Mavens Magazine Launch

Mavens is an independent publication that champions women in Australian advertising and media. Our inaugural print magazine is rallying women to #DemandEquality, and will be launched with an exciting speaker event on St Kilda Road, Melbourne. The traditional custodians of this land are the Yalukut Weelam Clan of the Boon Wurung who are part of the Kulin Nation. 

Please note tickets are strictly limited. Once allocation is exhausted, please join the waitlist to be notified if additional tickets become available. If you're a sponsor, speaker, special guest or if you have reserved pre-release tickets, a unique access code will be sent to you to generate your tickets prior to the event.

If you missed out on tickets, don't worry. Our keynote will be available on playback, and the print magazine will be available for purchase from mid-September.

Tickets

General Admission ($117 + bf) include: 

• Copy of the magazine (160pp approx)
• Premium food and beverage package*
• Luxe Gift Bag 

VIP Admission ($147 + bf) include: 

• All of the above
• Early entry with exclusive networking
• Professional media wall photography

*Alcoholic white wine, beer and finger food. Vegan food options and non-alcoholic beer and wine also provided. 

$5 from every ticket sold will be donated to our charity partner Ready Set, who provide dignity and confidence to job seekers in need by way of clothing and job coaching. 

Dress Code: Business casual or 'After 5.' If a health condition prevents you meeting the dress code, that's more than fine and you will be welcomed regardless. 

Run sheet 

6:30 VIP Admission - doors open 

7:15 General Admission - doors open

7:30 Speakers commence 

8:50 Speakers close, networking time

9:15 Charity raffle winners announced

9:30 Event close

About Mavens

Founded by Melbourne-based Senior Copywriter Leah Morris during the pandemic, Mavens’ online activism has drawn a staunch following of industry people who want to see gender equality in adland. We’re now proud to present Mavens’ first ever print issue, a jam-packed ‘September issue’ showcasing a raft of talented professionals, as well as tackling difficult topics like the industry’s 33% gender pay gap (Ad Council Census, 2021), sexual harrassment, parental leave, stereotypes in ads and the power of the women’s mentoring movement. 

Our speakers

Bec Brideson | Founder & CEO, Venus Comms

Our MC (‘Maven of Ceremonies’) is Bec Brideson, industry legend and founder of Venus Comms. Bec has thirty years’ experience in the advertising and marketing industries. She is a published author, consultant, 0.01% of women to start an advertising agency, a speaker and a mother to two teenage daughters. She has worked in Sydney, Auckland and Melbourne and delivered provocative keynotes in Asia, France, USA and the UK which tackle solutions for gender equality in the communications industry. Bec remains committed to educating industries about women’s incredible economic influence and their role as leaders in business, politics and creating change across wider social inequalities. 

Dianne Hill | CEO, Women’s Health Victoria 

Commencing the evening as our first speaker, Dianne has over 25 years senior leadership experience in Australia and the United Kingdom in women’s health, urban renewal, housing and homelessness, and aged and community care in government and the not-for-profit sector including strategic planning, public policy and program delivery. In September 2019, Dianne was appointed CEO of Women’s Health Victoria, the department behind shEqual, a powerful initiative fighting gender stereotypes in Australian advertising. With a strong commitment to women’s health rights, gender equality and social justice, Dianne is passionate about using leadership opportunities to influence social change and have a positive impact on the lives of women and girls.

Linh Diep | Founder & CEO, Assisterhood 

Second to speak is Linh Diep, Mavens’ inaugural print magazine cover talent and founder behind the Assisterhood mentoring movement. Linh is one of the brightest young talents nationally, a two time B&T 30 under 30 winner and a determined Business Manager with a relentless passion for behaviour change. Throughout her career, Linh has managed successful campaigns for a diverse range of industries and clients including all levels of Finance, Government, FMCG, Tertiary Education and not-for-profits. As a self-diagnosed Yes-Woman, Linh is heavily involved in the industry, having founded the Assisterhood mentorship program and co-chaired Youngbloods nationally. 

Photo: Melissa Cowan

Shivani Gopal | Founder & CEO, Elladex 

Our third speaker is the remarkable Shivani Gopal, a gender equality commentator, award-winning business thought leader, finance expert and the founder of Elladex, a learning network and mentor platform giving women the tools and support to achieve success in their careers, money and lives. After leaving an early-adult arranged marriage, Shivani fought for her freedom and forged a hugely successful career in financial services, but not without facing gender-based discrimination along the way. She felt she had no option other than to be self-taught, with her requests for mentoring whilst climbing the ranks rejected because she was ‘too young’ to be taken seriously. Her success and profile continues to grow as she dedicates her work to a more equitable future. 

Jasmin Bedir | CEO, Innocean Australia & Founder, Fck The Cupcakes

Wrapping up our speaker set is Innocean CEO Jasmin Bedir, the driving force behind Fck The Cupcakes, a social enterprise driving gender equality in Australian society and in the workplace. In her agency role, Jasmin leads effective campaign work for clients while growing the agency’s capabilities and culture. This year, she assembled a dedicated team to launch the award-winning Be The Change campaign, a year-round initiative helping men understand and reject casual misogyny, and become allies on the path to gender equality. Oh, and did we mention she’s  #10 on B&T’s Women in Power List for 2022? 

Our Sponsors

Mavens would like to thank the below sponsors for their contribution to our magazine and launch event. 

Access & Getting There

Parking

St Kilda Rd has on-street parallel parking, which is free after 6pm. Nearby side streets are Arthur Street and Leopold St, which have angle parking. The nearest paid carpark is 474 Leopold Street.

Public transport

The venue is a 10 minute tram ride from Flinders Street Station via the number 3, 5, 6, 16 or 72 tram. The nearest tram stop is Stop 24, Leopold Street. 

Accessibility

There isn’t any disabled parking at the venue. There is direct entry off the footpath, which is flat. The event is in the Drum House, off to the left of the main entrance. It will be clearly visible upon entry. There are no stairs. 

The toilets on the ground floor are wheelchair accessible, but they are not disabled toilets. 

The bathrooms are not unisex or gender neutral. We apologise if this affects you and aim to do better for our next event. 

For further accessibility information, contact leah@themavens.com.au 

Code of Conduct 

This is an LQBTQI+ friendly event. 

Disrespect of any kind will not be tolerated. Offensive persons will be immediately removed from the venue and their tickets not refunded. 

This event includes photography and videography. By attending this event, you accept that your image may appear in communications related to this event and future Mavens events.

If you have COVID-19, please stay home and do not attend this event. Email us a photo of your positive RAT test to receive a full refund at any time.