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.

CEO, DISSH

Lucy Henry-Hicks is the CEO and Creative Director of DISSH, the Australian fashion brand redefining minimalist style with a sustainability-first approach. A second-generation entrepreneur, Lucy took the reins in 2020, steering DISSH from a local boutique into a global label with a cult following and a growing U.S. presence. With a team that’s 92% women, she’s building more than a brand - she’s creating a business model that supports and empowers working mothers. Lucy’s leadership blends creative clarity with purpose, proving that fashion can be both elevated and ethical.

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, WHO IS ELIJAH

Raquel Bouris is the Founder and Creative Director of WHO IS ELIJAH, the Australian-born, now global fragrance house disrupting the industry with genderless scents and rebellious storytelling. From bottling perfumes in her lounge room to launching in Sephora, Raquel has built a universe where fragrance isn’t about memories, it’s about identity.

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.

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.

CEO, HERO PACKAGING

Anaita Sarkar is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hero Packaging, a global sustainable packaging company that has sold over 33 million compostable mailers. She’s also the founder of Sell Anything Online, helping entrepreneurs grow through marketing mentorship. Anaita built two successful e-commerce businesses using TikTok and has since gained over 330,000 followers by sharing daily business and branding tips. She’s worked with brands like Google, TikTok, and Adobe, and has been featured in Forbes, SBS, and Entrepreneur. Anaita’s work has earned her the Amazing Women in E-Commerce Award and Smart Company’s Retail Champion Award.

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.

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.

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.

HEAD OF SOCIAL MEDIA & CONTENT, MERIVALE

Phoebe Perring has spent over a decade deep in social media strategy. After beginning her career in agency world in New York City, she relocated to Melbourne to lead the social media strategy in-house at MECCA. Phoebe is now based in Sydney heading up social media and content at Merivale - one of Australia’s largest hospitality companies. In her role at Merivale, she works across more than 90 brands and is passionate about building community through social platforms, creating standout content, and shaping the way people connect with brands on social media. 

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, 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.

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.

CUSTOMER SUCCESS, VAMP

At Vamp, Pip sits at the sweet spot between strategy, customer success, and creator community, working closely with brands, creators and talent partners to bring social campaigns to life. Outside her 9-5, Pip creates UGC for hair brands, and also supports a small handful of creators in representing themselves for brand collabs, giving her a 360 lens on what drives real results in the space from both sides.

CRO, VAMP

Steve Wright is the Chief Revenue Officer at Vamp, a platform that helps the world’s biggest brands connect and collaborate with creators and talent managers. With a background in digital media, he’s focused on scaling brand-creator partnerships through platform-first thinking. Outside of work, he’s a dad of three, a wannabe golfer, and a frustrated Spurs and Eels supporter.

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, DM PODCASTS & BETOOTA ADVOCATE

Antony Stockdale is the founder and head of strategy for DM Podcasts, The Betoota Advocate and Leverage Agency. A keen advocate of independent digital media, Antony focusses on helping content creators build their unique voices into a thriving media businesses. DM Podcasts has helped develop challenger digital media brands including - Hello Sport, Equity Mates, The Squiz, The Grade Cricketer, and The Levels Network. Antony helps brands, movements and organisations navigate the modern media environment.  

HEAD OF CONTENT, NESTLÉ

As Head of Content at Nestlé, Charleen champions a bold creative vision—amplifying storytelling, elevating craft, and embedding cultural relevance across all Nestlé brands in Oceania. With a career spanning advertising agencies and publishing in Sydney and New York, she brings a global mindset and a deep passion for content that connects with both consumers and communities. Charleen thrives at the intersection of creativity and impact, consistently pushing boundaries and spearheading initiatives that advance diversity across the industry.

FOUNDER, VIVE MANAGEMENT

Isabella Lynden is the founder and director of VIVE Management, a leading influencer and social media agency. Based in Sydney, Isabella has grown VIVE into a leading agency with global reach, representing over 60 influencers and collaborating with leading brands across fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and travel. Known for her innovative approach and strong industry relationships, she is passionate about authentic storytelling and empowering her talent to thrive. Dedicated to fostering community and supporting women in business, Isabella continues to shape VIVE’s vision while balancing creativity, strategy, and a personal touch in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

CREATOR / SOCIAL CONTENT LEAD, SUNDAE BODY

Tashiya Rajasingham is a creative force in the digital space, blending her dual roles as both a full-time Social & Content Lead at Sundae Body and a fashion and beauty content creator. At Sundae Body, an Australian-born, global body care brand, Tashiya leads the brand’s social media and content strategy, helping scale its playful, scent-forward identity into a worldwide cult favourite.

With over six years of experience in the social space, Tashiya has built a loyal online community drawn to her bold fashion styling, beauty expertise, and creative storytelling. Her content has earned her collaborations with leading brands including YSL Beauty, Nike, JD Sports, Lancôme, Adobe and many more. Her unique perspective as both marketer and creator allows her to shape trends from both behind the scenes and in front of the camera, making her a true 360° storyteller.

Tashiya is passionate about redefining how fashion and beauty are experienced in the digital world, and her journey serves as inspiration for emerging creatives, industry professionals, and change-makers alike.

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.

GENERAL MANAGER, THEORY CREW

Since joining the agency in 2021, Anastasia quickly rose through the ranks, earning multiple promotions in just a few years thanks to her strategic mindset, creative problem-solving, and ability to deliver impactful outcomes for lifestyle, beauty, FMCG and consumer brands. Her approach blends sharp commercial insight with a deep commitment to authentic storytelling, ensuring brands connect meaningfully with their audiences.

Today, she oversees the agency’s direction, leads operations, and drives growth through innovative influencer partnerships, high-impact activations, and integrated PR and social media strategies.

BRAND MANAGER, DERMAVEEN - INOVA PHARMACEUTICALS

Kirsti is a social media savvy Brand Manager currently working in the Therapeutic Skincare space. With a passion for redefining how consumer health brands show up online, she leverages social media to showcase product efficacy while crafting brand narratives that are both captivating and credible.

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING MANAGER, JAZ HAND MADE

Katie Gulle is the Social Media Marketing Manager at Jaz Hand Made, an Australian jewellery brand redefining content strategy. A pioneer in employee-generated content, she has grown the brand’s TikTok following to nearly 200,000 by showcasing the real lives and personalities of team members - moving beyond traditional business posts.

Currently in her final year of a Business Marketing degree, Katie also creates content for her personal platforms. Her unique blend of hands-on creative work and strategic marketing insight gives her a deep understanding of what drives engagement, builds connection, and shapes the future of brand storytelling in the digital space.

WAG, EASTS RUGBY CLUB

Claudia Bursill is Sydney’s meme queen and co-host of the podcast Certified Yappers. Claudia’s most well known for her no holds barred antics on social media and if you’re a female millennial living in Sydney, chances are you’ve been tagged in one (or several) of her memes. Behind the scenes she’s 'Stacy Oaksheaf' at The Betoota Advocate and Leverage Agency. It's here she writes, creates branded content and manages partnerships for one of Australia’s most influential media brands. Claudia’s expertise lies in turning humour and relatability into strategic, shareable content that truly connects with audiences.

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.

AGENCY STRATEGY MANAGER, TIKTOK

As Agency Strategy Manager for TikTok LIVE across ANZ, 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.