AANA and MFA launch media forum

October 15 2013, 10:17 am | BY Lynchy | No Comments

AANA-logo-home.jpgmfa.jpgThe AANA and the MFA have joined to create a media forum where advertisers and media agencies will discuss the challenges of a rapidly evolving media market and their impact on both advertisers and media agencies.

This partnership between the AANA and MFA underlines the push from stakeholders for greater collaboration between industry organisations over common issues. It is expected that the forum will provide guidance to both advertisers and media agencies around key issues including remuneration, transparency, training, digital education requirements, data management, proliferation of measurement parameters, talent retention and third party procurement practices.

The forum will be co-chaired by John Sintras (chairman Starcom MediaVest Australia, AANA board member and MFA board member) and Toby Dewar (GM Media, sponsorships and awards, Telstra). Forum members will meet bi-monthly and be drawn from AANA’s media reference group and the MFA executive.

AANA chief executive Sunita Gloster said that the creation of the new forum would help foster greater understanding between advertisers and media agencies across a range of issues.

Says Gloster: “As technology continues to evolve, new challenges and opportunities are ever present. The AANA/MFA Media Forum will be an excellent setting in which industry members can raise issues, find areas where there is common ground and work towards resolutions that will benefit the media and marketing community.”

Says MFA chief executive Sophie Madden: “This forum is a great opportunity for clients and media agencies to step outside the normal day to day client/agency dealings and work together to resolve industry issues where there is mutual interest. It will also provide both industry bodies a platform for garnering feedback and a deeper understanding of the other’s key focus areas.”

Forum members from the AANA will be Toby Dewar – GM of media, sponsorships and awards, Telstra; Jen Davidson – general manager: media, PR & social, Commonwealth Bank; Anneliese Douglass – head of media, Unilever ANZ; Andrew Caie – GM marketing, Subaru; Jane Walshe – manager brand portfolio media planning & effectiveness, Suncorp; Mark McCraith – director of marketing, Fiat Chrysler.

MFA members will be John Sintras – chairman, Starcom MediaVest Australia; Annick Perrin – MD, Initiative; Toby Hack – MD, PHD; Stella Carnegie – executive business director, OMD; Andrew Sherman – COO, Zenithoptimedia; Karen Halligan – GM, Slingshot.