Past speakers

SOS24 speakers.

State of Social ’24 explored how strategy, creativity, technology, and human insight combine to create something more powerful than their individual parts. Australian and international speakers shared perspectives on turning ideas into outcomes across digital marketing and culture.

At a glance

ThemeALCHEMY
EditionSeventh
Speakers28

The theme

This year explored the rare intersection where technical mastery meets imaginative thinking. ALCHEMY focused on how data, platforms, creativity, and intuition combine to create marketing that feels human, resonates deeply, and drives real outcomes.

Rather than treating strategy and creativity as opposing forces, speakers showed how the two work best together, turning skill and insight into work that truly converts.

Day oneDay two

Day one · Tuesday 27 August

9.40am

Keynote

40 min

Be on social without being on social

Michael Corcoran

10.30am

Keynote

40 min

Why the smartest thing we can all do is be stupid

Paula Bloodworth

11.20am

Keynote

40 min

How to create true alchemy between brands and gaming

James Whatley

1.10pm

Breakout Session

30 min · River View Room 1

The criticality of meaningful connections

Joel Pember

1.10pm

Breakout Session

30 min · River View Room 2

Culture or creativity: what comes first? Live podcast

Paula Bloodworth, Ken Leung, Richard Berney

1.10pm

Breakout Session

30 min · River View Room 3

Anatomy of an idea

Nia Pericles

1.50pm

Breakout Session

30 min · River View Room 1

Why transparency matters: protection and performance in social environments

Imran Masood

1.50pm

Breakout Session

30 min · River View Room 2

From clickbait to critical thinking: media literacy for a digital future

Taleesha Elder, Larah Kennedy, Meg Coffey

1.50pm

Breakout Session

30 min · River View Room 3

Don’t despair, small budgets can unlock big ideas!

Bec Smith

2.30pm

Breakout Session

40 min · River View Room 1

The alchemy of experience design: turning customer insight into memorable moments to build trusted brands

Emma Hollins

2.30pm

Breakout Session

40 min · River View Room 2

The blank phone and social media account experiment

Josh Taylor

4pm

Keynote

40 min

Keynote with Tom Goodwin

Tom Goodwin

4.50pm

Keynote

40 min

A ‘social first’ state of mind

Lia Haberman

Day two · Wednesday 28 August

9am

Workshop

60 min · River View Room 1

What’s old is new again: how to speak to Gen-Z through organic social media

Georgia Tappy

9am

Workshop

60 min · River View Room 2

Self-care, burnout and the busy mind

Julian Pace

10.15am

Workshop

60 min · River View Room 1

Managing the social media outrage economy

Larah Kennedy

10.15am

Workshop

60 min · River View Room 2

Playful is powerful

Richard Berney

10.15am

Workshop

60 min · River View Room 3

From diversity angst to brand magic: the messy business of inclusion

Tess Palmyre

11.30am

Workshop

60 min · River View Room 1

So you want a viral video strategy? It starts with…

Lily Hoffmann

11.30am

Workshop

60 min · River View Room 2

A social media law update

David Stewart

11.30am

Workshop

60 min · River View Room 3

Universal fan engagement: lessons from fandom to power social community cultivation

Dr Georgie Carroll

1.30pm

Workshop

60 min · River View Room 1

20% less traffic: how AI answers will change your search marketing strategy

Will Bal

1.30pm

Workshop

60 min · River View Room 2

Give us your faking attention: the rise and faux of fake OOH

Josh Gurgiel

1.30pm

Workshop

60 min · River View Room 3

The alchemy of branding

Ken Leung

2.45pm

Workshop

60 min · River View Room 1

Unlock the LGBTIQA+ golden pot at the end of the rainbow

Ashara Wills

2.45pm

Workshop

60 min · River View Room 2

Tales from the world of the emoji overlords

Jeremy Burge

2.45pm

Workshop

60 min · River View Room 3

Teach me something and be real with me

Scotty McDonald

4.20pm

Keynote

40 min

The TikTok honeymoon is over (and that’s a good thing)

Dave Jorgenson

Be in the next one.