The cost of living has become the most pressing theme for Australia’s marketing professionals

Australia’s inflation rate is rocketing, and rising interest rates will soon leave home owners with drastically less disposable income. Faced with increased fuel and energy bills, consumers are weighing up every purchase, even as brands grapple with their own growing costs. And 14 years on from the GFC, many agency staff and marketing teams have never previously experienced the strategic challenges they are facing.

In Unmade’s first public event, we’ve assembled a panel of experts to advise on how to navigate the radical changes that are coming.

Join us for a lively conversation, and networking drinks, at Forresters pub in Surry Hills on the evening of Tuesday May 24.

Paid subscribers of Unmade get access to $10 tickets. To receive a code, email damian@unmade.media.

Our expert panel:

Melissa Hopkins, VP and CMO, Optus: With a communications career spanning more than 30 years, including six years at Optus and three years in a global marketing role at Vodafone, Hopkins is one of Australia's most respected and experienced marketers. With Optus doing battle both as a telco and streaming player, Mel understands intimately the challenges of marketing to price sensitive consumers

Aimee Buchanan, CEO, GroupM: After leading OMD to media agency of the decade, late in 2021 Aimee moved into the biggest media agency job in Australia as CEO of WPP’s GroupM. With a spend on behalf of blue chip clients in excess of $2bn, Aimee is in charge of some of the biggest agencies in the market including Mindshare, MediaCom, Wavemaker and Essence. Aimee has a front row seat to understand not only how marketers are spending their advertising budgets, but how consumers are reacting.

Jana Bowden, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, Macquarie University: Specialising in market research and brand management, Jana is one of Australia’s foremost experts on retail marketing and consumer behaviour. She’s lectured at Macquarie University of the past decade and was granted full professorship last year.

Al Crawford, Founder, Shapeshifter Consulting: Al is seen by many as Australia’s smartest communications strategist. After training in account planning at the legendary UK agency BMP, Al spent more than a decade leading strategy at DDB and Clemenger BBDO Sydney, before starting his own consultancy five years ago.

The event will be moderated by Unmade’s Tim Burrowes. Tim founded Unmade in 2021, and back in 2008 was the founder of Mumbrella. He is Australia’s most experienced marketing journalist and author of the book Media Unmade.

Tickets are $69, or reduced to $10 for members of Unmade’s paid tier (maximum of two tickets per subscriber). If you’re a subscribed member check your email inbox for your discount code (search for the words “Your Unmade code”) or email Unmade managing partner Damian Francis on damian@unmade.media if you can’t find it.)

Please note, because it’s a relatively small venue, tickets are likely to sell out quickly.

Thanks to our sponsor Howatson+Company.