Mavens Volume 2 magazine gets under the skin of what’s holding women back in the comms industry, and why it’s our responsibility to change the status quo. As humans (because women deserve equality) and as business people (because we create better work with diverse teams).

This event will host a power panel of industry leaders who will unpack key themes from the magazine including:

Role modelling and 'you can't be what you can't see'
Showing your work and self-promoting
'Safety' around visibility for women at the intersections
Normalising visibility and utilising it as an equaliser
Visibility in casting creative work
Value of diverse perspectives
Positive impacts on workplace culture

About Mavens

Mavens is an independent content platform and annual print magazine to champion gender equality through communications. It was created by Senior Copywriter Leah Morris to address a need for gender equality action in Australia’s communications industry, where we have a leadership ratio of 1 woman to every 3 men. Additionally, 25% of women at middle management level saying they’re likely to leave the industry specifically due to a lack of inclusion [Advertising Council of Australia (ACA) Member Survey 2019 and ‘Create Space Census’ 2021].

Who is this event for?

Anyone and everyone who would like to improve Australia’s advertising, marketing, media and communications industries through gender equality action. You will walk away with practical pointers for becoming an ally, advocate and champion for change in your own workplace and beyond.

Tickets

General Admission ($95 + booking fee) includes:

Gift bag with copy of Mavens Vol 2 magazine
Premium food and beverage package*
Event entry and networking from 7.30pm

VIP Admission ($130 + booking fee) includes:

All of the above
Early entry (from 6.30pm) for additional networking time
Professional media wall photography

Concession ($30 + booking fee) includes:

As part of our commitment to achieve equality in all its forms, we have made some concession tickets available for those who may not be in a position to pay the full ticket fee at this time. Please only select this option if you really need to. Honesty system applied and anonymity assured. Limited places available.

* Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages from our sponsors including Brick Lane Brewing. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options included.

Pay It Forward ($65 + booking fee): You have the option to purchase a Pay It Forward ticket at checkout which will offset the cost of a concession ticket for someone who would benefit from this event but cannot afford a full price ticket.

Additional copies of Mavens magazine can be pre-ordered online here or purchased on the night (cover price $29.95).

$5 from every ticket sold will be donated to our charity partner Never Not Creative, an NFP creating the ideas, tools and solutions to improve the wellbeing of everyone in the industry and promote the value of creativity in the world.

Dress Code: Business casual or 'After 5.'

Our Speakers & Panelists

Lauren Zappa

Manager, Gender Equity and Capacity Building at shEqual (Women’s Health Victoria).

shEqual is the first coordinated effort in Australia to promote gender equality and address the drivers of violence against women in the advertising setting. Lauren oversees the organisation’s workforce development, training and capacity building programs, which includes the gender equality in ads program shEqual. She brings over 15 years of health promotion and leadership experience, with a focus on programs, services and partnerships that build individual, workforce and systems capacity. Lauren is driven by social justice and feminist principles and is passionate about improving outcomes for women, girls and other marginalised groups.

Shyaire Ganglani

Associate Creative Director, Copywriter and Spoken Word Poet.

Shyaire has been a writer for as long as she can remember. Paper, pen and words is what keeps her sane. Having worked across the Middle East, Europe and Australia, she’s worked at large creative agencies like Ogilvy and Thinkerbell. In her spare time, she’s a spoken word artist, poet, fiction writer and stand up comic. In recent years, Shy’s been a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in Australia. She’s currently freelancing as an Associate Creative Director (Copywriter) with her partner in crime Seamus Fagan and they can be found chewing the fat at delicious cafes around Fitzroy in Melbourne.

Lisa Cox

TEDx Speaker, Author, Internationally Awarded Thought Leader and Consultant.

Lisa Cox aids businesses and industries in comprehending and incorporating disability inclusion into their practices and content. Motivated by a fierce aspiration to revolutionise disability representation in popular culture, she integrates her professional expertise in advertising, marketing, media, branding and communications with her lived experiences of disability.

As part of Media Diversity Australia, she also collaborates with communications professionals to ensure that the media is a true reflection of the diverse community it represents – challenging stereotypes, shifting societal attitudes and reshaping the narrative surrounding disability. Her work has been featured worldwide (Sydney Morning Herald, FOX, Vogue, CBS, and Huff Post and more).

Ruhee Meghani

Founder and Lead Facilitator at Allied Collective.

As a seasoned facilitator and accomplished public speaker, Ruhee has over 12 years of experience across a diverse range of industries including advertising, sport retail, hospitality, technology, digital marketing, community services and wellbeing.

Forever curious, straight-talking, and driven by conversation around inclusion and equity, Ruhee holds a strong academic background and extensive experience in psychology, Yoga philosophy and business management. Ruhee’s diverse skillset and experience has driven her to found Allied Collective, Australia’s first facilitation agency that prioritises engagement, inclusivity, and wellbeing.

Amber Bonney

Founder and CEO at The Edison Agency and Podcast Host

Amber Bonney is a designer, thinker, mentor, mother, strategist and speaker with over 25 years’ experience working with some of the world’s most loved (and unloved) brands both in Australia and overseas. She was once described as a mouse in a bulldog’s costume, which she takes to mean her bark is louder than her bite (and she’s ok with that). Amber’s neurodiversity comes with some unique superpowers and she is quick to connect dots, ‘like a bull at a gate when it comes to achieving something I have put my hyper-focused mind to.’ She describes herself as a dynamic and colourful character, always evolving, perpetually curious and never quite satisfied with the status quo. Amber is a proud feminist and passionate about using her expertise and voice to champion for greater gender equity.

Lauren Chibert

MC

Lauren Chibert is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Practitioner who’s obsessed with inclusive creative work and reality TV. With a background in agency production and client service, she brings a unique and deep understanding of the way agencies operate, commercial requirements, process flaws, and opportunities for improved DEI. Lauren combines her lived experience with her professional knowledge to create training and consultation that’s accessible for all audiences, including those new to DEI. Clients have commented on Lauren’s ability to create a safe and courageous space that enables teams to have real, productive discourse. She’s passionate about bringing DEI into a practical and relatable framework, often with the aid of pop culture references.

Surprise Guest

To be announced.

Our Partners

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

We would also like to extend a big thank you to Caro Latorraca for providing our event design and promotional assets as seen on this page, and Vanessa La Delfa our magazine Design Director for this issue.

Access & Getting There

Parking

75 Reid is located on the corner of Brunswick Street North and Reid Street, Fitzroy North. Free street parking available on Brunswick Street North and surrounding side streets.

Public transport

The venue is a 5-minute walk from trams 11 and 96, and bus 504. Alternatively, a 15-20 minute Uber or taxi ride from Flinders Street Station (approximately 5.5km).

Accessibility

This is a wheelchair friendly event. Use Brunswick Street North entryway for ramp access. Accessible bathrooms on site. 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 a positive RAT test to receive a full refund for your ticket.

No other refunds, unless on compassionate grounds (please email leah@themavens.com.au).