Introducing Brand Masters — A new podcast from AANA & B&T 

We are pumped to bring you the very first episode of Brand Masters - AANA x B&Ts new podcast, featuring the sharpest minds in marketing.

And we’re kicking things off with a brand that knows how to make moments truly Priceless. In Episode 1, hosts Nicolette Briscoe (AANA) and Tom Fogden (B&T) sit down with Florencia Aimo, VP of Marketing at Mastercard Australasia, for a big-picture conversation about:

• Turning global platforms like Priceless into emotionally resonant local experiences
• Activating partnerships like McLaren F1 and the Australian Open
• Embedding inclusive innovation into brand storytelling
• Keeping a 30-year brand platform fresh, relevant and creatively rich

Listen to this front-row seat in how the best in the business think, lead and build brands that last. A huge thanks to our partners Earmax Media and MIK for helping us bring this project to life. 

🎧 Listen to Episode 1: Brand Masters: Mastercard's Florencia Aimo Explains How to Make Priceless Marketing on Spotify or Apple.

What you need to know about the Spam Act

Earlier this month, we hosted a member-only webinar with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) on the Spam Act, here is your opportunity to catch up. 

Here were the top 3 take aways from the session: 

• Check out the ACMA statement of expectations on consent in marketing, as well as its other guidance on how to avoid sending spam. 
• When it comes to obtaining consent to receive marketing material, abandoned shopping carts and prechecked consent boxes are unlikely to be sufficient in most cases.
• Check to make sure any factual or service messages do not include commercial content (including links and images) – it may mean the message needs to comply with the spam laws. 

Age Verification Coming to Social Media - What Marketers Need to Know

89% of Australians support online age checks. But 77% are worried about their privacy.

That’s the headline from the Federal Government’s Age Assurance Trial — the initiative underpinning a major shift in how Australians access social media.

The proposed social media age ban for under-16s, is set to take effect from 11 December 2025 in line with the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024.  

Why This Matters for Marketers

• Age verification will likely become mandatory for all users, not just minors.
• Digital reach and audience data may shift significantly, especially for campaigns targeting younger Australians.
• New identity or consent UX flows could impact ad delivery, conversion paths, and engagement metrics.

 The e-Safety Commissioner will determine how the laws can be implemented, with consultations to begin this week. 

Ad Net Zero Strengthens Global Framework to Calculate Media Emissions 

Ad Net Zero has published the first major update to the Ad Net Zero Global Media Sustainability Framework (GMSF), establishing voluntary standards in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions calculation and reporting for the advertising industry across six media channels (Digital, TV, OOH, Print, Audio and Cinema) with a clear methodology for brands to follow in their sustainability journey.

The ROI of resilience: Advertising through economic uncertainty  

In an essential guide, Ebiquity and the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), are cutting through the chaos and delivering practical, evidence-backed advice to help marketers and procurement leaders turn market turbulence into long-term brand growth.  

It covers: 

• Why cutting spend could cost you more 
• 7 reasons to advertise now 
• How to optimise, not just reduce 
• Governing agency relationships wisely
• 8 action points for marketers: From measurement recalibration to smarter buying, the guide delivers tactical steps that improve results fast. 

Creative Chemistry: What Makes Great Client/Agency Relationships Work

In this AANA Academy live panel-style session, you’ll hear from Australia’s top CMOs and agency leads as they unpack what makes client–agency partnerships thrive. From driving commercial strategy to delivering award-winning creative.

This is an all-star-cast conversation you wont want to miss.

Ad Net Zero Webinar: Every Brief Counts

A toolkit to support more sustainable behaviours through advertising 

Presented by Ad Net Zero, this session features Aina Fuller, Marketing Director at The Responsible Marketing Advisory (UK). She will share how simple, visible individual actions can unlock powerful collective impact. 

Arum Nixon from Ad Net Zero Australia will also showcase a proprietary toolkit to put this into practice, giving every marketer a practical, effective and measurable way to transform their platform into a force for good. 

CMO Connect: The Intersection of Marketing & AI

AANA is joining forces with the Publicis Groupe and AWS do deliver an enlightening evening on AI & Marketing for our industry’s top leaders. CMOs will hear from David Jones, one of the world’s most influential voices at the intersection of AI and marketing.  

After an impressive career leading global advertising firms, David Jones is now the founder and CEO of the Brandtech Group which is shaking up the world of marketing with the use of the latest technology.

David will join Gavin, Data & AI lead at Publicis Sapient Australia, in a frank, insights-focused conversation that will showcase new ways to harness technology to transform customer experience.

📅 Thursday 31 July, 6:00pm | This event is by invitation only 

AANA Academy: The Evolution of Influence in Marketing presented by Hismile

A huge thanks to Koban Jones, Marketing Manager at Hismile, for giving AANA members such an insightful session on the Evolution of Influence in Marketing.

Here were our top 3 takeaways:

1. There's been a fundamental shift in influencer marketing
2. Understand how to leverage industry trends and when to act
3. Find creators, not just influencers

AANA Academy: AI and Marketing presented by Publicis Group ANZ

Last month, Maurice Riley, Chief Data Officer, Publicis Groupe & Tim Chapman, Director: Martech & Data, Publicis Sapient gave us the low down on all things Marketing and AI.

Here were our top 3 takeaways:

1. AI isn't magic - it's pattern prediction

2. If you don't understand how AI works, you shouldn't be using it

3. Marketing is in AI's direct line of fire 

'The moats are gone' Unmade's Compass live at Mumbrella360

When sitting on Unmade's Compass panel at Mumbrella360, AANA CEO Josh Faulks was asked what his biggest takeaway from this financial year.  

He said, “You can't just put your head in the sand. You've got to invest in marketing, you've got to invest in innovation, and you've really got to invest in just moving forward in tech. Because uncertainty is going to kill confidence and doing nothing is going to kill growth." 

Major brands commit to disability inclusion in advertising

At AANA, we're proud to have united with Australia's biggest brands and agencies in increasing disability representation in advertising by joining The Inclusive 100 Movement being led by Inclusively Made. 

We recently attended the launch event alongside AANA members CBA, Mars, McDonald's, Nine, Pinterest and Woolworths, in a commitment to make inclusive practices in film, TV and advertising production the norm.