Future Media Forum 2026

over

320

Client Marketers, Agencies, Media Owners

Shaping Tomorrow’s Media Landscape

Louise King

Many Hats Lead Partner & TMT Industry Leader , PwC Australia

Aleyda Solis

International SEO Consultant & Founder , Orainti

Roger Dunn

Global Retail Media Lead , Diageo

Jason Tonelli

CEO , Zenith

12

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

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

BRAND MAESTROS

Strategic Leaders: CMOs, Chief Digital Officers, Directors of Marketing, Heads of Paid Media, AdTech and Martech Leads

Tactical Leaders: Senior Digital Marketers, Digital Marketing Teams, Brand and Campaign Managers, Data Activation Managers

AWESOME AGENCIES

Strategic Leaders: Managing Directors, Heads of Investment, Digital, Strategy, Planning, and Creative

Tactical Leaders: Media Buyers, Planning and Activation Teams, Trading and Client Service Leads

MEDIA MAVERICKS

Strategic Leaders: Commercial Strategy Directors, Executive Directors of Media and Advertising, Heads of Programmatic and AdTech

Tactical Leaders: Audience and Yield Managers, Programmatic Specialists, Data and Trading Teams

2026 Advisory BoardShaping the Future of Media

Yvette Costi

Blooms the Chemist & MA Academy Alumni

Chief Marketing Officer

Roger Dunn

Diageo

Global Retail Media Lead

Jacquie Alley

The Media Store

Chief Operating Officer

Cat Douglas

Haleon

Head of Digital and Media

Georgia Thomas

THE ICONIC

Director of Brand, Media and Comms

Serge Costi

Noumi & MA Academy Alumni

General Manager, Marketing

Akshay Sardana

Optus & MA Academy Alumni

Director, Product & Channel Marketing

Paula Malysevaite

PHD

Head of Digital, Sydney

Trent Mcmillian

Kaimera

Founder & Chief Digital/Product Officer

Jane Merrick

Law Partners, Personal Injury Lawyers & MA Academy Alumni

Chief Growth Officer

Nathan Kent

DrinkWise & MA Academy Alumni

Marketing Director

Jess Cheng

The Lottery Office

Head of Marketing

Michael Levine

Uber Advertising

Head of APAC

Christopher Eden

Google

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

Jason Tonelli

Zenith

CEO

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:

Lead with Insight

There will be “sponsorable” thought leadership opportunities to guarantee time on stage for your organisation allowing you to lead with insight and customer stories.

Engage Creatively

Utilise clever onsite activations in our “Experiential Marketplace” to engage attendees in memorable and impactful ways, while driving awareness of your brand and offerings.

Closed Door Networking

Host intimate, closed-door networking events to connect with your key targets and foster meaningful business relationships.

Tailored Ticket Packages

Designed for all players in the media ecosystem, with a range of ticket packages across the different verticals.

Join us at the Future Media Forum and take advantage of this unique opportunity to elevate your brand, connect with the industry as a WHOLE, and drive your business forward.
For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact emily@ashtonmedia.com.au today or call 0475 798 806.

Here’s what you can expect

INSPIRING SPEAKERS

International and local speakers have been hand selected by an experienced Advisory Board of your peers

THE INDUSTRY’S ELITE

The adtech conference attracting most the influential minds

SIMPLY THE BEST IN ADTECH CONTENT

Find out the latest in adtech and get an idea of what the future holds

A FORUM FOR BRILLIANT IDEAS

Create the spark that only comes from great content meeting amazing networking

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.