DAY 2
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Registration and Networking
After the unforgettable Pinterest Welcome Party, ease into the day with a coffee and conversation. Catch up with industry leaders, visit brand activations and get ready for another day of inspiration and big ideas.
KEYNOTE
AUDITORIUM C | Day 2 MORNING
10:00 am - 10:05 am
MC Welcome
Ex TV Producer Now Keynote Speaker, Maz Speaks Global
10:05 am - 10:35 am
Uncensored CMO Live: A Fireside Chat with Jon Evans
Jon Evans, host of the world’s premier marketing podcast, Uncensored CMO, and former chief customer officer at System1, hits Cairns with the sharp, no-BS marketing truths he’s famous for. He’ll dig into what makes work unforgettable, why bold beats beige every time and how soundwaves helped propel Uncensored CMO to dizzy audio heights. Jon will also share some of his favourite moments, marketers and behind-the-mic insights from the hit show. While in Cairns, he will be meeting Australia’s top CMO’s to record new content for the podcast, too.
Creator & Host of Uncensored CMO podcast
Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA)ETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
10:35 am - 11:15 am
Don't Steal From Culture. Add To It
Some ideas do more than sell products. They change behaviour, shape conversations and leave a mark on the real world. Paula Bloodworth explores how creativity can move beyond marketing to create genuine impact, from culture-shaping brand work to campaigns that influence communities and even public policy. Drawing on experience across Nike, Uncommon and her work with her co-founder Idris Elba at Alien Baby, she shares how powerful ideas travel beyond advertising and into the world around us.
Founder and Chief Strategy Officer Alien Baby, Chief Marketing Officer of Idris Elba's IE7
Founder, ThinkerbellETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
11:15 am - 11:45 am
Design the Exit: How Brands Can Win by Getting People to Go Do Something
Two cultural forces are colliding. On one side, Gen Z is ditching smartphones and embracing digital detoxes. On the other, AI is transforming how we live, work and create. They may seem like opposites, but both are driven by the same impulse: the desire for something real. In this talk, Pinterest VP Global Creative Xanthe Wells explores how brands can respond. The winners won’t fuel the algorithm, but inspire action. She introduces a framework called “designing the exit,” where your brand helps people get back to their lives.
VP of Global Creative, Pinterest
11:45 am - 12:25 pm
The Art of Fearless Creativity
Great ideas rarely arrive fully formed. In this fireside chat, award-winning filmmaker and visual director Adam Smith shares how curiosity, instinct and play have shaped a career that began creating visuals for late-80s clubs and raves. From early documentaries capturing the rise of the Grime scene to directing episodes of Skins and the iconic Blinded by the Lights video for The Streets, his work spans music, film, brand and culture. Best known for creating the legendary live visuals for The Chemical Brothers, Smith explores how imagination, collaboration and play fuel bold ideas, and why faith in the creative process is often what separates safe work from the unforgettable.
Chemical Brothers, Director, Visual Artist
Founder Curious Media, JournalistETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm
MC Close
FILM & SCREEN TRACK
PLENARY 1 & 2 | DAY 2 MORNING
10:00 am - 10:05 am
Welcome to Country
Owner/Director, NGIRRI
10:05 am - 10:10 am
MC Welcome
Comedian, Performer, Writer
10:10 am - 10:45 am
Brand Australia And The Drama Down Under
Australian content that has cut through in different territories, from daytime soaps to Cannes winners, is a torchbearer. How does Australia as a tourist destination both feed and benefit from the screen, and how can the tourism sector influence the incentives as they mature in the current global market restructuring and the L.A. contraction. How do we understand how we are viewed overseas and how do we measure real connection and generate data.
ACS Cinematographer
Head of Global PR and Advocacy, Tourism AustraliaETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
Founder & Soundsmith, BrandMusiq
Founder | Executive Director Lonestar Entertainment Co
10:45 am - 11:15 am
Poptimism
Celebrating the power of popular screen consumption for good. In the past century blockbusters would often have a moral message hidden in the drama. Nostalgia has re-entered the cultural conversation and in an era of permanent crisis and digital overload, audiences are gravitating towards two ends of the spectrum- the familiar retro aesthetics, reboots, and stories that echo a time when narratives felt clearer and more human, and then on the other side, horror and true crime is more popular than ever. How can the rise in catalogue- viewing both in cinemas and on screen be treated as a signal for creators today, and can filmmakers and brands combine to save the world?
Screenwriter, Producer, Founder Pandamonium Films
VP, Global Head of CTV Brand and Agency Partnerships, Tubi
Founding Partner, Today the Brave
Co-Founder & Editorial Director, Irresistible MagazineETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
11:15 am - 11:50 am
The Future of Cinema
The future of cinema is not a distant concept - it is already unfolding. In Australia, five of the top ten highest grossing films of all time have been released since the pandemic, signalling a powerful resurgence in audience demand and the enduring pull of the big screen. Far from fading, cinema remains the nation’s number one cultural out of home experience, a testament to its unique ability to bring people together in a shared, immersive environment. Over the past decade, over $600M has been invested in reimagining what the cinema experience can be. At the forefront of this evolution is HOYTS, driving innovation across technology, comfort, and premium formats. From cutting edge sound and projection to elevated food and seating experiences, cinemas are continuously adapting to meet rising audience expectations. This panel will explore how the industry is evolving in real time, what audiences want next, and how exhibitors and creators are redefining the role of cinema in a rapidly shifting entertainment landscape. The future of cinema is bold, experiential, and unapologetically big.
Director Sales, Marketing & Content, HOYTS Group
Executive Operations, Planning & Partnerships, NAB
President & Chief Executive Officer, The Hoyts GroupETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
11:50 am - 12:35 pm
Visionaries Behind The Vision
Join us for a yarn with these giants from behind the camera. They've worked across film, commercials, and PSAs, picking up awards and recognitions all over the world while they're at it. Settle in for tales of lore from Hollywood and a lot closer to home, and where this mob see the world of brands and screen heading.
Acquisitions Manager, National Indigenous Television (NITV)ETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
ACS Cinematographer
Film Director, Screenwriter & ACS Cinematographer
12:35 pm - 12:40 pm
MC Close
Comedian, Performer, Writer
12:30 pm - 1:45 pm
Networking break
Make the most of your time! Visit partners, explore activations and grab your swag before the day wraps up.
BUILDING BRANDS
AUDITORIUM C | Day 2 Afternoon
1:45 pm - 1:50 pm
MC Welcome
Global Speaker Coach & Director, Speakerstephspeak
1:50 pm - 2:20 pm
Marketing The Moment That Changes Everything
In this fireside conversation, Chief Marketing Officer Brent Hill reveals how the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic games will capture hearts, sell a vision to billions and put Brisbane on the map globally. The race is on to build belief, drive commercial value and put Queensland on everyone’s bucket list. Hill shares how powerful storytelling, emotional connection and bold marketing will transform a once in a generation opportunity into a legacy that starts now, not in 2032.
Chief Marketing Officer, Brisbane 2032 Olympics & Paralympics
CEO, Omnicom Oceania
2:20 pm - 2:50 pm
From Brandside: The Brand Race Inside Formula 1®
Formula 1® is no longer just a sport. It is a cultural force with one of the most influential, brand-engaged and high-spending audiences in the world. As its momentum accelerates, brands are rethinking how they show up, moving beyond logos to create meaningful, authentic connections with a deeply passionate community. This panel explores how partners are harnessing the power, prestige and emotion of Formula 1® to build relevance, drive desire and earn their place in one of the most competitive brand arenas on earth.
General Manager, MECCA-Maginations, MECCA Brands
Chief Commercial Officer, Australian Grand Prix
Vice President Brand & Member Experience ANZ, American Express
Senior Director Marketing ANZ, SalesforceETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
2:50 pm - 3:20 pm
Turbulence & Takeoff: Branding in Travel Today
Few categories have been tested like travel, yet few have proven as resilient. From disruption to major transformation, brands have had to adapt fast and rethink how they grow. Looking at the travel ecosystem, this session brings together perspectives from an airline, cruiseline, and a brand that is also an entire destination, Nuanu Creative City in Bali. This session brings together travel marketers to explore what’s working, what’s changed, and how to build relevance, narrative and global desire in a category that never stands still.
Founder, The HallwayETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
Assistant Vice President Sales & Marketing AU/NZ, Carnival Cruise Line
MD Travel Weekly & TV Host, Getaway
Brand & Communications Director, Nuanu Creative City
3:20 pm - 3:50 pm
Marketing’s Next Big Headaches (and How to Flip Them)
Forget yesterday’s challenges. Marketers are facing a whole new breed of sleepless nights. In this session, The Marketing Academy alumni and partners share first-hand experiences navigating constant disruption and hidden landmines.
Acting General Manager Marketing, Optus
Ex-IBM, Motorola, Conde Nast China, Chair Shenzhen International Fashion Week
CEO, Omnicom Oceania
B&T EditorETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
3:50 pm - 4:30 pm
What's A 'Poor' Marketer to Do?
Marketers face constant pressure to balance brand and performance, reach and targeting, innovation and efficiency. With limited budgets and conflicting advice, knowing where to invest can be challenging. This session brings clarity through proven, evidence-based principles on how brands compete and grow, and what truly drives effectiveness. Following a keynote, Ehrenberg-Bass Institute Professor Rachel Kennedy will join leading marketers for a dynamic panel exploring how evidence, creativity and real-world execution combine to build brands that grow faster, last longer and outperform the competition.
General Manager, Coles 360
Chief Growth Officer, Growth Ops, Auto & General Holdings
Editor, The Growth Agenda
Chief Marketing Officer, BYD Australia & New Zealand
Professor, Ehrenberg-Bass Institute
4:30 pm - 4:35 pm
MC Close
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
A Beer & A Yarn with News Australia
(Happy Hour at Hemingway’s)
REWILDING CREATIVITY
Auditorium B | Day 2 Afternoon
1:45 pm - 1:50 pm
MC WELCOME
CMO Tendertrace & Founder Best Case Scenario
1:50 pm - 2:20 pm
Protecting Culture in the Age of AI
Over the past year, concern has grown around AI systems scraping First Nations cultural material without consent, in what has been described as a new wave of cultural theft. This has sharpened calls to protect Indigenous cultural and intellectual property and pushed brands to treat culture as more than content. Join Going North, an Aboriginal-owned creative agency, alongside Tourism NT, for a session that moves beyond inclusion, showing how to build campaigns that honour stories, elevate Indigenous creativity and connect authentically with communities.
Editorial Director & Publisher at News Prestige & Conde Nast titles Australia
Director, Going North
2:20 pm - 2:50 pm
Lessons in Fantasy-Driven Creativity
The boldest ideas don’t live in the obvious. They thrive in the strange, unexpected spaces where imagination runs wild. This session brings together a renowned visual artist and film director, a bold marketer, a self-professed “weirdism” inventor and a vampire novelist to explore how fantasy uses tension, suspense and the uncanny to captivate audiences. Discover how subversion, mood and playful rule-breaking can spark emotional impact, inspire storytelling and push brands beyond the safe and predictable.
Nighttime Legend, Flutist
Chemical Brothers, Director, Visual Artist
Fantasy Writer & #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
CMO at DiDi Australia and New Zealand
Creative Sociologist, Bestselling Author, CEO & Creative Director, Good ShoutETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
2:50 pm - 3:20 pm
Karl Stefanovic: Off Script On His Own Terms
In this candid fireside conversation, Karl Stefanovic reflects on breaking from legacy media to launch an independent podcast on his own terms. Embracing the freedom of full creative control, he shares the realities of building a personal brand in the creator economy, including securing commercial partners, growing an audience and confronting the quiet fear of starting again in a new medium. Moderated by Maz Farrelly, the global TV executive behind some of the world’s biggest shows, expect sharp insights, fun, laughs and a few behind-the-scenes truths about how the entertainment industry really works.
Broadcaster & Host Of The Karl Stefanovic Show Podcast
Ex TV Producer Now Keynote Speaker, Maz Speaks GlobalETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
3:20 pm - 3:50 pm
Make Creativity Great Again
Creativity was once marketing’s greatest competitive advantage. Today, it is often constrained by process, platforms, and the pursuit of predictability. As brands compete in a sea of sameness, the ability to think differently has never mattered more. This session explores how leaders can restore creativity to its rightful place at the centre of growth, protect brave ideas, and build brands that people notice, remember, and choose.
Executive Creative Director, Canva
Hannah McElhinney, Chief Creator + Co-Founder, Snack DrawerETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
Consultant, Former CEO BBH & Publicis India, Ex-Chairman Ad Standards Council India
CEO Droga5 Australia & New Zealand & MD, Accenture Song
3:50 pm - 4:30 pm
Victory Lap or Post-Mortem?
The Australian Steelers, Australia’s national wheelchair rugby team and Paralympic medallists, found themselves without a major sponsor. Instead of pitching quietly, they made the absence the idea. In a campaign launched late February, they stripped sponsor logos from their jerseys and replaced them with a bold declaration: Officially Unsponsored, complete with a live QR code inviting brands to step up. Now the real question: will a brand CMO join them on stage to celebrate a breakthrough partnership? Or will this be a candid post-mortem on creativity versus commercial reality? Be in the room to find out.
Australian Steelers Athlete, Wheelchair Rugby Australia
Group Creative Director, Ogilvy Australia
CEO, Wheelchair Rugby
Speaker & WriterETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
4:30 pm - 4:35 pm
MC Close
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
A Beer & A Yarn with News Australia
(Happy Hour at Hemingway’s)
FILM & SCREEN
PLENARY 1 & 2 | Day 2 Afternoon
1:45 pm - 1:50 pm
MC Welcome
Comedian, Performer, Writer
1:50 pm - 2:20 pm
The Marriage Of Screen And Marketing
The screen has always been a paradise for marketers, from destinations to placing a product, but now as traditional advertising models collapse, brands are turning into screen commissioners and even studios. Directors are more comfortable than before to work on commercial and TV and film work concurrently, fashion runways are turning into cinemas, and what is and isn't an ad is up for debate. From weaving product into narrative, to upfront financing and production, there's a lot of exciting possibilities, and we ask if brands are now bridging more than just the gap.
Strategic Brand & Marketing Leader, Jaguar Land Rover
Founder/Executive Producer, Australian Production House
Founder, Entropico
Head of Commercial, Brand and Digital at National Indigenous Television (NITV)ETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
2:20 pm - 2:50 pm
Eyeballs, Dollars, Action
If you haven't got the numbers, you haven't got anything. Australia sits in the middle of culture waves that come from both the US and Asia, so we dive into it. Demographic tendencies are changing as parents take up the habits of their kids, not the other way round, and middle-aged people are watching more and more long form on YouTube. Find out where the eyes and the dollars are going, and how the TV distribution landscape and scripted commissioning is evolving across the world.
Senior Analyst, Ampere Analysis
Founder | Executive Director Lonestar Entertainment CoETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
2:50 pm - 3:20 pm
The Maestros Of Microdramas
You may know them as verticals, short form, or mobisodes, but the content everyone is talking about is predicted to match and surpass the Hollywood Box Office this year, and is almost certainly here to stay. Find out everything you need to know, how the content is growing to have its own voice beyond the tropes, and what is going to happen as they leap into the world of brands. You'll leave armed with more information about the form than anyone else you know.
General Manager, COL Group International
B&T 30 under 30 Grand Prix Winner, Executive Producer, Commercial & Partnerships, NITVETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
3:20 pm - 3:50 pm
Stories That Matter
Storytelling isn't all meet-cutes and vampire movies. From frontline news, to longer form current affairs and journalism, and through to documentaries, the appetite for the stories that count is still tracking high, and is maybe more urgent than ever. We hear from those asking the questions and those creating the visuals about what it takes to get a powerful story to land, even when the going gets tough.
Senior Programmer Melbourne International Film FestivalETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
ACS Cinematographer
Producer
Writer, Director, Screen Lecturer
3:50 pm - 4:20 pm
Distribution and Devotion
Commissioning can be driven by data or a gut feeling, but the bottom line is distribution. Marketing budgets can be sky high and get nowhere, or break through with very little. Series like Heated Rivalry show us that great content finds its own audience, and as Esther Perel said, may even provide a "corrective experience." Is it intuition, or do we need more sophisticated ways of understanding who wants what. What does the creator economy and emergence of new platforms have to teach us- and is it possible to leverage adlands marketing expertise into the screen.
Senior Director, Content HBO Max Australia & NZ
Writer-Director-Producer, Founder Resonant FilmETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
Producer, RUSH Films
Founder & CEO, Julie King & Associates
4:20 pm - 4:25 pm
MC Close
Comedian, Performer, Writer
4:35 pm - 6:00 pm
Uruguay Is Coming: Film & Screen Wine Bar
Vinos of Uruguay are hosting drinks at the film and screen track. Following the debut of the Film and Screen Track at Cairns Crocodiles, the Embassy of Uruguay in Australia, in partnership with Vinos of Uruguay, will host wrap drinks to celebrate an incredible program, bringing a taste of Uruguayan wine, culture and connection to the festival.
HEMINGWAY'S TRACK
Official Partner, News Australia
Day 2 Afternoon
1:45 pm - 1:50 pm
MC Welcome
MC & Partnerships Lead at Debate Club
Australian Paralympic Swimmer and Motivational Speaker
1:50 pm - 2:20 pm
Passion, Fandom, and the Next Era of Growth
In 2026, fandom and the pursuit of passion are emerging as powerful drivers of growth for both people and brands. Passions fuel resilience, creativity, and purpose, helping individuals build mastery and stronger communities. For brands, they unlock deeper connection, attention, and long-term effectiveness. This session explores the intersection of growth mindset, creativity, and brand fandom, and why tapping into what people genuinely care about creates lasting impact. As audiences seek meaning and belonging, the brands that align with passions, not just products, will be best positioned to drive relevance, loyalty, and sustained growth in a changing world.
Ex- Head of Marketing @ FIFA Women's World Cup Australia, Director, Independent Consultancy
Futurist, Trend Forecaster, Consumer Expert
Chairman, Hatched Media
General Manager, The Growth Distillery, News AustraliaETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
2:20 pm - 2:50 pm
Get Faster or Be Forgotten: The Real-Time Mandate For The AI Era
Your marketing operation wasn’t built for the speed of today’s market — and it’s costing you growth. In a world of non-linear journeys and always-on culture, the biggest threat isn’t bad creative, it’s marketing lag: the delay between insight, production, and activation. This session reveals the hidden cost of that lag and how leading brands close it, redesigning how the work is done using the best of people and technology to respond in real time, leverage creative as targeting, and win by moving at the speed of culture.
SVP Data, Monks APAC
Consulting Partner, Monks APAC
2:50 pm - 3:20 pm
Win Before They Want: Designing For Earlier Demand
Most media investment is built to meet consumers at the moment of search. However, intent is now shaped earlier—through exploration and visual discovery—often long before a need is typed out. This panel explores why media systems are still built to compete at the end of the journey if consumer decisions are shaped before the search bar. This session examines how brands can shift from competing for demand to designing it before it is declared.
Senior. Industry Manager, Pinterest
Head of Digital QLD, Zenith
Industry Manager, Pinterest
Futurist, Trend Forecaster, Consumer Expert
3:20 pm - 3:50 pm
The Big Quiz Show
Get ready for an even bigger, faster, and more entertaining quiz show experience. Brought to you by the Experience Advocacy Taskforce, this interactive favourite returns with high energy, bold truths, and plenty of surprises. Join our fabulous co-hosts for a lively session packed with laughs, unexpected moments, and eye-opening insights, where almost every attendee plays a part. It is fast-paced, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore. Expect big energy, fresh perspective, and maybe even a prize or two. As Sparrow says, you could even win a car.
MD Australia & New Zealand, MiQ
Director of Sales ANZ, PubMatic
3:50 pm - 4:30 pm
G-RUIN - Industry Retro & Roast
Adland needs a pressure valve. Somewhere between over-serious strategy decks and award-entry self-love, we forgot how to laugh at ourselves.
Inspired by the spirit of Gruen, G-RUIN is a live, unfiltered industry roast. We’ll start by tearing apart our own work, posts and pet projects before inviting brave creatives to submit theirs for public critique. Nothing is sacred. Everything is fair game.
Hosted Mum the Drag Queen herself! (aka adland creative & Friends of Rhonda founder Jules Stretch) expect sharp takes, chaos and interactive audience moments. Got something to say? Step up. Let’s ruin it properly.
Executive Director of Strategy & Social, Poem
ACD, Leo Burnett & Industry-Declared Nicest Guy & Co-Head of Online AWARD School
Associate Creative Director, Leo Burnett, Stand Up Comedian & Co-head of Online AWARD School
Creative Partner, Hellions
Senior Creative, Copywriter, Content Creator, Queer About TownETNSO_BREAK(Moderator)
4:30 pm - 4:35 pm
MC Close
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
A Beer & A Yarn with News Australia
(Happy Hour at Hemingway’s)