Media Spotlight 2026: Global media leaders to gather in Auckland on May 27 at Q Theatre

The Commercial Communications Council (the Comms Council) has announced Media Spotlight 2026, sponsored by MediaWorks, will take place on 27 May at Q Theatre, Auckland.

This year’s event brings together global and local thought leaders to address the challenges facing the media industry: navigating fragmentation, emerging technologies, and future-proofing brands. Media Spotlight is relevant for senior advertisers, agency leaders, and media executives seeking insights on the future of media planning and audience engagement.

MediaWorks joins Media Spotlight 2026 as the event sponsor, and their support reflects a shared commitment in connecting the industry and seeking insights on the future of media planning.

Says Jackie Campbell, Commercial Director – Agency Sales, MediaWorks: “MediaWorks is proud to be the presenting partner for the 2026 Media Spotlight. Events like this provide a powerful platform to connect with brands and agencies, share insights, and help shape the future of the media landscape. As Aotearoa’s leading audio company, we understand the power of audio to connect, influence, and cut through like no other channel. It’s a uniquely personal and trusted medium, helping brands build meaningful, lasting relationships with audiences at scale while driving real impact. This partnership is a natural fit, giving us the opportunity to collaborate with global thought leaders, champion the role of audio in modern media strategies, and explore what’s next for our industry.”

2026 Speaker Line-up

Felipe Thomaz, University of Oxford
Associate Professor of Marketing

Felipe Thomaz is Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Oxford, where he also serves as Director of Research for the Oxford Future of Marketing Initiative. His work is broadly motivated by questions of firm effectiveness and efficiency, as well as the interaction with edge technologies. Felipe is particularly interested in, and known for his work on Media Channels, the Advertising Ecosystem, and Branding. From a technical angle, his work involves Graph Theory, Artificial Intelligence, and Quantum Information Theory. He has authored policy documents on the decarbonisation of advertising with international industry bodies, on progressive advertising with the United Nations, and practical ethics in AI with the International Chamber of Commerce. Felipe is also Managing Director of Augmented Intelligence Labs, an Oxford deep-tech spinout specialising in long-range forecasting, trend analysis and anomaly detection algorithms.

Melissa Clark-Reynolds, ONZM
Futurist and Founder

Melissa Clark-Reynolds, ONZM is a visionary, certified futurist. With a career spanning technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship, Melissa is known for her ability to navigate the complexities of our ever-evolving world. She has been awarded the Officer of the NZ Order of Merit for her Services to Technology. As the founder of several successful technology companies and a seasoned entrepreneur, Melissa brings a wealth of real-world experience to her role as a futurist. Recognized as a thought leader, Melissa has advised governments, Fortune 500 companies, and startups on strategies for navigating uncertainty and driving innovation.

Eugene Healey, Studio EH
Educator, Brand Strategy Consultant and Creator

Eugene Healey helps people make sense of cultural chaos. He has worked with global brands like Google, Spotify and Red Bull on strategies to succeed in a climate where media is fragmented, attention is fracked, and algorithms have dissolved mass culture into soup. Eugene has previously held a session lecturing position in brand management at the University of Melbourne’s postgraduate Business School, and regularly shares his insights on brands and culture via social media to a following of over 500,000.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Venue: Q Theatre, Auckland
Doors Open: 8.30am

For more information and tickets, visit https://commscouncil.nz/awards/beacon/media-spotlight

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