The Fourth Annual AADC Talks

This year AADC celebrates five decades of inspiring, connecting and championing the creative communications industry in South Australia. As we mark this golden milestone, we are bringing a stellar line up of speakers for the fourth edition of AADC Talks, on Wed 17th September 2025. Bringing together the best in creative thinking, marketing innovation and industry leadership from many speakers that you will not have heard from before.

Twelve different talks across four unique locations, with a 10-minute walk in between. This is a creative conference with a difference, designed to combat the fatigue from being stuck in a room for hours on end. You will hear new things, meet new people and everyone will leave with some useful advice for the future.

Bringing together speakers from across the country, Talks 2025 features thought leaders from Special Group, Heaps Normal, UNSW, R/GA, POLY, Büro North, Cocogun, NATION, un-held and more.

To make this accessible we keep the ticket prices down – all day tickets are only $159 for AADC members – making this one of the most affordable professional development days around and this year it includes lunch.

Whether you're a marketer, in a creative agency, design studio, production house or media agency – or maybe a freelancer, student or even thinking about joining this industry, AADC Talks is designed to give you insights and advice from around the country and help us apply that right here in South Australia.

The best way to experience the day is with an all-day ticket. Each speaker will bring something different, each venue will bring another surprise and each walk you will meet someone new.

This event does sell out, so make sure you get in early to reserve your seat. Tickets on sale now.

Beginning your day under a heritage-listed rotunda amongst the sights and sounds of exotic animals, hear from Tash about how she has found the right people for the job, Soren about how he runs his design business and we welcome back Brent to Australia to hear his epic journey to CEO.

• Tash Menon-Verheul | Sparring Partner, Menon Curatorial

• Soren Luckins | Founder & Partner, Büro North

• Brent Hill | Executive Global Leader

Next we enter a historic military landmark that you would have walked past countless times and unlikely to have been inside. Katheryn will talk about words, work and what matters most, Tim tells us why small is the next big thing in agencies and Andy shares what he has learnt when starting and running a purpose driven business. All followed by a delicious BBQ lunch and networking under the sun.

• Katheryn Korczak | Head of Copy & Co-owner, NATION

• Tim Harvey | Founder, un-held

• Andy Miller | Co-Founder & CEO, Heaps Normal

Straight to our impressive art gallery, taking in priceless creations and hearing from Josh about how we can create our own works of art in outdoor spaces, Trea on how to be a better client and Loz & Lew about where they get creative inspiration and their journey to Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity.

• Josh Gurgiel | Head of POLY

• Trea Murphy | Senior Manager, External Engagement, UNSW

• Loz Maneschi & Lew Clark | Creatives, Cocogun

Closing the day out in the East End at one of our Fringe stand-up comedy venues. Hear from Lauren & Locki about their Coopers 1/1 campaign, Stephanie about decoding culture in the uncertainty era and Prue about her journey in the design and experience world. We then finish off this wonderful day with some well-earned networking drinks.

• Lauren Regolini & Locki Choi | Senior Creatives, Special Group

• Stephanie Winkler | Independent cultural researcher

• Prue Jones | Executive Creative Director - Experience, R/GA

We couldn't do this without the help of our incredible partner, oOh!media. They have supported the Talks for the past four years. They saw our vision, believed in the cause and helped us to make it all happen. Thank you also to our contributing partners AEDA, un-held, NATION and Stickbird.

All Talks

Make life easier and grab an "All Talks" ticket. It's the best value (4 talks for the price of 3), the most fun and the easiest way to make new connections and catch-up with old ones while walking from each venue.

AADC Members – $159
Non-Members – $195

If you are only able to join us for one or two of the Talks, that’s ok, we’d love to see you there.

Individual Talks

AADC Members – $50
Non-Members – $65