Industry experts, Karen Ferry & Sharon Edmondston, discuss the ad-landscape as it was, as it is, and importantly, where it's going. What better way to round out our second season than by hearing from two powerful industry voices about the positive changes we've already seen and where to from here.

Karen Ferry is an Executive Creative Director, writer, television personality, and mum to a 2-year-old. Karen has been in this industry for over 17 years, working at Sydney's best ad agencies, including Leo Burnett, DDB, The Monkeys, and JWT. She was the Australian 'See It, Be It' delegate for Cannes 2018, and the National Head of AWARD School in 2019 & 2020. Karen regularly appears on Gruen, The Project, Today, plus across radio, podcasts, and news programs as an advertising and cultural commentator.

Sharon Edmondston is a Group Creative Director at M&C Saatchi and mum to an 18 and a 21-year-old. Sharon has been in this industry for over 27 years and is a passionate advocate for diversity and equality. She is the Co-Chair of FEMM&C – an M&C Saatchi employee-led network for women. In 2017, Sharon launched Women & Creative (W&C) at the Australian 3% Conference; an M&C Saatchi initiative tackling issues of gender inequality by celebrating positive stories from inside the agency and out.

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Karen Bryson and Tash Johnson share their money-saving tips for mums in creative industries. With the cozzy livvy skyrocketing and a new bub to budget for, new mum, Eddy, has a lot of questions for these savvy producers, from "what expenses should you expect when you're expecting?" to "can I really afford to take a year off for parental leave… in this economy?"

Karen Bryson has over 25 years in the industry as a Producer and Executive Producer. She began agency side and freelanced in many Sydney agencies, most recently as Executive Producer at Collider. Karen spent 4 years as the co-chair of the Commercial Producers Council, during which time she helped establish a female director mentorship programme with the Australian Directors Guild. Karen is mum to 13-year-old Charlie who she says with true bias is the best daughter in the world! And Karen also happens to be our Mums on Call producer!

Tash Johnson is the National Head of CHEP Films at CHEP Network. A highly experienced & awarded broadcast producer, Tash has worked on just about every kind of ad campaign across some of Australia's biggest brands, at leading agencies. She is also mum to 14-year-old Harry, 12-year-old Heidi and 9-year-old Benjamin.

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Emma Daines and Monique Pardavi are two powerhouse producers, mums, and founders. Tune in to hear all about their experiences of being single parents. When it comes to balancing motherhood and building a successful career, these awe-inspiring women don't just 'make it work' – they make it bloody amazing. 

Emma Daines is mum to 26-year-old Grace and 24-year-old Holly, and the Executive Producer, Founder and CEO at FIN Design + Effects, and Co-Founder at OWNED. Her career spans over 35 years, working with prominent advertising agencies and leading production companies across Australia, UK and Asia. In 2022, she was the recipient of the ‘Women in International Business Award’ at the Australian NSW Premier Export Awards. She is also a coach at the LIA Creative LIAsons Global Coaching Academy.

Monique is mum to 20-year-old Billie, and the Executive Producer, Founder and Partner at MAP OUT Creative Producers. She's had a career in the industry spanning 28 years, with over 10 years running large broadcast departments in adland. She was also named B&T Creative Producer of the Year in 2020.

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Seasoned ad mums, Dee Madigan and Kate Hunter, reflect on the rollercoaster that is raising kids from toddlers to teens, while still nurturing their creative babies. Tune in to hear their take on how motherhood will inevitably shape your career path – for better or worse.

Dee Madigan is a mum of three teenagers and the owner and ECD of Campaign Edge. With over 25 years' experience, she's worked on and won awards for almost every major Australian brand. But more than advertising metal, Dee's strong background in social and political marketing has also led her to become the Creative Director for the ALP, for their 2022 Federal election campaign win, among many others. She's a popular keynote speaker, writer and trusted industry commentator on shows like Gruen and Sunrise. Hi Dee!

Kate Hunter is mother of three young adults, a freelance copywriter and a published novelist. With over 25 years' agency experience in Australia and New Zealand, Kate has built a reputation as an insightful strategic thinker and an eloquent, economical copywriter. Outside of ads, Kate has written a series of novels for young readers, and worked alongside Dee on the ALP's 2022 Federal election campaign. Her keen interest in pop culture, changing family and social structures, together with a witty writing style, made her a popular columnist at Mamamia for many years.

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Creative Director mums, Sian Binder & Lea Egan, discuss how they support their kids, their teams, and each other as creative partners – all while working full time.

Sian Binder and Lea Egan are Creative Directors at Special Sydney. They initially met at Droga5 9 years ago, then had a bit of time working apart, building their careers – and their families. They've found themselves paired again, helping Special win a bunch of new business.

Sian Binder is a mum of 1 and has spent the last 20 years working for agencies such as BMF, where she was the Head of Art, and DDB, where she was a Creative Director. She has led creative campaigns for some beloved brands such as ALDI, McDonald's, and Bonds.

Lea Egan is a mum of 2 and has spent the last 20 years making campaigns for everything from tiny chocolates to big banks. She has worked for globally awarded agencies such as DDB, Publicis Mojo and anomaly NY, where she was Creative Director for 5 years.

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New mums, Elaine Li & Abbie Dubin-Rhodin, share their practical advice on how to plan for, survive, and transition out of parental leave. Hear their fresh experiences and hot takes for surviving mat leave, getting the hang of motherhood, and navigating the intimidating return-to-work. 

Abbie Dubin-Rhodin is mum to Ari and Senior Strategy Director at Special. Abbie has 13 years' experience building effective strategies for a wide range of brands throughout Australia and the United States.

Elaine Li is mum to Ari (yes, both their sons are called Ari!) and Creative Director at Howatson+Company. She was born and raised in Hong Kong, spent time in Melbourne, Chicago, San Francisco, and is now based in Sydney.

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It's safe to say last year's chats definitely made an impression… particularly on our co-host – and new mum – Eddy! This episode we've flipped the script, as Kat and Eddy (and baby June) discuss what life is like on the 'other side', and the lessons they've both learned from last season.

Katarina Matic and Lauren Eddy are awarded Senior Creatives at Bullfrog and two of the founding Aunties – a support network for women and marginalised genders in creative advertising and production, based in Australia.

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Ella Ward and Hilary Badger discuss how they balance their writing side hustles and advertising careers with job #1. Tune in to find out how these mums manage to get shit done, and why we need to start seeing kids as the impressive side hustles they are. 

Ella Ward is a mum of one and currently a consultant at DDB Melbourne. She's worked in agencies across London and Melbourne for over 20 years, recently as Head of Client Service at Saatchi & Saatchi. She's had three career breaks in her time; one, to have a baby, two, to have cancer, and three, to write a book. She released that book, 27 Letters to My Daughter, this year and is busy finishing her second.

Hilary Badger is a mum of two and Group Creative Director at Clemenger BBDO. After narrowly avoiding a legal career, Hilary has spent the past 21 years working in some of Melbourne's biggest agencies and writing fiction in the early hours of the morning. Her published works include two middle-primary series, a YA novel and, surprisingly, a Cadel Evans Biography.

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