufactures mindfully, and is an industry leader when it comes to producing environmentally responsible merchandise that will be used time and time again.