Steve Allen

Managing Director of Fusion Strategy

Steve Allen has been forecasting and measuring the Media Marketing industries, with his firm predictions having been published for 30 odd years.

Steve is the most widely quoted source of market dimension, trend and commentary for this industry. He is actively engaged in client planning strategies, measuring their results, and solving market challenges.

Steve lectures widely, and has been a judge on many media panels including Cannes Media Lions in 2001 and MPA’s over many years. Steve has twice been voted as Australia’s best and brightest media planner/buyer in BRW Magazine.

Stephen Brook

MEDIA EDITOR, The Australian

Stephen Brook completed a Bachelor of Arts at Sydney University and started his career at The Australian in 1995. He worked as a news reporter, court reporter, West Australian correspondent and science writer before he was appointed media and marketing writer at the newspaper.

In 2003 he moved to London and joined the Guardian newspaper and served as deputy editor of MediaGuardian.co.uk and as press correspondent. He was also a presenter and panellist for the MediaTalk podcast, which won a Sony Radio Academy award. He has lectured in journalism and written for The Times, The Observer, Radio Times magazine, Monocle and the Financial Times.

He returned to Sydney in 2010 and in April 2011 was appointed Media Editor of The Australian. He is currently Deputy Editor of Wish Magazine, The Australian.

Andrew Burge

CEO & Founder of iSUBSCRiBE Pty Ltd

Founder and CEO of online magazine subscription business iSUBSCRiBE in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, Australian-born Andrew Burge has worked extensively in media for nearly 20 years. His experience includes working at the Channel 7 TV Network in Australia and advertising agency, Young & Rubicam. Currently based in the UK, Andrew is also a Director of subscription bureau, CDS Global in Australia, and a Director and Principal of Digital Initiatives.

Ita Buttrose

Chair of the Judging Panel

Ita Buttrose is chair of the Sydney-based digital publishing company, Reddo Media Services, National President of Alzheimer’s Australia and a regular social commentator on Channel Nine’s Today Show.

She began her career at 15 on The Australian Women’s Weekly and at 33 became the magazine’s youngest ever Editor. She was later appointed Publisher of Australian Consolidated Press (ACP) Women’s Division and was one of the first women appointed to the ACP board. Ita went on to become Editor-in-Chief of the Daily & Sunday Telegraphs, making her the first female to ever edit a major metropolitan newspaper in Australia, and also to join the News Ltd board.

After leaving News Ltd, Ita became Editorial Consultant for Fairfax Magazines and columnist on Woman’s Day before being appointed Editor-in-Chief of Fairfax’s Sun Herald. She is a prolific author. Her 11th book, “A Passionate Life” – the third edition of her autobiography – was published this year.

Andrew Cowell

Media Consultant

Andrew Cowell commenced his career in London at IPC magazines as a graphic designer, working his way up to Art Director. Andrew was invited to Sydney to launch a joint venture publication that became Belle magazine. He stayed on in Sydney, and became the Art Director of The Bulletin, then the launch Art Director of Cleo.

Andrew returned to London to work on Over 21 and Look Now, then returned to Sydney to become the Creative Director of ACP magazines, with the responsibility for the visual direction of The Australian Woman's Weekly (in both formats), Cleo, Belle and Mode, among others.

Andrew was responsible for the art direction of Australian Playboy when it launched, and changed tack to the role of Deputy Editor. Andrew went on to edit Penthouse, and The Listener. He was later Editorial Director for Smash Hits, Tracks, Waves and (again) Playboy. As the men's publisher of EMAP Australia, Andrew successfully launched FHM into the Australian market, then launched OK! - initially as a monthly, and then as a weekly.

Andrew is currently consulting within the media industry.

Mark Fletcher

Newsagent, Newsagency Blog Publisher & CEO of newsXpress

Mark Fletcher has been working with newsagents for 31 years. First as founder of newsagency software company Tower Systems then as the owner of several newsagencies and since 2005 as a Director of newsagency marketing group newsXpress.

Through The Australian Newsagency Blog, Mark seeks to encourage newsagents to embrace change and leverage the point of difference of magazine range. Through contacts made via the blog Mark regularly provided pro bono assistance to enwsagents in tough times.

Mark is a regular speaker at newsagent and supplier conferences and events.

Louisa Hatfield

Executive Producer, Mornings, Nine Network Australia

Louisa Hatfield commenced her career in London working in local newspapers before moving into the infamous Fleet Street world of print for The Mirror Group.

Louisa and her family later emigrated to Australia where she worked at The Sydney Morning Herald as a senior writer and features editor before returning to London for a brief stint as news editor at The Sunday Mirror.

Back in Australia, Louisa moved into magazines with the country's largest publisher, ACP Magazines.

Louisa took on the role of editor of NW Magazine and over the next 8 years, Louisa progressed through various roles including Editorial Director of the women's weekly titles and on to become the associate publisher of NW, TV WEEK, Woman's Day and Take 5.

After a brief consulting role at News Ltd to assist in the transformation of the Sunday Magazine, Louisa moved into television where she is currently the executive producer of Mornings at the Nine Network Australia.

Deborah Hutton

Media Personality

Deborah Hutton first appeared on the cover of Australian Cosmopolitan at 16 and has become one of the most recognisable and best-known personalities in Australia.

Deborah has hosted a number of top rating television shows including Location Location, Amazing Homes and Celebrity Overhaul; was an editor for The Australian Women’s Weekly for over 10 years. She was an ambassador for Qantas for well over a decade; and is the face and brand ambassador for Olay Regenerist. Deborah has created her own brand of eyewear and launched her own howewares range. She currently co-hosts the Sunday morning radio show “The Money Show”.

Deborah is a Patron of Camp Quality; an Ambassador for Best Buddies Australia, the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre.

Paula Joye

Journalist & Editor, www.lifestyled.com.au

With a career that spans newspapers, magazines and television, Paula Joye is one of Australia's most high-profile journalists and spokespersons for women.

Paula began her career taping shoes in the fashion department at Vogue. She worked her way up through the ranks writing and styling for some of the country's leading publications including Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Elle, BRW, Who & The Sydney Morning Herald.

At 27, Paula was appointed editor of CLEO, Australia's most iconic young women's magazine. Over the next six years CLEO enjoyed major growth with consecutive readership and circulation increases.

In 2002 Joye created and launched Shop Til You Drop - the country's fastest growing fashion magazine. In 2004 she was appointed Editor-in-Chief of Madison, Joye was responsible for the title's creation and launch - the most significant fashion magazine launch of the decade.

Joye was made Editorial Director of CLEO, Cosmopolitan, Shop Til You Drop & Madison in 2009 making her a leading expert in women's issues. Paula is the only magazine editor in Australia to have created two magazines from scratch and as such is considered an expert in brand creation and development. She works regularly as a trend consultant to some of Australia's leading fashion and beauty companies advising on global trends in consumer culture and buyer behaviour.

After almost twenty years in magazines Joye now embraces both old and new media as Fashion & Style Editor for Fairfax Media, editor of her successful website www.lifestyled.com.au and as Style Reporter on Channel 9.

Chris Llewellyn

President & CEO of FIPP

Chris Llewellyn is the President and CEO of Federation of International Periodical Publishers (FIPP) and has been a member of the FIPP Management Board since 1999, serving as its chairman between 2005 and 2007.

Chris was International Managing Director of Bauer Media (formerly Emap Consumer Media) from 1998. He joined Emap in 1980 as a Brand Manager. At various times in his 29 years with the company, he was Marketing Director of the Consumer Magazine Division, Group Research Director of Emap PLC, and between 1992 and 1998 he was based in Paris as Directeur Général of Emap France.

During his career, Chris has also been appointed Chairman of the Board of FAEP, the European Magazine Association, between 1996 and 1998.