ADMA Board of Directors

Chair

Karen Ganschow has held senior marketing and sales roles across a range of Information Technology and Telecommunications organisations. She is currently the General Manager, Customer Relationship Marketing for Westpac.

Karen has a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and holds a Master in Business Administration. She is also a part-time lecturer in CRM and Consumer Behaviour at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management.

Vice Chair

Mark Willson is currently the Director of Marketing & Communications for IBM Australia and New Zealand. In this role, he is responsible for all marketing and communications activities across the organization.

Prior to his current position Mark was the Director of Marketing, Systems & Technology Group, IBM Asia Pacific based in Shanghai, China. In this role, Mark was responsible for marketing within the hardware division of IBM for all operations across the Asia Pacific geography.

Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Sydney University and has earned a Diploma in Direct Marketing from the ADMA.

CEO & Company Secretary

Jodie Sangster was appointed CEO on July 1, 2011 after relocating from the Direct Marketing Association in New York.

Originally from the UK, Jodie worked with the UK Direct Marketing Association having responsibility for both UK and European regulatory affairs. She moved to Australia in 2001 as ADMA’s Director - Legal & Regulatory Affairs, playing a pivotal role in the development of key legislation such as the Spam Act, Do Not Call Register Act and APEC Privacy Principles.

Jodie joined Acxiom as Chief Privacy and Compliance Officer and moved with them to the US in 2007 before joining the DMA in New York in 2009 as Senior Vice President of Education & Global Development.

Treasurer

Over the past 20 years, Phil has been at the forefront of marketing communication services – both client and agency side – building direct and digital marketing businesses that have become market leaders and innovators in their field.

Starting his career client side in the financial services industry in Adelaide, Phil experienced the breadth of marketing roles before finding a natural fit in the measurable and accountable world of direct marketing.

Agency roles in Melbourne led to a planned “short stint” in Sydney that has resulted in a now ten-year residency. Initially as Managing Director of the direct and digital arms of Singleton Ogilvy & Mather Group, where Phil oversaw consistent growth and was appointed to OgilvyOne’s Asia Pacific Regional Council and global management team.

Now Managing Director and Partner of independent start-up agency Apparent, Phil is continuing his work in strategy-led customer management activities. A recognised and accredited speaker, facilitator and trainer, Phil has spoken on topics and run programs covering a broad a broad spectrum of digital and direct marketing, strategic communications, leadership management, sales and customer service.

Melanie Silva is the Industry Leader for the Financial Services Teams for Google Australia and has been with the company since early 2007. She leads sales, research and account management teams which ensure that Google are providing relevant and timely marketing solutions to the Financial Services industry.

Melanie has an extensive product and marketing background in Financial Services and has specialised in all things direct and digital since 1999. Melanie has a Bachelor of Economics degree from Macquarie University, a Diploma of Financial Planning and Diploma of Interactive and Direct Marketing from the Institute of Direct Marketing in the United Kingdom. She is a karaoke fan, amazing wife and mother of Max, 2.

Andy is the CEO of Clemenger BBDO Sydney/Clemenger Proximity Sydney.

Born and educated in the UK, Andy has over 20 year’s customer relationship marketing experience in London, Melbourne and Sydney.

A lifelong direct marketer, Andy started his career in London as an Account Executive in a Soho-based DM agency. He has worked his way up through the ranks of the DM industry, including roles as Managing Director of Rapp Collins Sydney, M&C Saatchi and now Clemenger BBDO Sydney.

He has worked on CRM programs for leading brands including Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, Commonwealth Bank, Qantas Frequent Flyer and now Virgin Australia Velocity Rewards.

Andy is an active member of the advertising community and is a past Chairman of ADMA.

In 2003 he won the coveted ADMA Direct Marketer of the Year Award.

Marketing & Operations (M&O) Director, Microsoft

I am accountable for the operational orchestration, campaign and launch management, along with product and enterprise marketing to ensure a balanced performance at Microsoft Australia. That means I make sure we're delivering the best possible results in the near term, while also making sure we're planning and preparing to achieve our longer-term strategic goals.

I have been with Microsoft for six years. When I reflect on what the company achieves, and its contribution to the economy and the community, I feel great pride to be working here.

Earlier in my career, I spent three years as the Chief Executive of a sustainable forestry company and nine years as a Chartered Accountant working for firms in New Zealand and Australia.

I am a running aficionado and also enjoy outdoor activities such as boating, mountain biking and tennis with my family.

In May 2007, Mr Hickey was appointed Chief Executive of Qantas Frequent Flyer and is responsible for establishing the Loyalty business as a separate segment within the Qantas Group with a membership base of more than 8 million.  Previously he was the Group General Manager Strategy and Fleet, after joining Qantas Airways in 2004. 

Between 2001 and 2004, Mr Hickey was Chief Financial Officer for Lend Lease Americas with geographic responsibility for Lend Lease operations in North and Latin America. Prior to this, he held various roles with Lend Lease including Bovis Lend Lease Chief Financial Officer Asia Pacific. 

Mr Hickey began his career with Arthur Andersen as a business consultant working in Sydney, Melbourne and London.

Mr Hickey is currently a director of Air Pacific Limited, flag carrier of Fiji and a director of the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Andrew has been at Commonwealth Bank for over 10 years in various senior marketing roles.

As General Manger, Channel Marketing, his current responsibilities include developing the marketing capability of the Commonwealth Bank’s digital channels, including commbank.com.au, NetBank, ATMs, Mobile and Digital Merchandising. Andrew’s team also provides direct and digital marketing expertise to the Bank’s marketing and business teams and manages media planning and buying.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Arts (Politics) from Victoria University Wellington and Diplomas in Direct Marketing and Public Relations from ADMA and PRINZ respectively.

Phil has worked in the Telco industry for the last 14 years and twelve of those with Optus. Originally from the UK he moved out to Australia for a 2 year secondment and in a familiar story is yet to find the return ticket home.

Phil initially trained as a Chartered Accountant and then moved into the telco industry working for Cable & Wireless plc. He seized the opportunity to work for Optus in 1999 and in 2002 switched to marketing, becoming the acquisition manager for consumer plans.

In 2008, he became the Marketing Director for Optus Small & Medium Business and has since driven B2B digital marketing and developed business grade products and services. He also relaunched the online site and has been working to lift the uptake of small businesses using social media and online to drive lead generation.

Phil is respected as a strong leader who develops and coaches his team for mutual benefit. He is passionate about getting teams engaged and working well together. Outside of work, Phil has participated as a mentor to Year 10 students in the Australian Business and Community Network and is on the AdviceBank programme run by Australian Business Arts Foundation.

Richard Umbers has held a range of senior and General Management positions in FMCG retailing organisations in a career spanning over sixteen years. Until recently he was Australia Post’s Executive General Manager for eServices, and is currently their Executive General Manager for Parcel Services.

Richard was formerly Managing Director of supermarket chain Progressive Enterprises Ltd. in New Zealand, and Managing Director (NW UK and Republic of Ireland) for supermarket discounter ALDI. Richard has an honours degree in Geology and Geography from Exeter University and a Masters in Finance from the University of Leicester.

Simon van Wyk has been in the Interactive communications business for 17 years and is the founder of HotHouse, OurPatch and Zazoo.

Born in South Africa, Simon completed an undergraduate science degree and completed two years’ compulsory army service. After this, he moved to Australia where he became Marketing Manager of Hunter Douglas. Simon produced the first interactive CD-ROM in Australia and went on to co-found Brilliant Interactive Ideas which later became Brilliant Digital Entertainment.

Simon has since been involved with web consulting and strategy for many of Australia’s biggest organisations. He orchestrated McDonalds and Coca-Cola’s first websites in Australia and engineered Austrade’s internet debut. He has also led the team that built Telstra BigPond.

Simon’s been a vocal exponent of the concepts and technologies of Web 2.0 and is a regular contributor to B&T, Marketing and Online Banking Review on the subject. He has written a column on e-commerce for the SMH and had articles on the digital future published in The Australian.

Victorian Branch Chair

General Manager, Action Mailing Lists

Abramo has over 11 years in the industry and has previously worked for a number of media organisations including Channel 10 and Austereo, and with a variety of clients from retail to wholesale, automotive and financial to leisure, for whom generating a response from campaigns was "make or break". He then moved to loyalty marketing and oversaw the implementation of a number of CRM strategies.

Abramo is currently part of the Executive Committee for ADMA's Data & Analytics Council as well as being a member of the Digital Council. He also produces "The List Report", a weekly email bulletin for the direct marketing industry.

New South Wales Branch Chair

Emily is the Head of Everyday Rewards at Woolworths Limited, responsible for the strategic direction and operation of the Everyday Rewards Program across the Woolworths Group. She has held this role for nearly 4 years and been involved with the program since its inception.

Prior to joining Woolworths, Emily had more than 15 years experience in the retail industry and has held a number of corporate strategy, finance and marketing roles at Woolworths, David Jones and Sainsbury's Supermarkets in the UK.

She holds an Honours degree in Economics, a Master of Business in Finance and Accounting and is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia.

South Australian Branch Chair

Jason Neave is an experienced direct marketer, having a background in traditional media with publishers News Limited and Pacific before spending the better part of the last decade in digital.

Currently the Managing Director of Adelaide digital agency, Via Media, Jason has served on ADMA’s mobile marketing council, chairs the SA branch committee, tutors the Digital certificate course and joined the board in February 2009.

Western Australian Branch Chair

Patrick has over 20 years experience as a General Manager in the digital printing business.

He is currently the General Manger of the Expo Group who has eight locations within Perth offering a unique digital printing solution.

Prior to joining Expo, Patrick had over 20 years experience in the Business Process Outsourcing industry holding a number of senior management roles at Salmat across over three states.

Patrick has been actively involved in ADMA since 1988 and has been a guest tutor at ADMA courses in Melbourne and Perth over the last 20 years.

Tasmanian Branch Chair

Greg Hankin, General Manager Member Services, The Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania

Greg has over 30 years’ experience in sales and marketing roles at the RACT as well as representing RACT in various national and international Automobile Association forums. Greg was a foundation member of the Tasmanian branch of ADMA and previously served as Secretary before assuming the role of Chair in February 2011.

Past Chairman

Tony Davis has held Marketing Director roles with blue chip brands in the UK and Australian financial services, publishing and other consumer industries. He is a regular contributor to industry thinking on marketing measurement and accountability, having held commercially successful programmes as both client and agency strategist.

Tony is a Partner of leading customer analytics and marketing strategy firm Quantium.