Xmas Symposium 2026 – Programme

Venue: Wētā Workshop Unleashed, 88 Federal Street – Auckland

Wednesday 2nd December

9am – 12pm midday	YOUNGTEC Summit – Sudima Auckland
2.00pm – 3.00pm	Registration / Afternoon Tea Atrium, Wētā  Workshop Unleashed Complimentary Guided Tour Experience
3.00pm – 5.00pm	Symposium – CEO Update – Cyber Security – Auckland Airport Update Keynote: Georgia Rickard
5.00pm – 7.00pm	Networking & Hospitality Venue: All Blacks Experience

Keynote – Trust me, I’m not a brand – Georgia Rickard

How to take advantage of the #1 marketing trend for 2027: your personal brand.

Reputation has always been currency. But the way trust is built – and earned – has fundamentally changed.

As founder of Australia’s most influential storytelling network, Georgia Rickard works with media and marketing decision-makers across brands including Tourism Australia, Nine Network, Accor, SKY, Virgin Australia, Qantas, National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveler and BBC.

Through conversations with some of Australia’s leading brand builders, Georgia uncovered a common challenge: traditional marketing tactics are losing impact, trust is declining, and polished corporate voices no longer command attention like they once did.

The new marker of trust? The personal brand.

In this entertaining and highly relatable keynote, Georgia combines the latest insights from Australia’s media landscape with her own journey from working behind the scenes to building visibility and influence in the age of AI.

You’ll discover why audiences increasingly respond to visible human faces, how leading storytellers are building trust and authority, and how you can confidently put yourself ‘out there’ – no dancing TikToks required.

You’ll leave with practical insights to help you:

• Overcome the hesitation of becoming more visible.
• Understand how AI is changing marketing and communication.
• Recognise the signals that build – or break – audience trust.
• Identify barriers to your own credibility.
• Step forward as a trusted, authentic leader in the Age of Reputation.

 

About Georgia Rickard

Georgia Rickard is Australia’s leading authority on media, influence, and the age of personal brand. A multi-award-winning journalist, magazine editor, author, and brand strategist recognized by Australian press as a “master storyteller,” she began writing for Cosmopolitan at 22, became Australia’s youngest magazine editor at 23, edited Australian Traveller (Australia’s largest-selling travel magazine) at 26, and served as contributing editor to @Australia (the world’s most followed country account) at 29. By 36, she had built two seven-figure companies.

She is the founder of Georgia’s Media Circle (GMC), an exclusive, invitation-only community bringing together Australia’s top-tier storytellers. GMC connects leading editors, journalists, presenters, reporters, brand storytellers, and publicity professionals representing prestigious global mastheads (such as CNN, BBC, Conde Nast, Vogue, The New York Times, 60 Minutes, and National Geographic), major media networks (News Corp, Seven Network, Network Ten, ABC TV), and world-class brands including Apple, Accor, American Express, Qantas, Virgin, Canva, Netflix, Amazon, and Microsoft.

Today, Georgia advises creators, global brands, and industry leaders on how to thrive in the trust-recession era. As Contributing Editor to Tourism Australia, she led a team of up to 30 of Australia’s most respected travel journalists to deliver a million-dollar overhaul and editorial management for Australia.com, reaching an immediate social audience of over 15 million. As Editor at Large and ambassador for Virgin Australia, she developed their digital travel storytelling ecosphere across enterprise channels to a network of 18 million.

Her editorial contributions span major global outlets including News Limited, Conde Nast, Fairfax Media, BBC, AFAR, and The Times. Shortlisted for Editor of the Year at the Australian Magazine Awards, her media career also includes presenting travel for CNN to a global audience of 135 million and acting as a SKY NEWS travel commentator.

An accomplished global speaker who has appeared across all major Australian television networks, Georgia has MCed, presented keynotes, and hosted events for Apple, SXSW, Accor, CNN, SKY News, TravMedia (across Asia, America, Australia, and Europe), the Australian Society of Travel Writers, and the Society of American Travel Writers. As co-founder of The Travel Bootcamp, she oversaw the creation, delivery, and hosting of conferences in partnership with brands including Intrepid Travel, National Geographic, Olympus, Expedia Group, and VOGUE Australia. Her client roster includes Apple, SXSW, Accor, Tourism Australia, Volkswagen, Signature Experiences of Australia, and numerous destination marketing bodies.