Salman Ahmed
Senior Executive/Marketing
The Daily Star
Bangladesh

About Salman: As a computer science graduate turned media innovator, Salman Ahmed has taken an unusual path into the media. When he first launched his career at The Daily Star, he made a name for himself as a forward-thinking marketer. Salman spearheaded the launch of Keeron, an upskilling platform that introduced a new content-commerce model to Bangladeshi media. Overseeing all aspects of the platform, from product strategy to brand identity, influencer onboarding, and affiliate marketing, he built Keeron into a scalable brand with 48,000 users — providing the legacy publisher with not just revenue, but a new reputation as a consumer-centric digital brand. His campaigns have won awards for the company and resulted in Salman being named Employee of the Year in The Daily Star’s “Best in Business Innovation” category. He is widely noticed for his ability to align brand storytelling with business goals, and whether he is crafting interactive content experiences or leading festival activations, Salman consistently delivers impact. With a growth mindset and a passion for ethical, performance-driven marketing, Salman is already influencing how news brands speak to the digital generation.

Kiley Copps
Senior Brand Marketing Coordinator
Boston Globe Media
United States

About Kiley: As a senior brand marketing coordinator at Boston Globe Media (BGM), Kiley Copps is demonstrating what it means to be a creative leader in advertising. From her start as a co-op student to her current role guiding multi-channel campaigns, Kiley has consistently brought innovation, empathy, and strategic thinking to the forefront of media marketing. Her ability to meld journalism and marketing has been spotlighted in multiple collaborations with BGM brands, and Kiley’s work on The B-Side — a newsletter and social newsroom for young professionals — has driven 11% audience growth through inventive partnerships and community-driven activations. She also has led design efforts for Boston Globe Games and orchestrated inclusive campaigns like the same-sex marriage anniversary panel, bridging journalism with public engagement. Although Kylie is a born marketer, she’s also known as a mentor, a changemaker, and a connector. Her leadership in initiatives like Support Boston Owned and Globe Santa reflects her commitment to equity and impact and shows the promise of what she’ll bring to the industry in the future. 

Ricci Ferigo
Digital Designer
News Corp Australia
Australia

About Ricci: Ricci Ferigo launched her career as a motion capture artist and animator on the VR film The Green Fairy, and today she applies that same creative approach to advertising. At News Corp Australia, her blend of strategic thinking and design innovation on the native premium team allows them to deliver campaigns that resonate with audiences, exceeding benchmarks in engagement and performance. Driven by a dedication to continuous improvement, Ricci developed a mobile-first interactive component library — featuring quizzes, sliders, and scroll effects — that transformed the team’s workflow, boosting efficiency while elevating creative quality. This initiative not only streamlined production but also drove record engagement in campaigns like Royal Caribbean’s, proving the commercial power of audience-first design. To further her understanding of user behaviour and empathy in design, Ricci is studying psychology part-time and is eager to apply it to the storytelling experience. Ricci’s forward-looking approach extends to emerging technologies. She’s an early adopter of generative AI, integrating it into concept development while advocating for ethical, sustainable use. Her ability to balance automation with human creativity positions her as a future leader in the evolving media landscape.

Yasir Arafat Hridoy
Executive/Advertising Sales
Prothom Alo
Bangladesh

About Yasir: Using a rare blend of strategic insight and human-centred storytelling, Yasir Arafat Hridoy is redefining advertising in Bangladeshi media. Joining Prothom Alo as a junior executive in ad sales in 2024, Yasir quickly began attracting attention with his campaigns and, within six months, was promoted to the company’s integrated business and advertisement team. Today, he specialises in planning and execution across education, lifestyle, special features, and media agency coordination. His leadership on initiatives like the World Education Day Supplement and AI Special Feature has elevated Prothom Alo’s brand positioning, transforming traditional ad formats into narrative-driven experiences. By blending data analysis with editorial collaboration, Yasir has helped unlock new advertiser relationships and audience engagement. In addition to his professional development, Yasir has taken on leadership roles in youth-driven initiatives including the Hult Prize and the National Newspaper Olympiad. With a keen eye on emerging trends and a commitment to meaningful content, Yasir advocates for advertising that builds trust, not just visibility. His trajectory points toward a future where media campaigns are smarter, more inclusive, and deeply resonant.

Kivleen Sahni
Brand Content Producer
Brut India
India

About Kivleen: With roots in journalism and a sharp instinct for audience engagement, Kivleen Sahni has already made a name for herself as a trailblazer in experience-first marketing — especially for Gen Z and non-metro audiences. By blending editorial storytelling with strategic advertising, she is sharing stories that resonate deeply with audiences whilst delivering measurable impact for brands. Her leadership on Heineken India’s Coachella campaign, which garnered over 37 million views, exemplifies her ability to turn brand messaging into cultural moments. By centering lifestyle and creativity over product placement, she made Heineken 0.0 a symbol of bold, sober curiosity. The campaign’s success earned Brut the UEFA Champions League mandate, proving Kivleen’s impact on business outcomes. From Cannes with L’Oréal to purpose-driven storytelling for Aditya Birla Group, Kivleen’s work spans continents and industries. She is also co-creator of “Beyond Luxury,” a sustainability-focused IP that reimagines opulence for Gen Z values. With a vision to elevate Indian creators and build trust through authentic narratives, Kivleen is excited to reinvent how premium global brands speak to the Indian Gen Z audience.

Ian Chau
Assistant Manager/Content Growth
South China Morning Post
Hong Kong

About Ian: Since joining South China Morning Post (SCMP) in April 2023, Ian Chau has proven to be a strategic force in content growth, blending editorial insight with analytical precision. His work optimising headlines, formats, and distribution strategies to better target audiences has been successful in cultivating and sustaining a loyal global readership. Ian’s passion for content and meticulous attention to detail is as central to his success as his data fluency. He draws from historical performance, audience surveys, and competitive analysis to guide content creation and promotion, and has an exceptional ability to collaborate with stakeholders across all organisational levels. His ability to translate numbers into narrative impact earned him a swift promotion to assistant manager, content growth, just 18 months into his tenure. From spearheading Olympic coverage that boosted app downloads by 62% to identifying untapped opportunities in solution journalism, Ian consistently turns insight into action. His collaborative spirit and strategic mindset position him as a future leader in media — one who will shape how newsrooms evolve, engage, and grow in a data-driven world.

Zahra Kahn
Audience Development Specialist
DC Thomson
United Kingdom

About Zahra: Before she leaned into how data can help companies better understand and serve audiences, Zahra Kahn was creating digital content for publications in the Middle East. But as she saw the important role of data, she shifted her attention and now is transforming how newsrooms engage with it. In her current role in audience development at DC Thomson, Zahra has consistently turned insight into impact. Beginning as an SEO specialist for Aberdeen’s Press & Journal, she helped regional reporting rival national outlets — reframing SEO as a powerful editorial tool. She was invited to join the audience development team on secondment in 2024, which marked a significant turning point. In that role, Zahra became the vital link between technical data teams and editorial staff, translating complex metrics into actionable strategies. Her work on DC Thomson’s award-winning Sport Pack subscription initiative helped drive over 2,000 new subscribers, proving her ability to align data with audience needs. With a vision to make data more accessible and editorially relevant, Zahra is eager to shape the future of insight-driven journalism — where every story is informed by what readers truly value.

Kunal Mahajan
Senior Lead/AI
Amar Ujala
India

About Kunal: Although he has only been in the workforce since 2016, Kunal Mahajan’s career is already a master class in the impact of data. His early work in predictive modeling in legal tech and banking domains including developing cost prediction and credit scoring models to optimise client acquisition and risk assessment. A stint with United Health Group allowed him to reshape healthcare analytics before moving on to EXL Services, where he elevated fintech campaigns with a 40% boost in response rates and built robust credit risk models. Making the switch to the news media industry in late 2024, Kunal brings that same ability to translate data into a strategic advantage. Now, as head of AI at Amar Ujala, Kunal is redefining how 100 million monthly users engage with news. His real-time personalised recommendation engine increased click-through rates by 93%, while agentic AI chatbots and generative content tools cut editorial workloads in half. In addition to leading the company’s innovation, he has become a valued mentor, guiding a team of data scientists with a vision rooted in responsible AI.

Kazumasa Omura
Researcher
Nikkei Inc.
Japan

About Kazumasa: Kazumasa Omura was a Ph.D. student at Japan’s Kyoto University when he launched his career in news media. Starting with an internship at Nikkei Inc., he worked on building Japanese language resources for financial text mining and became a full-time researcher for the company in 2024. His groundbreaking work in natural language processing (NLP) has been widely recognised, including earning the Best Paper Award from the Journal of Natural Language Processing in 2023. In his duties at Nikkei, Kazumasa is building proprietary NLP models tailored to the news domain — tools that enhance editorial precision and streamline operations. His innovations, like ModernBERT and generative AI-assisted data extraction, have improved internal workflows and contributed directly to sales growth. Kazumasa’s data-driven insights have also shaped investigative reporting, including a major analysis of youth-targeted press releases that informed editorial strategy. His mission is clear: to create frameworks where generative AI and journalism collaborate, not compete. And, by better understanding the challenges of the editorial department, he is eager to turn ideas into applications that help transform the industry.

Andrii Tiazhkyi
Data Analyst
Schibsted
Norway

About Andrii: Combining technical precision with strategic foresight, Andrii Tiazhkyi is redefining how data drives decision-making in digital media. As a data analyst at Schibsted, he has played a pivotal role in the company’s dynamic paywall initiative — engineering data tracking systems and behavioural models that personalise user experiences across major Norwegian news brands like Aftenposten and VG. Andrii’s work does more than just optimise conversion rates; it transforms how editorial and commercial teams understand their audiences. His scalable behavioural framework, which is built on signals like article engagement and device usage, has become a cornerstone for segmentation and monetisation strategies across Schibsted’s portfolio. Fluent in Norwegian and in business, Andrii bridges cultural and technical gaps with ease. His proactive mindset, ethical approach to data, and ability to translate complexity into clarity make him a trusted collaborator and a rising leader. He is always eager to take on new challenges and takes initiative to drive results. As news media evolves, Andrii is poised to lead its transformation — using data not as just a tool, but as a compass for relevance, trust, and sustainable growth.

Lisa Marie Løvoll
Senior Strategy Manager/Brand Lead
Schibsted
Norway

About Lisa Marie: Since joining VG in 2021, Lisa Marie Løvoll has rapidly climbed from being a strategy team contributor to senior strategy manager/brand lead, where she now works alongside Schibsted’s executive team and board directors on high-impact initiatives. Her visionary leadership skills became apparent with the development of VG’s future strategy, a plan that now sets the direction for the company. Urging an increased focus on investigative journalism and trust-building content, along with greater personalisation and the use of AI, the strategy provides a unified road map for Norway’s largest digital news outlet. One of Lisa’s greatest strengths is her ability to bridge silos — connecting editorial, product, and business development with clarity and purpose. She has become a trusted voice in steering groups, a sometimes-sparring partner for product managers, and a driving force behind innovation labs like VGX and VGLab. Her data fluency and cross-disciplinary insight have shaped Schibsted’s forward-looking content strategy across video and podcast formats. Blending strategic depth, emotional intelligence, and competitive drive, Lisa leads with vision, resilience, and a deep understanding of the next generation of news consumers.

Nicola Lüssi
Head SEO
Tamedia
Switzerland

About Nicola: In less than two years at Tamedia, Nicola Lüssi has gone from SEO specialist to head of SEO — a rapid ascent powered by his vision, agility, and deep respect for editorial integrity. Despite not having prior management experience, Nicola built two high-performing teams from scratch: one focused on technical SEO and the other on operational excellence. His leadership style is grounded in clarity, collaboration, and a belief that data and journalism can (and must) coexist. Nicola’s impact is already industry-shaping. He led more than 600 Tamedia editorial staff members on an eight-week SEO training, and thanks to his “Reach Offensive” campaign to train digital journalists and producers on SEO fundamentals, Google traffic doubled in just two months. Nicola was one of the first in his company to explore the implications of generative AI on search and SEO, and took it upon himself to investigate how AI will reshape search engine results pages, user expectations, and editorial strategies. With a knack for unlocking impact in fast-moving environments, Nicola is constantly gravitating toward roles where he can have the greatest impact and be a force for change.

Andiswa Ngenyane
Multimedia Journalist/Entertainment
Media24
South Africa

About Andiswa: In just seven years, Andiswa Ngenyane has risen from intern to one of Daily Sun’s most recognisable entertainment journalists. During that time, she has covered South Africa’s biggest cultural moments — from the SAFTAs to Miss South Africa — bringing humour, authenticity, and impact to every story. Her nomination for Entertainment Journalist of the Year at the Basadi in Music Awards reflects her growing influence in shaping pop culture narratives. But Andiswa’s contributions go far beyond reporting. With her help, the Daily Sun has grown its digital footprint, especially on Instagram and Facebook, where her strategic use of celebrity tagging sparked a surge in engagement and reach. She also has mentored interns, tutored journalism students, and served as a judge for major awards, deepening her understanding of media representation and cultural leadership. With a clear vision for inclusive, cross-generational newsrooms and a commitment to ethical storytelling, Andiswa is preparing herself to become part of the next generation of media executives. With her unique blend of editorial instinct, digital know-how, and empathetic management, she has all the makings of a future leader who will shape the industry with integrity and innovation.

Riajul Alam Rabby
Senior Manager & In-Charge/Digital
Banglavision/Shamol Bangla Media Ltd.
Bangladesh

About Riajul: With a strong passion for digital innovation, Riajul Alam Rabby is redefining what it means to lead in the digital age. During his decade of experience across Bangladesh’s top media houses, Riajul has consistently turned his vision into measurable impact. Now, as head of digital at Banglavision, he has built a high-performing team from scratch, launching 10+ new content segments and boosting revenue by 45% in just months. His platforms now rank among the nation’s top three in engagement and viewership. Riajul’s management style is equal parts strategic and empowering, with an emphasis on cultivating cultures of innovation. As manager of Channel 24’s digital team, he drove explosive growth across social platforms, adding more than 5 million Facebook followers and 2 million YouTube subscribers in less than a year. At the same time, revenue jumped by 21%. At Protidiner Bangladesh, he pioneered the country’s first integrated newspaper model, generating 1 billion YouTube views and 100,000 new subscribers in 90 days. With a bold vision for a media innovation lab and a commitment to mentoring future talent, Riajul is poised to become an influential media executive in South Asia.

Paweł Tabędzki
Head of Digital Publishers/Eurozet Group, Agora
Poland

About Paweł: By blending editorial insight, product strategy, and empathetic leadership, Paweł Tabędzki is driving transformation in digital publishing. As head of digital publishers and publishing growth team leader at Eurozet Group, part of Agora, Paweł oversees multiple brands with a clear focus: building data-driven, audience-first newsrooms that thrive on collaboration and innovation. He led the transformation of Eurozet Group’s radio Web site, ZlotePrzeboje.pl; under his guidance, the site went from from 20th place to first place in Poland’s PV Mediapanel radio Web Site rankings in less than two years. Paweł’s “Data-driven Editelligence” framework is now scaling across Agora, transforming how editorial teams plan, measure, and evolve. His work has created a newsroom culture that’s agile, experimental, and deeply attuned to audience needs. He has also introduced recognition systems and anonymous feedback loops to boost morale and foster trust. With a sharp strategic mind and a people-first ethos, Paweł is not just managing change; he’s shaping the future of digital publishing. His trajectory points toward executive leadership, where his blend of innovation, empathy, and operational excellence will continue to redefine what modern media can be.

Clara Preve Durrieu
Journalist
Project Brazen
Argentina

About Clara: From the slums of Buenos Aires to the frontlines of Ukraine, Clara Preve Durrieu’s journalism career is defined by fearless reporting, global reach, and a deep commitment to truth. And with each story, she has solidified her reputation for leading with integrity and impact. Her early work exposed systemic failures in Argentina’s healthcare system; her award-winning reporting in India and the United States spotlighted injustice and historical erasure. At The New York Sun, she expanded international coverage, reporting on migration, elections, and war with minimal resources — twice landing lead stories in a single week. Now at Project Brazen, Clara leads cross-border investigations adapted into podcasts, documentaries, and books, including a forthcoming Penguin Random House title. As incoming managing editor of The Counteroffensive in Kyiv, she’s poised to shape human-centred war coverage with empathy and precision. Clara’s newsroom leadership is grounded in rigorous investigative practice and a belief that journalism must challenge power while amplifying unheard voices. Her mission extends beyond editorial excellence; it is about building trust, navigating complexity, and creating global awareness of issues.

Julia Munslow
Senior Editor/Social
The Wall Street Journal
United Kingdom

About Julia: After studying journalism and interning at Yahoo News, Julia Munslow spent a year in Malaysia as a Fulbright fellow before returning to Yahoo as a special projects editor. There, she became a driving force behind social media innovation — launching the Yahoo News TikTok account in 2020 and growing it to 1.2 million followers organically within its first year. Her success stemmed from a sharp editorial eye, strategic coordination of breaking news, and original storytelling tailored for emerging platforms. Julia now leads social engagement strategy at The Wall Street Journal, where her work has generated over 400 million views and expanded the brand’s reach across multiple channels. A natural mentor and educator, Julia teaches in CUNY’s graduate journalism programme and regularly speaks on industry panels, championing best practices and digital storytelling. Julia’s leadership is rooted in curiosity and courage; she spots emerging trends before they peak and builds inclusive strategies around them. Whether launching high-impact social campaigns or mentoring future journalists, she leads with clarity and heart. Her work bridges generations, proving that innovation and empathy can — and should — coexist in modern media.

Caleb Okereke
Executive Editor
Minority Africa
United States

About Caleb: As the founder of Minority Africa, Caleb Somtochukwu Okereke has built a pan-African platform led entirely by marginalised voices, reaching over 20 million people across the continent and diaspora. Under Caleb’s leadership, Minority Africa has evolved into a trusted media institution. He also launched Africa’s first collaborative news agency, Advance, and has mentored more than 150 underrepresented journalists. His newsroom model looks beyond editorial; it is infrastructural and offers funding, mentorship, and career pathways that dismantle systemic barriers. His work has given young, queer, disabled, and stateless Africans not just a platform, but validation. And it has earned industry recognition from Google News Initiative, partnerships with global institutions, and appearances on stages at Oxford, Stanford, and the International Journalism Festival. Caleb’s strategic vision reflects his commitment to marrying innovation with integrity. As he steps into a managing role whilst pursuing a PhD, he is taking steps toward executive leadership that fuses storytelling with system-wide change. In a media landscape struggling with misinformation and exclusion, Caleb is building a future where journalism doesn’t just inform — it empowers.

Nadya Pankiw
Multimedia Producer
Winnipeg Free Press
Canada

About Nadya: Nadya Pankiw got an early start in publishing. She was just 13 years old when she illustrated two children’s books her grandmother had written. Since then, she has continued cultivating her curiosity and creativity, eventually earning a master’s degree in publishing. Regardless of where she was on her journey, that journey has always centred on storytelling with purpose. At the Winnipeg Free Press, Nadya has transformed social media strategy across platforms — Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, and more — bringing local journalism to new audiences with clarity and relevance. Her leadership shines through initiatives like the Post-Secondary Project, which she pitched, researched, and executed to provide 3,200+ students with complimentary access to the Free Press. Nadya’s outreach, marketing, and cross-department collaboration turned a bold idea into a sustainable engagement model with the potential to reach 50,000 young readers. Whether co-developing book clubs, launching newsletters to combat information overload, or connecting underserved communities through an initiative called Reader Bridge, Nadya leads with empathy and innovation. Her vision for youth engagement, media literacy, and inclusive storytelling bodes well for the future in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

Guilherme Pimenta
Reporter
Editora Globo (Valor Econômico)
Brazil

About Guilherme: Guilherme Pimenta launched his journalism career from a small town in São Paulo, working for a hyperlocal digital media company. Within two years, he joined another digital native media company named JOTA, where he helped shape coverage of Brazil’s justice system and regulatory landscape. His work earned recognition for exclusive reporting that influenced national discourse and opened the door to a promising career. Now, as a reporter at Valor Econômico, Guilherme leads coverage of fiscal policy and federal regulatory agencies, delivering high-impact journalism that informs Brazil’s business community. His coordination of weekend editorial strategy and audience engagement initiatives reflects his far-reaching understanding of digital behaviour and subscriber growth. In 2024, he co-hosted a flagship talk show on tax reform, reinforcing Valor’s role as a trusted platform for economic debate and ultimately expanding its audience and subscriber base. Guilherme is well-positioned to become a newsroom leader of the future. With a vision for multiplatform storytelling and a commitment to strengthening reader loyalty, he’s not just reporting on Brazil’s economic future — he’s helping shape how it’s understood.

Varun Bonthu
Growth Product Manager
The Hindu Group
India

About Varun: Blending AI, data, and editorial integrity allows Varun Bonthu to deliver scalable, reader-centric experiences. As growth product manager at The Hindu Group, Varun led one of India’s most ambitious election coverage initiatives: automating the creation of over 36,000 dynamic pages for candidates and constituencies. His system integrated generative AI with real-time APIs, matching electoral data to reader search patterns and newsroom content. And it paid off, with nearly 5 million pageviews and a 32% increase in unique users. But Varun’s impact goes beyond automation. He built discovery and distribution frameworks — Telegram channels, Flipboard magazines, and curated landing pages — that ensured content reached the right audiences at the right time. His strategic thinking transformed The Hindu into a trusted election resource and laid the foundation for future civic coverage. With a background spanning fintech and global search platforms, Varun’s technical fluency is supported by a vision for news as a dynamic, personalised service. He is already positioning himself as a future product leader who will help guide legacy media into a data-smart, AI-powered, and trust-driven future.

Jessi-Maree Cox
Junior SEO Specialist
Nine.com.au
Australia

About Jessi-Maree: In her first year as junior SEO specialist at Nine.com.au, Jessi-Maree Cox has made herself known for her abilities in digital media product strategy. Her proactive, stakeholder-savvy, data-driven execution has already delivered measurable impact — most notably through her Met Gala SEO plan for 9Honey. Despite fierce competition on one of the most saturated content days of the year, Jessi-Maree’s strategy drove a remarkable 45.53% increase in article SEO pageviews and an 8.15% year-over-year uplift for the red carpet gallery. Jessi-Maree goes beyond content optimisation. She enhances discoverability, audience engagement, and brand visibility, and her ability to independently craft meaningful SEO plans with minimal oversight reflects her initiative and strategic thinking. She has mastered the art of not only solving problems, but anticipating them, turning high-interest events into high-impact opportunities. With a sharp understanding of how search behaviour intersects with editorial goals, Jessi-Maree is already operating beyond her title. She is well on the path to product leadership, where her blend of technical understanding, audience insight, and collaborative spirit will continue to shape how media connects with readers in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.

Akira Kawabata
Research Engineer
The Asahi Shimbun Company
Japan

About Akira: As a researcher at The Asahi Shimbun’s Media R&D Center, Akira Kawabata has made groundbreaking contributions to two significant areas: trustworthy AI and transforming media expertise into AI capabilities. His work, which bridges academia and media, has found that whilst AI can present human-like responses, it cannot perform “true reasoning” to discover those answers. His work, recognised at the prestigious EMNLP international conference, proposes scalable systems that monitor and correct these errors, reducing reliance on human intervention. Akira’s insights aren’t confined to theory. He applied them to develop Typoless, an automated Japanese proofreading SaaS that replicates editorial expertise at scale. Now deployed by over 100 companies, Typoless transforms Asahi’s legacy strength in language precision into a revenue-generating product — democratising journalistic quality assurance. With an ambition to evolve Typoless into a comprehensive “quality assurance AI” that detects hallucinations, factual inconsistencies, and flawed logic, Akira is poised to play a leading role in technological innovation — not just within the company but within the news media industry as a whole.

Nina Romashchenko
Head of SEO
Legit
Ukraine

About Nina: From writing more than 2,500 articles as a digital reporter to leading SEO strategy for four major African media brands, Nina Romashchenko’s career is a master class in product-led growth through SEO. She has consistently turned editorial insight into scalable, data-driven success and, as head of SEO at Legit, engineered a 749% ROI-positive organic growth strategy. That’s in addition to building a high-performing department and reducing team turnover by 70% — all while navigating algorithm shifts and market volatility with precision. Her product thinking shines in initiatives like automated content planning workflows, AI-powered keyword research, and generative engine optimisation (GEO) integration, which ensures visibility in AI Overviews and future-proofs content formats. Nina’s strategic foresight also led to the launch of educational revenue streams in Nigeria and Kenya, empowering media professionals and small businesses with monetisation skills. Whether conducting technical audits, launching structured data strategies, or mentoring the next generation of SEO talent, Nina is known for her ability to align editorial, technical, and business goals. This positions her as a young leader who is shaping the future of digital media across emerging markets.

Elaeshah Shallow-Campbell
Project Manager
Telegraph Media Group
United Kingdom

About Elaeshah: Relying on a blend of editorial empathy, commercial insight, and strategic clarity, Elaeshah Shallow-Campbell has found her calling in the area of product management. During her seven years at The Telegraph, she has spearheaded initiatives that drive measurable impact and deepen audience trust, such as leading the relaunch of From the Editor, the company’s flagship editorial newsletter. Thanks to her efforts, the newsletter saw a 10% boost in open rates and consistently receives direct praise from readers. Her creation of a registration wall, which is now responsible for 82% of user sign-ups, has become the cornerstone of the brand’s audience conversion strategy. She also delivered article gifting, which accounts for 40% of all article shares, expanding reach without compromising subscriptions. Known for bridging technical and editorial priorities, Elaeshah brings structure to ambiguity and alignment across disciplines. Her development of Your Say, a dedicated reader engagement space, reflects her commitment to listening as a product principle. With a vision for globally facing, mission-driven media, Elaeshah is eager to be an active part of the future of journalism through inclusive, intelligent, and human-centred innovation.

Daniel Barratt
Senior Manager/Subscriptions Growth
News Corp Australia
Australia

About Daniel: With a career that has already seen him work with global brands BT, Vodafone, and News Corp in both the United Kingdom and Australia, Daniel Barratt is redefining reader revenue strategy across continents. He brings a rare blend of commercial acumen, product innovation, and people-first leadership to the evolving media landscape. Now a senior manager at News Corp Australia, he leads a high-performing team driving core subscription and registration campaigns. Dan’s impact is most visible in the acceleration of NewsPass, News Corp’s registration product. His cross-team acceleration strategy saw weekly sign-ups surge by 233%, expanding reach across 12 titles and positioning the company for long-term audience growth. He’s also spearheading complex migration strategies to modernise legacy subscription systems, unlocking new revenue streams while guiding print audiences toward digital adoption. Thanks to his collaborative spirit, Dan does more than just solve problems; he’s building scalable solutions and empowering teams to thrive. With a sharp eye on industry shifts and a deep commitment to innovation, Dan is poised to become one of the defining marketing leaders in global media.

Matthew Fusco
Marketing Automation Manager
The Washington Post
United States

About Matthew: Building his career at the intersection of marketing automation, AI, and media, Matthew Fusco is reshaping how organisations connect with audiences. As marketing automation manager at The Washington Post, Matthew leads the transformation of subscription marketing operations, enabling real-time omnichannel engagement and reducing manual workflows by 60%. His leadership in evaluating and implementing a new enterprise-wide martech platform has unlocked smarter, faster, and more personalised campaigns, laying the foundation for long-term growth. Before joining The Post, Matthew directly contributed more than US$10 million in revenue at Cardlytics, launching 75+ campaigns and building systems that converted 24% of prospects into sales. Now, he’s activating AI-powered features like brand affinity modeling and send-time optimisation to deepen audience relationships and boost performance. As founder of Transception, an AI-powered iOS app designed to improve AI literacy, Matthew also champions innovation beyond the newsroom. His cross-functional mindset, technical fluency, and passion for scalable solutions position him as a future executive who will redefine how media engages, retains, and grows its audience — especially among younger, digitally native readers.

Paul Junk
Product Lead/Customer Processes
Ippen Digital
Germany

About Paul: In just three years, Paul Junk has shown his determination and potential to become an influential young leader in the media industry. Since joining Ippen Digital as a working student in 2022, he has transformed processes and now leads customer experiences across 80+ news portals. His actions and ideas impact millions of users and demonstrate true enterprise-level thinking. His modular paywall system, tailored to regional audiences, delivered a 27.3% increase in monthly recurring revenue and enabled scalable personalisation across eight paid-content portals. Paul’s strategic foresight also led to creating a unified customer portal and an AI-powered support system, which streamlined operations whilst enhancing user experience. His influence goes far beyond leveraging new technology: Paul has fostered collaboration between product, tech, data, and marketing to accelerate innovation, and his data-driven approach to churn reduction and conversion optimisation turned market volatility and turned it into growth. Paul’s work ensures local journalism remains economically viable and editorially independent. Blending technical fluency, strategic clarity, and human-centred thinking, Paul is not just building systems — he’s building the future of sustainable media.

Emma McDonald
Manager/Consumer Revenue
Condé Nast
United States

About Emma: Since joining Condé Nast in 2022, Emma McDonald has rapidly ascended within the company. Most recently, she became marketing manager across Architectural Digest, AD Pro, AD Pro Directory, and Condé Nast Traveler — delivering record-breaking subscription performance and positioning herself as a rising leader in reader revenue. Emma’s testing-driven approach has lifted conversion rates across e-mail and on-site channels, helping both AD and Traveler exceed full-year goals despite delays in product launch and traffic headwinds. Her standout “Age of Content” paywall strategy for AD drove a 51% increase in new starts and long-term value, while her leadership on AD Pro’s content gating delivered an 86% boost in acquisition. She has also played a pivotal role in scaling AD Pro Directory, contributing incremental B2B and B2C revenue and expanding the brand’s value proposition. Emma’s success stems from her ability to translate complex data into actionable strategy, mentor peers, and foster cross-functional collaboration. With a sharp eye for audience behaviour and a passion for experimentation, Emma is not just optimising performance — she’s rethinking the future of media monetisation.

Mizuo Nagayama
Software Engineer
Nikkei Inc.
Japan

About Mizuo: Mizuo Nagayama is playing a key role in how digital media engages and retains subscribers. As a software engineer at Nikkei, she played a pivotal role in helping Nikkei’s online edition reach 1 million paid users by December 2024 — an achievement rooted in her technical ingenuity and data-driven strategy. Mizuo led the development of the iOS widget feature, which is now used by 17% of monthly active users. Her analysis revealed the widget increased visit frequency by an average of one day, directly contributing to retention. She also proposed a recommended articles menu, which quickly became the second most-used feature, enhancing user engagement. Beyond product innovation, Mizuo improved the in-app purchase experience and launched comeback offers targeting former subscribers, boosting acquisition. Her work bridges engineering and reader revenue, proving thoughtful UX and smart data utilisation can drive sustainable growth. With a background in machine learning and a passion for inclusive tech leadership, Mizuo is not only shaping Nikkei’s digital future — she’s inspiring the next generation of media technologists. Her trajectory points toward executive leadership in a media landscape where accessibility, personalisation, and trust are paramount.