IAB New Zealand launches Wellington council

Digital advertising industry body IAB New Zealand has established a Wellington council to bring together digital advertising and marketing leaders from across the capital.

IAB New Zealand’s industry councils are member-led groups made up of senior practitioners who develop resources, share expertise, and connect New Zealand’s digital advertising industry to the global IAB network.

The Wellington council aims to share knowledge and strengthen Wellington’s public and private sector connections to the national, and global digital advertising industry.

It will be IAB NZ’s fifth council and is the first to be organised around a region, rather than a practice area, reflecting the capital’s unique market characteristics.

Existing councils cover data, privacy & measurement; digital effectiveness; programmatic DOOH; and emerging technology. They are supported by 13 specialist working groups.

Wellington’s unique position

The Wellington council launches with 16 founding members drawn from government, media, agencies, and technology. This reflects Wellington’s position as home to both New Zealand’s central government and a growing community of digital and marketing professionals.

IAB New Zealand board chair and TVNZ chief digital officer Rob Hutchinson says the establishment of the Wellington Council is a significant milestone for the industry.

“Wellington has always had a strong and distinct digital community – this council gives it a dedicated home and a direct connection to the global IAB network for the first time.”

Relevant conversations

IAB New Zealand CEO Angelina Farry says, “IAB’s global network does significant work on privacy, AI, and digital advertising standards – work that is directly relevant to government communicators and the agencies that partner with them. This council gives us a permanent presence in Wellington for the first time, and as we build the council, a way to make sure that knowledge flows in both directions.” 

The Wellington Council will be co-chaired by MBM Wellington business director Kaitlin Mitchell and Ministry for Primary Industries – Manatū Ahu Matua manager campaigns, public affairs Paul Halford.

Mitchell says: “Wellington operates at the intersection of government communications, digital media, and agency expertise in a way that is genuinely distinct from other markets. Having a dedicated Council means we can develop resources and conversations that are relevant to the organisations and practitioners here.”

Halford adds: “The advertising industry is unique in Wellington because of the role of government, and the outcomes public sector advertising is focused on achieving. Credit should go to IAB for seeing the value in setting up a forum where Wellington voices are represented in national digital and media industry conversation.”

Wellington council members

Council members represent a cross-section of the Wellington industry and include:

• Paul Halford, Ministry for Primary Industries – Manatū Ahu Matua manager campaigns, public affairs (council co-chair)
• Kaitlin Mitchell, MBM Wellington business director (council co-chair)
• Craig Delany, MetService general manager interactive (IAB New Zealand board vice chair)
• Sam Harris, EightyOne Media partner
• Emma Howes, ANZ Wellington digital personalisation manager
• Zelzob Joy Kakkat, Hemisphere media lead
• David Laterveer, Stuff Wellington Agency account director
• Erin McCauley, OMD Wellington business director/head of planning
• Georgia McNaught, Together client principal
• Matt McNeil, The Media Lab co-founder
• Tim Pointer, Reason Agency & Rescue.Metrics.com founder
• Nikki Stevens, NZME Agency Team Wellington general manager
• Craig Strachan, Go Media lower North Island sales manager
• Kate Thomson, VML business director media
• Alicia Tutty, Bastion Aotearoa media partner
• Nancy Ledger, Google industry manager,