Shaping Tomorrow’s Media Landscape
13
years experience running media events in ANZ
The Future Media Forum 2026
Your Guide to Understanding the Future of Digital Paid Media
Designed for deeper strategic thinking and meaningful industry connections, the sophomore edition of the Future Media Forum builds on the inaugural event by looking to 2026 and how we address the next wave of industry transformation.
Our mission is to strike the balance between sessions that give a platform to in-depth case-studies on the challenges faced by brand marketers, and their agency partners, whilst shining a light into the future of where we are headed as an industry. We hope the topics for 2026 walk that line.
Our Content For 2026:
The media landscape isn’t just evolving; it’s experiencing a transformation akin to the advent of the printing press or the internal combustion engine.
AI isn’t just changing search, it’s creating autonomous systems that will shop, recommend, and transact on behalf of consumers. Traditional measurement approaches are being challenged, and privacy regulations are re-shaping targeting, particularly for future generations. Agency-client relationships are under unprecedented pressure as budgets tighten, and accountability demands intensify.
We’ll be exploring all of this with key topics that fall into two key strands.
Challenges for Today
- – Demonstrating the ROI for Brands – Attribution, Measurement & MMM
- – AI and Creative, What that Means for Media Spend and Keeping Your Brand Authentic
- – Navigating the Fragmentation Crisis for Agencies in Media Buying
- – Privacy, Socials and Influencers – Reaching Gen-Z Audiences in a Regulated World
Shining a Light on the Future
- – The Global Macroeconomic Forces Reshaping Australian Digital Advertising
- – Artificial Intelligence & The Future of Search
- – Preparing for an Agentic AI Media Ecosystem
- – Trust and the Future of the Agency-Client Relationship
Details
Future Media Forum 2026
WHEN
Thursday 19th March 2026
WHERE
Ilumina, 1 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW
WHO:
Enterprise Brand Marketers
Agencies
Media Owners
Tech Professionals
the
FUTURE MEDIA FORUM
Experience
PLAY VIDEO
Our 2026 International Keynote
Aleyda Solis
International SEO Consultant & Founder
Orainti
Hear from one of the Biggest SEO Voices in the World on AI, the Future of Search, and Maximising your Brand Visibility.
We are so excited to welcome Aleyda Solis, an award-winning SEO consultant, speaker and author. When looking on any global list of the top SEO influencers and thought leaders, it won’t take you long before you see Aleyda’s name appear.
For her international keynote, you’ll learn about how AI is shifting search as a digital marketing channel, the latest AI organic and paid search trends, and expected growth, the brands already winning and what they’re doing, as well as key questions to establish an ROI positive AI search optimisation strategy, along with a roadmap with steps to take, with examples and resources.
You’ll walk away with:
- The latest AI vs traditional search trends and forecasted growth
- Key questions to ask to set an ROI positive AI search optimisation strategy
- Winning and losing brands in AI search per vertical
- Key brand and performance metrics to track and consider in AI search to measure success
- A roadmap with steps to take for an AI search optimisation process with top do’s and don’ts
- Mistakes to avoid when leveraging AI search as a channel
- Audience Q&A
The Entire Media Ecosystem. One Unmissable Forum.
The Future Media Forum brings together every corner of the media industry – from the boardroom to the trading floor. With content designed to inform long-term strategy and inspire tactical execution, the Forum attracts a truly multi-layered audience.
Whether you’re shaping the future of media at the strategic level or leading the teams responsible for delivering on that vision, you’ll find tailored insights, high-level debate, and actionable ideas that move the needle.
Who Attends
2026 Advisory BoardShaping the Future of Media
Roger Dunn
Diageo
Global Retail Media Lead
Jason Tonelli
Zenith
CEO
Cat Douglas
Haleon
Head of Digital and Media
Yvette Costi
Blooms the Chemist & MA Australia Alumni
Chief Marketing Officer
Georgia Thomas
THE ICONIC
Director of Brand, Media and Comms
Serge Costi
Noumi & MA Australia Alumni
General Manager, Marketing
Akshay Sardana
Optus & MA Australia Alumni
Director, Product & Channel Marketing
Jacquie Alley
The Media Store
Chief Operating Officer
Trent Mcmillian
Kaimera
Founder & Chief Digital/Product Officer
Jane Merrick
Law Partners, Personal Injury Lawyers & MA Australia Alumni
Chief Growth Officer
Paula Malysevaite
PHD
Head of Digital, Sydney
Nathan Kent
DrinkWise & MA Australia Alumni
Marketing Director
Jess Cheng
The Lottery Office
Head of Marketing
Michael Levine
Uber Advertising
Head of APAC
Christopher Eden
Head of Programmatic Media, Australia & NZ
Jessica Miles
Integral Ad Science
Country Manager ANZ
Jono Munschi
The Trade Desk
Senior Director, Client Services ANZ
Imran Masood
Astus Australia
Head of Digital Strategy ANZ
Unlock Sponsorship Opportunities at the Future Media Forum
Are you ready to showcase your company’s vision and commitment to excellence in the ever-evolving media landscape? Join us at the Future Media Forum, where we explore the cutting-edge of advertising and elevate your marketing strategies to new heights. The Future Media Forum offers a unique platform to position your brand at the forefront of innovation. With a range of sponsorship opportunities, you can:
Here’s what you can expect
GATHERING
THE
rightsmartestBest Dressed
PEOPLE
The power of the forum will be enhanced by the quality, energy and diversity of the people you meet, who will bring their ideas to the gathering while enriching our many conversations. Our way to ensure the quality of the experience is to attract the most exciting and imaginative group of people and bring them together.
Don’t miss our event updates
Fill out my online form.
Interested?
Emily Wintour
Portfolio Director | Marketing & Advertising, Ashton Media
Ph: +61(0)475 798 806
emily@ashtonmedia.com.au