Brand Masters

In the latest episode of the Marketing Association of Australia x B&T's Brand Masters, Suncorp's Mim Haysom and Leo Australia's Andy Fergusson break down what it took to win a Titanium Lion for Haven, and why they think calling bold creative work "brave" is part of the problem. From Haven taking eighteen months to build to why the best work at Cannes this year wasn't the biggest budget in the room, Haysom and Fergusson make the case for trust over control between clients and agencies, and why marketers need to stop treating transformation ideas as an afterthought.

In the latest episode of the Marketing Association of Australia x B&T's Brand Masters, Mastercard's former CMO and Senior Fellow Raja Rajamannar explains why the frameworks marketing was built on are six decades out of date, and why pre-testing new campaigns is less reliable than tossing a coin. From cutting Mastercard's advertising budget by 70% in favour of scent and taste, to why Liquid Death hiring a witch beat Pepsi's Super Bowl spend, Rajamannar argues AI is about to make every brand's output look the same, and marketing itself is the last real point of difference left.

In the latest episode of the Marketing Association of Australia x B&T's Brand Masters, futurist and social architect Dr Catherine Ball explains why Australia keeps inventing world-changing technology and then failing to tell anyone about it. From the Gardasil vaccine developed in Queensland to Australia inventing Wi-Fi, Ball argues the real problem isn't the science, it's the marketing. She also explains why fault-free quantum computing, not AI, is the next tectonic shift marketers should watch.

In the latest episode of the Marketing Association of Australia x B&T's Brand Masters, Ogilvy Vice Chairman Rory Sutherland explains why the best marketing ideas come from inverting the obvious question rather than answering it. From raising KFC's prices to sell more, to the psychological reason folding phone creases stop bothering us within seconds, Sutherland draws on economics, psychology and thirty years in advertising to argue marketing has become too subordinate to finance, and why intuition, not just measurement, is where the real value gets created.

In the latest episode of the Marketing Association of Australia x B&T's Brand Masters, award-winning journalist and author Nick Bryant explains why AI will never replace journalists who've lived through the history they cover. From reporting on the Monica Lewinsky scandal to witnessing the Rabin assassination, Bryant draws on thirty years in the field to make the case for shoe leather journalism over screen time, and why trust, not technology, is what will decide who survives.

In the latest episode of AANA x B&T's Brand Masters, Naysla Edwards, AMEX's Vice President Marketing ANZ explains why service means so much more to the brand and its members. She discusses everything from its sponsorship work to the myriad offers it gives customers a chance to use. "We have a very strong brand and it principle is service, delivering the best service across the entire portfolio, regardless of which product you hold in your hand," Edwards told hosts Nicolette Briscoe and Tom Fogden.

In the latest episode of AANA x B&T's Brand Master's, L'Oréal's chief digital and marketing officer, Georgia Hack explains how she keeps her team and its raft of brands one step ahead in an ever-changing marketplace. From innovative approaches to comms to identifying nascent demand, L'Oréal remains on the cutting edge of change. Here's how she manages to achieve the impossible.

In the latest episode of AANA x B&T Brand Masters podcast, The Iconic's CMO Jo Robinson explains why she flipped the script on the fast retailer's previously performance-heavy approach to marketing. Now, she walks the line in fabulous style, maximising the most of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and other retailing periods while creating the brand love that really gets consumers looking.

In this latest episode of the AANA x B&T's Brand Masters, Kraft Heinz's Michael Magee talks about the value of brand power to cut through in an uber-competitive market and showing up in unexpected ways.

How do you continue to grow when you are perhaps the best-known brand in the world? Especially so when you have to fight off rivals across an ever-increasing array of sectors and verticals? Google's Suzana Ristevski explains all that, and more, on the latest episode of AANA x B&T Brand Masters.

How many times have you heard someone say “But that’s B2C, it won’t work in B2B”? That divide is thinner than you might think and Salesforce’s SVP and CMO for Australia and New Zealand is proof. In the latest episode of AANA X B&T’s Brand Masters he shows that there’s plenty for marketers of all shapes and sizes to learn from the way it operates and builds die-hard brand advocacy through its sprawling events, incisive activations and more.

In this episode of Brand Masters, presented by the AANA and B&T, we sit down with Laura Halbert, Chief Customer and Marketing Officer at Allianz Australia. With over 25 years in financial services, Laura has led marketing and brand transformations across CBA, ANZ, ING and Zurich. At Allianz, she’s spearheaded the launch of the bold new brand platform Care You Can Count On and the emotive campaign The Flight of the Finch. Laura shares how she uncovered Allianz’s true brand soul of care, the insights that shaped the campaign, and what it takes to stand out in a crowded, often “low-interest” category like insurance. She also talks leadership lessons, building genuine agency partnerships, and why marketers should never forget their training. In this episode you’ll learn: Why distinctiveness matters more than awareness in insurance marketing How Allianz built a brand platform grounded in care and customer truth The process of turning an eagle into a distinctive brand cod Laura’s perspective on leadership, transparency, and energising teams. The role of emotion in creating resonance and trust This episode is the last from series one. Stayed tuned for series two.

In this episode, we’re joined by Anthony Dean, Marketing Director at Mars Pet Nutrition ANZ and the creative force behind Pedigree’s Cannes Lion-winning Adoptable campaign. Anthony shares the story of how his team and agency partners asked a bold question: Can AI help solve dog homelessness? You’ll hear: How Pedigree’s brand purpose drove innovation that found homes for hundreds of shelter dogs The behind-the-scenes journey of creating AI-powered dog adoption ads in under six months Why “purpose powers innovation” became the golden thread of the campaign The real-world impact — shelters experiencing six times their normal foot traffic Anthony’s advice for marketers exploring AI: start with the business problem, not the tech This episode was recorded live at AANA’s RESET for Growth Conference. A powerful reminder that when brands stay true to their purpose, technology becomes a tool for real-world impact.

Futurist Dr Catherine Ball joins the Brand Masters podcast live from AANA’s Reset for Growth, bringing her unique perspective on the future of innovation and brand leadership.

In this episode of Brand Masters, recorded at AANA’s annual RESET for Growth conference, we sit down with Sherilyn Shackell, the powerhouse behind The Marketing Academy. From launching what began as a passion project on the “back of a fag packet” to building one of the most respected leadership programs in the industry, Sherilyn shares how her mission evolved from headhunting CMOs to building them. We unpack the difference between good and great leadership (hint: it’s about how many other leaders you grow), the importance of self-awareness, and why emotional intelligence defines the most impactful marketing leaders of tomorrow. Plus, Sherilyn reveals the inner mechanics of The Marketing Academy’s life-changing programs.

Joe Brumm is the creator of the hit children's TV show Bluey. In his quintessentially Australian style, Brumm tells AANA head of marketing Nicolette Briscoe and B&T editor Tom Fogden about the show's runaway success and is building an enduring brand.

What happens when you treat marketing as the heartbeat of your business? In our latest Brand Masters podcast, Steven Marks, Founder and Co-CEO of Guzman y Gomez, shares how GYG scaled from a single store to a global QSR powerhouse — and why brand, culture and clean food are at the core of everything they do. “Marketing is revenue. And if you don’t see that, you’re in trouble.” — Steven Marks Recorded live at AANA’s RESET for Growth in May, this episode is a must-listen for any marketer looking to scale with purpose, energy and impact.

In her two-and-a-bit years at the helm of NRMA Insurance brand, Michelle Klein took the brand on a whirlwind journey repositioning, rethinking and reshaping. During that time, she spearheaded a significant shift in NRMA Insurance's approach to its brand, landing on 'A Help Company' as its all-encompassing tagline and North Star. To get eyeballs on the work, NRMA Insurance undertook a significant blitz, leveraging powerful cultural moments to cut-through and stand out. And it's generated some big results, as you'll read. But marketing, like New York, never sleeps and this podcast was recorded prior to Klein announcing her departure in June.

From "Tonight I’ll Be Eating" to "Get Almost, Almost Anything", Andy Morley has helped shape one of the world’s most awarded brand platforms. In this episode, the Uber APAC marketing lead shares the stories behind their biggest celebrity campaigns, reveals what it’s really like working with Cher and David Beckham, and explains why coaching - not spotlight-stealing- is his leadership superpower.

In this inspiring episode, Brand Masters hosts Nicolette Briscoe (AANA) and Tom Fogden (B&T) speak with Florencia Aimo, Vice President of Marketing at MasterCard for Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. From McLaren F1 and the Australian Open to inclusive technology and evolving a 30-year brand platform, Flor shares how MasterCard balances innovation, emotional resonance, and global consistency.