Virginia Hyland

The trade press has called out Virginia Hyland as an industry pioneer. She has successfully launched her own start-up independent agency 15 years ago. As a one-woman band, she single-handedly pitched to clients, knocked out the competition and created a unique agency that grew to be one of the most respected and largest indies.

Her business was acquired by Havas Media Australia in 2020. Recognising her ability to lead and grow agencies she was appointed CEO of Havas Media Australia in November 2020. Successfully merging two agencies and developing forward-thinking data and digital initiatives across a breadth of global and local blue-chip brands. She is also an active board director for the Media Federation of Australia. Developing the future face of the industry.

What continually attracts marketers to work with Virginia is her challenger thinking. To develop result driven ideas and campaigns that create attention and influence for marketers and their brands. The work produced by Virginia and her team has been recognised as groundbreaking and world best practice.

She has been invited to judge Cannes Young Lion, Women in Media, Agency of the Year, Culture and Business awards on numerous occasions. Her goal today is to build a team of entrepreneurial thinkers who support marketers to harness multiplatform campaigns and relevant content that works in individual channels. She has won numerous awards such as NSW Finalist Telstra Business Women of the Year, Women in Media top female, Top 30 Female Power list - Media, Media Agency of the Year Highly Commended and Employer of the Year Finalist.