Amanda Palenski – Managing Director, PHD

Amanda brings over 25 years of experience in the media industry, including 17 years at PHD.

With a passion for harnessing creativity in media, she has led teams to multiple global awards.

Print holds a special place in her heart as she began her career in the advertising department of the New Zealand Herald.

Matthew Pickering – GM Marketing, ANZ New Zealand

Matt leads ANZ’s powerhouse marketing team — one of the largest in New Zealand — uniting technical, data, campaign and creative talent to deliver real business impact.

He recently completed seven years on the Marketing Association board and has worked on both agency and client sides, including standout years at AIM Proximity,  then the gold standard for direct and digital innovation.

Known for building high-performing teams and driving effectiveness, Matt was named the 2025 NZ Marketer of the Year by the NZ Marketing Association.

Ange Dunn – Group Business Director, Perceptive

Passionate about data-backed marketing, Ange has worked in market research for over 15 years across NZ, Australia and the UK. She’s helped clients across a range of industries turn insights into action.

As Perceptive’s Group Business Director, she leads the Client Services Team, overseeing projects that inform and elevate marketing campaigns, creative, brand and strategy. Ange is focused on delivering smart, evidence-based solutions that drive meaningful results.

Peter Vegas – Freelance Creative

Peter Vegas has worked in advertising for over 30 years, creating everything from water-skiing penguins to camera-wielding octopuses. His work — animal and otherwise — has earned recognition at Cannes, One Show, AWARD, and D&AD.

Until recently, he was co-Chief Creative Officer at FCB Aotearoa, where the team immortalised him as a rug (apparently out of respect). When not wrangling ideas, Peter writes books and wonders why bios are always written in the third person.

Katie Mills – Chief Marketing Officer, NZME

Katie leads NZME's Marketing, Creative and Communications functions since joining our Executive Team in December 2018. She previously served as Group Marketing Director at Aspire2 Group Limited and General Manager (Global) Marketing & Communications at Opus International Consultants.

Katie brings more than 20 years of media-specific experience to her role, As Head of Marketing, she successfully developed and delivered marketing and brand strategies across radio, digital, event and television ventures.

Amanda Palenski – Managing Director, PHD

Amanda brings over 25 years of experience in the media industry, including 17 years at PHD.

With a passion for harnessing creativity in media, she has led teams to multiple global awards.

Print holds a special place in her heart as she began her career in the advertising department of the New Zealand Herald.

Matthew Pickering – GM Marketing, ANZ New Zealand

Matt leads ANZ’s powerhouse marketing team — one of the largest in New Zealand — uniting technical, data, campaign and creative talent to deliver real business impact.

He recently completed seven years on the Marketing Association board and has worked on both agency and client sides, including standout years at AIM Proximity,  then the gold standard for direct and digital innovation.

Known for building high-performing teams and driving effectiveness, Matt was named the 2025 NZ Marketer of the Year by the NZ Marketing Association.

Ange Dunn – Group Business Director, Perceptive

Passionate about data-backed marketing, Ange has worked in market research for over 15 years across NZ, Australia and the UK. She’s helped clients across a range of industries turn insights into action.

As Perceptive’s Group Business Director, she leads the Client Services Team, overseeing projects that inform and elevate marketing campaigns, creative, brand and strategy. Ange is focused on delivering smart, evidence-based solutions that drive meaningful results.

Peter Vegas – Freelance Creative

Peter Vegas has worked in advertising for over 30 years, creating everything from water-skiing penguins to camera-wielding octopuses. His work — animal and otherwise — has earned recognition at Cannes, One Show, AWARD, and D&AD.

Until recently, he was co-Chief Creative Officer at FCB Aotearoa, where the team immortalised him as a rug (apparently out of respect). When not wrangling ideas, Peter writes books and wonders why bios are always written in the third person.

Katie Mills – Chief Marketing Officer, NZME

Katie leads NZME's Marketing, Creative and Communications functions since joining our Executive Team in December 2018. She previously served as Group Marketing Director at Aspire2 Group Limited and General Manager (Global) Marketing & Communications at Opus International Consultants.

Katie brings more than 20 years of media-specific experience to her role, As Head of Marketing, she successfully developed and delivered marketing and brand strategies across radio, digital, event and television ventures.