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From interns to innovators: how Nine’s Women in Tech+ Community is driving the future of engineering, digital, and AI

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Nine’s Women in Technology+ (WIT+) is a grassroots initiative devoted to driving diversity and inclusion across the tech landscape. By offering dedicated mentoring, targeted training, and structured career development, WIT+ supports women and non-binary professionals at every stage of their journey.

For early-career talent, this supportive foundation bridges the leap from university into the fast-paced world of technology, empowering newcomers to take ownership, innovate, and make an immediate impact from day one.

Putting this mission into practice, Angeline Parrella, Rupali Palikhe, and Anu Jawahar recently returned to university campuses to represent Nine and inspire the next generation of graduates. Here, the trio reflect on their progression from ambitious interns to system owners and mentors – and how the WIT+ community championed their growth along the way.

Launching a career with impact

Both Angeline and Anu began their journeys at Nine through the internship program, navigating the shift from academic theory to industry velocity.

“What really stood out to me once I started was the company culture at Nine, and how professional and capable everyone around me was,” Angeline recalls of her 2020 internship in the Data Engineering team.

She notes that a supportive environment is essential for emerging tech talent. “As an intern, no one expects you to know everything, but showing up with curiosity and an eagerness to be challenged makes all the difference.”

“Handling enormous volumes of web data right out of university, especially having never taken a database course forced me onto a steep but incredibly rewarding learning curve. I went from learning data fundamentals (such as SQL) on the fly to building end-to-end data pipelines, custom models, and interactive dashboards that directly informed and shaped key stakeholder decisions. Taking a complex project from an initial concept all the way to production pushed me out of my comfort zone, but successfully delivering tools that drove real-world impact built immense confidence in my technical abilities and problem-solving skills.” – Angeline Parrella, Developer.

Anu, who joined as an intern in late 2025, found the environment equally supportive when making the jump from university to a corporate tech stack. “The internship at Nine gave me the foundation and trust to bridge the gap between lecture hall theory and enterprise scale engineering.”

“The transition from university to real-world engineering at Nine was smooth, even while balancing my Master’s in Computer Science and double major in HCI and Digital Media. My manager, Sonal Gaur, provided clear direction, allowing me to build proficiency across Nine’s tech stack iteratively. The main shift was moving from academic theory to industry velocity, especially leveraging AI tools to accelerate daily engineering workflows.” – Anu Jawaha, Associate Data Engineer.

Angeline, Rupali and Anu representing Nine at UNSW’s Women in Technology Event

Finding autonomy and driving innovation

At Nine, young engineers are trusted to own complex problems and turn them into scalable solutions from day one.

Rupali, who transitioned into the streaming industry as a Product Tester at Stan, emphasises the level of trust given to employees to do their best work. “At Stan and Nine, you are given the autonomy to drive real impact from the start.”

Rupali at a Stan presentation

This autonomy allows early career engineers to grow rapidly. For Anu, the journey has been transformative. “My biggest milestone has been my trajectory from a first time data engineer to a system owner and mentor.”

Innovation is also at the core of their daily work, particularly as the business continues to explore modern tools. ” Continuous learning and experimentation are woven directly into our engineering culture rather than being treated as afterthoughts,” says Angeline.

Embracing these new technologies requires a balanced, human centric approach. Anu highlights this by stating, “This experience not only highlighted the power of AI as an accelerator for technical execution but also reinforced that human empathy, teamwork, and stakeholder collaboration remain essential, irreplaceable components of successful innovation.”

Angeline and colleagues winning Nine’s 2024 annual Hackathon

Fostering belonging with Women in Tech+

A significant part of the supportive culture at Nine is driven by the Women in Tech+ community.

As WIT+ co chair Juliane Djidi explains, “Women in Tech+ at Nine exists to foster connection, development and belonging for women across Nine’s technology.”

The internal network has a profound impact on its members’ daily experiences. “Being part of the WIT+ community has been a game changer; it has effectively bridged the gap between Stan and the broader Nine organisation for me,” shares Rupali.

She also points out the broader industry importance of such internal groups for career longevity. “We cannot focus solely on attraction; we must cultivate environments that support long term career growth.”

For Angeline, the community is a constant source of inspiration. “Being a member of the Women in Tech + community at Nine has given me a deep sense of connection and purpose that directly shapes my day to day experience.”

Anu agrees, noting the professional benefits of seeing diverse leadership in action. “It proved that technical capability and authentic leadership go hand in hand showing me that owning your space, staying unapologetically yourself, and driving continuous improvement are how you accelerate impact.”

Anu assisting on the 2025 Hackathon

Inspiring the next generation

The journey for these engineers is full circle. They are now taking their industry insights back to universities, representing Nine and inspiring emerging talent.

“The proudest moment in this growth was returning to USYD to co-present alongside Kelli Dudley, Director ofTechnology, Data and AI. Presenting my industry work back at the lecture where I was first recruited made me realise how much my confidence and technical depth had transformed” – Anu Jawaha, Associate Data Engineer.

“It’s inspiring to see students so deeply engaged with technology and exploring the potential impact they can make on the industry. I make it a priority to attend at least one program annually, such as at UTS last year and UNSW this year. I believe it’s vital for emerging tech professionals to gain real-world industry insights and to receive encouragement, as I did when I was a student” – Rupali Palike, Developer.

This outreach is vital for the future of the tech industry. As Juliane notes, “By engaging with students and emerging talent, we’re strengthening Nine’s visibility as an employer of choice while helping build a more diverse pipeline of future technology professionals.”

Driving commercial success at Nine: George Hulley on the art, science, and storytelling of client strategy

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Bringing creativity, data, and storytelling together to build high-performing commercial campaigns is no small feat. Yet, for George Hulley, Client Strategy Lead at Powered, Nine’s internal creative agency, this intersection is precisely where the magic happens.

As part of Nine’s specialist commercial division, George acts as a strategic conduit between sales, studios, and partnerships teams, shaping integrated campaigns that leverage the full power of the Nine ecosystem to drive major business outcomes.

We sat down with George to discuss his journey to Nine, how the media landscape is shifting, and what it takes to find the perfect balance between art and science in modern client strategy.

Finding strategy through curiosity

George’s path to Nine began across the Tasman, where he first cut his teeth in the media industry.

“I have an agency background, beginning in New Zealand, learning the ropes of the industry there,” George shares. “During those client service roles, I was exposed to strategy and found myself drawn to the blend of creativity, data, and storytelling it requires. From there, I knew I wanted to follow that curiosity.”

After landing his first official strategy role on the agency side, it was the sheer scale and quality of work coming out of Nine that ultimately caught his attention.

“Seeing the calibre of creative output on display in Powered hooked me into my client strategy role here.”

Defining a great client strategy

In a fast-paced media world, the word “strategy” can take on many different definitions. For George, a great strategy is rooted in a simple but powerful piece of advice he received early in his career.

“Great strategy requires walking around with your eyes open,” George explains. “That sounds simple, but the best strategy is found when unique connections are made between things that others may have overlooked, then packaged in a compelling way that heroes the brands’ business aspirations.”

To sum up this approach, he points to a classic quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson: “In the work of geniuses, we recognise our own rejected thoughts.”

Balancing art and science in a shifting landscape

At Powered, bridging the gap between big creative ideas and big commercial results requires a constant balancing act.

“It is a balance between art and science: stress-testing your idea with other people and data, while also trusting your gut.Often, the ideas that get realised, and that are commercially successful, are the ones you have the most belief in because clients can sense that belief and buy into it. Clients aren’t interested in stories without outcomes, but metrics without a story are just numbers. There’s a balance to find there.”

This perspective has become even more vital as the broader media landscape continues to evolve. With rising media fragmentation making audiences harder to track, data has become the essential foundation for any successful campaign.

“Agencies are demanding more data-driven solutions, and hard metrics are winning briefs and market share,” George notes. “I think the best work right now shapes data into a solutions-focused story. Storytelling will always be so important, no matter what the industry is doing.”

He emphasises that creativity and data are entirely symbiotic, noting that too much focus on either can produce the wrong outcome. “It’s crucial for us to understand our role for clients when it comes to data, which is to provide insight into our audience and how they consume content across our ecosystem, and how that relates back to our clients’ business. That’s the most effective way to bridge our partnership and prove why we are the right solution for them.”

Navigating a powerful media ecosystem

One of the unique advantages of working at Nine is the sheer scale of its total television, audio, and publishing ecosystem. However, turning that vast network into a single, seamless campaign requires immense focus.

“There is a powerful ecosystem at our disposal so tempering it into a cohesive campaign is one of the most challenging parts of the job,” George admits. “The key is getting familiar with the client brief and exactly what they are asking you to do.”

Thankfully, he does not have to do it alone. Every project the team tackles requires them to act as a true extension of the client’s business, regularly transforming standard campaigns into deep strategic partnerships. “I’m fortunate to work with people who are incredibly talented in their discipline, so working closely with the wider team helps craft our solutions into cohesive campaigns.”

A collaborative culture built on trust

It is this exact collaboration and collective intelligence that keeps George motivated to push boundaries every day.

“Working with remarkably intelligent and curious people who are passionate about solving problems helps an awful lot,” George shares. “I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by the team at Powered, and the wider sales group, who pioneer cutting-edge thinking and have a trust in each other that each of us are experts in our respective disciplines.”

For those looking to join the team at Nine and help shape the future of media integration, George believes success comes down to a few core traits.

“Curiosity and a willingness to learn are key. The pace of change in our industry is hard to keep up with, especially with AI entering the conversation in recent years. I would recommend staying adaptable, learning how to tell a good story, and remembering to have fun with it. Your best work is found on the other side of enjoying it along the way.”

Leading with impact: how Sydney Morning Herald Editor Jordan Baker tackles Australia’s most intense media marathon

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 01:00:00 +0000

In the fast-moving landscape of Australian media, few events demand as much strategic agility, intense collaboration, and raw focus as the Federal Budget. For Jordan Baker, Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, guiding a modern newsroom through this high-stakes marathon requires a perfect blend of meticulous planning, deep team trust, and an unexpected trip back in time.

It is a defining milestone on the news calendar, but this year’s announcement carried an extraordinary weight. With major historical shifts dominating the pages – including negative gearing and capital gains tax reforms – the pressure was on to deliver sharp, immediate, and trusted analysis the exact second the embargo lifted.

We sat down with Jordan to pull back the curtain on what it takes to lead through the budget lock-up, the unique culture of a disconnected newsroom, and why Nine is the ultimate place for passionate journalists to test their skills and drive their careers forward.

A culture built on meticulous planning

While readers see the flurry of complex articles, live updates, and data graphics drop precisely at 7:30pm, the groundwork for budget night begins months in advance. At Nine, pulling off an operation of this scale is a massive, multi-department effort that bridges world-class editorial expertise with technical precision.

“The budget coverage for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age is meticulously planned every year. Our technology and production people meet for months beforehand to ensure that all the systems are working. Our Canberra team works on budget preparation for months, too.”

When budget day finally arrives, the entire operation transforms into a highly synchronized, dual-location powerhouse that thrives on cross-team collaboration.

“There’s a team in a lock-up in Canberra, and The Sydney Morning Herald offices are turned into a lock-up, too, so The Age team flies up here,” says Jordan. This physical gathering of minds sets the stage for six hours of pure, uninterrupted focus.

Stripping away distractions: a ’90s newsroom revival

Once the lock-up begins, the modern digital newsroom undergoes a radical, fascinating transformation. To ensure total security before the official government announcement, all internet access is severed, and mobile phones are banned.

Jordan describes the environment as feeling “pleasantly early ’90s” – a unique experience that forces journalists to lean heavily on collective knowledge and traditional skills.

“It’s a little strange, actually; it’s a reminder of how much we rely upon the internet. We can’t just check a random fact or date online. One of the reporters was thinking about using a reference to one of Napoleon’s battles in their analysis, but despite the best efforts of a sizable group of journalists, no-one could remember what it was called, so we had to jettison that idea.”

Without the convenience of modern chat apps or mobile networks, communication requires a return to traditional, direct connection. “We can’t just call each other on our mobile phones, either. Sydney and Canberra teams communicate via a landline.”

Far from hindering the team, this forced disconnection fosters a vibrant, unique energy. It strips away the digital noise, leaving raw journalism, real-time conversation, and a deep reliance on the talent in the room.

Racing the 7:30pm clock

When you are breaking down complex national economic policy, a six-hour window disappears in a flash. The official papers are released onto a secure computer system at 1:30pm, triggering an immediate, exhilarating race against time.

Jordan reflects that the six hour window flashes by. “From that point we’re reading the papers; holding a news conference on speaker phone, to get an analysis from our key experts; and then writing, editing and producing stories.”

The atmosphere during these hours is charged, but the sheer significance of the stories keeps morale and focus incredibly sharp. For Jordan, drawing strength from a highly capable team is what makes managing the intense pressure so rewarding.

“It’s fascinating, so it’s easy to focus. Deadlines also have a way of focusing one’s attention.”

The ultimate landscape to make your mark

For those looking to build a meaningful career, participating in a major event like the budget lock-up is a masterclass in professional growth. It is an environment that tests speed, accuracy, and collaborative skills in ways few other media organisations can match.

Knowing that such a sizable audience of Australians is waiting to access the site the second the embargo lifts adds a thrilling sense of purpose to the work for Jordan and her teams. It reinforces Nine’s position as a place where you are directly connected to stories that shape the nation.

“At Nine, we are proud to foster a culture where curiosity, preparation, and a dedication to excellence come together,” says Jordan. For those ready to embrace big opportunities, work alongside industry-leading talent, and deliver high-impact journalism, the budget lock-up shows Nine’s editorial team at its absolute best.

A masterclass in momentum: Peter Brennan on the evolution of media, leading high stakes campaigns and thriving in a fast paced environment

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:00:00 +0000

Peter Brennan, Head of Marketing, Communications & TV Programming for Nine Perth has always been a media enthusiast. Long before he joined the Nine ecosystem, Peter was a kid writing letters to Channel 9 presenters for career advice. Today, his career is a testament to what happens when you’re backed to be your best, and combine genuine passion with a refusal to stand still.

After a decade of seizing new opportunities across the country, Peter is preparing for his next major challenge: returning to Sydney as the primary publicity manager for Married at First Sight (MAFS).

From childhood fan to career publicist

Peter’s journey with Nine is rooted in a lifelong love for media. As a child, he wrote letters to iconic Channel 9 presenters like Ray Martin, Mike Munro, and Brian Henderson to ask how they started their careers. A reply from a newly appointed Peter Overton on the news desk inspired him to keep chasing his dream. Years later, Peter would work alongside him as a 9News publicist.

Joining Nine in 2014 as a Publicity and Marketing Executive in Perth was a major milestone for Peter. “Nine was always the gold standard for me. Back then, my ambition was simple: get my foot in the door, ask questions, absorb everything and prove I could deliver.”

Over the past decade, that ambition has evolved significantly. Having moved between Perth, Sydney, and Brisbane, Peter’s focus has shifted from mastering local PR execution to driving national strategy and mentoring the next generation. “I still have that same childhood excitement for TV, but now it’s backed by years of media experience.”

Adapting to a shifting media landscape

The media landscape has transformed rapidly since 2014, and Peter has made sure to adapt right alongside it. TV publicity was once dominated by print newspapers, magazines, and linear TV guides. Today, successful campaigns must navigate streaming on 9Now, podcast discussions, and trending moments on social media.

“To stay ahead, I shifted my focus from standard press pitching to multi-platform storytelling, learning how to leverage audience data and really understand the ratings to keep campaigns relevant. Managing publicity for a cultural powerhouse like MAFS means constantly feeding a 24/7 digital news cycle and turning social buzz into viewing numbers.”

Moving between states also taught him the unique nuances of regional audiences. “The core of what we do, telling a great story and entertaining people, hasn’t changed, but the tools and speed certainly have,” Peter explains.

Embracing the unknown

A key theme of Peter’s career is his willingness to pivot and embrace new challenges. In 2017, an opportunity arose that required him to relocate from Perth to Sydney within a few short weeks. Taking on the brand new role of Unit Publicist for Nine Productions, Peter found himself embedded on set for shows like Travel Guides. He had to quickly learn unit PR from the ground up, manage talent dynamics, and build credibility with production crews. “It was a massive learning curve, but it proved to me that the biggest career growth happens when you dive headfirst into the unknown.”

On the growth and development these experiences have provided, Peter shares: “the biggest leadership lesson I learned was active listening. You can’t roll into a new market with a copy-paste strategy; you have to understand the local landscape and rely on your team’s expertise. It also taught me resilience under pressure. When you’re steering high-stakes campaigns away from your primary support network, you learn to make quick decisions, communicate clearly, and back yourself.”

Another standout moment came in 2019 when Peter managed the national PR junket for the international cast of Young Sheldon, who were surprise guests at The Logies on the Gold Coast. “Taking on that challenge expanded my adaptability, deepened my confidence in talent management under pressure, and proved how taking on unfamiliar, complex projects can drive professional development.”

Leading with creative curiosity

Now serving on the Perth Executive Leadership Team, Peter oversees a multifaceted group across marketing, publicity, communications, partnerships, and programming. His strategy for keeping this diverse team aligned is simple: break down the silos. When the team understands how local 9News campaigns, commercial partnerships, and pillar entertainment shows can elevate the entire brand, everyone buys into the bigger picture.

Peter encourages a culture of creative curiosity, acting as a supportive sounding board. This approach resulted in an extraordinary campaign for Channel 9 Perth’s 60th anniversary last year. Under tight deadlines, the team lit up city landmarks like Matagarup Bridge in Nine blue, built an interactive exhibition at the WA Museum, and produced a 90 minute historical primetime TV special. They even partnered with the Perth Symphony Orchestra for a custom medley of iconic Nine themes. The project earned the team a finalist spot in the prestigious Australian Institute of Management WA Pinnacle Awards.

Gearing up for a cultural juggernaut

No stranger to velocity, Peter is soon stepping into a secondment as the primary publicist for Married at First Sight. For Peter, it is the ultimate challenge. “MAFS doesn’t just win its timeslot, it completely dominates the national conversation, driving headlines, radio talkback, group chats and social trends every single day it’s on air.”

Preparation is critical for a show that moves at light speed. Peter is already diving into media trends, reviewing sentiment, and collaborating closely with executive producers, promos, socials, and network communications teams. “There’s nothing more thrilling than working on a brand that audiences are that deeply invested in. It’s a fast-paced, high-stakes beast that requires strategic foresight, agility, and the ability to ride a 24/7 news cycle. I thrive in that kind of high-energy environment, and I’m so ready to get into the trenches with the team and help drive the narrative for the biggest show on Australian TV.”

Advice for prospective talent

For prospective talent looking to build a successful career at Nine, Peter has clear advice: “stay curious, ask questions and build authentic connections across your network, and try to avoid working in a bubble.”

“Finally, bring a ‘never stand still’ mindset. Nine moves fast across TV, digital and publishing and the media landscape continues to change so adaptability is key. Don’t wait around for opportunities to land in your lap – do the work, learn the business inside out and put yourself in a position to drive results. If you combine strong initiative with great relationships and real drive, the sky’s the limit here at Nine.”

Reaching new heights: Shaun Wellfare on how Nine’s drone program innovates sports broadcasting

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:40:55 +0000

As the world of live sports demands ever more spectacular and immersive viewing experiences, Nine is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Leading the charge is our pioneering drone program, now soaring to new levels of innovative coverage. We sat down with Shaun Wellfare, Senior Production Camera Operator and one of Nine’s senior drone pilots, to understand how this technology is enhancing the art of live sports coverage.

From regional news to global events

Shaun’s journey to becoming a groundbreaker of Nine’s innovative drone program is a testament to dedication and adaptability in media. His initial television experience was developed during high school holidays, where he spent his spare time at the local WIN news station in Shepparton, Victoria, learning camera operation and editing.

Starting his career with intense, foundational experience as a camera operator and editor at WIN News, he quickly built the skills needed to perform under pressure and adapt to change. “After studying, my first paid job in television was an ENG Camera/Editor at WIN News Wagga. I completed 4 days of training then I was on my own to shoot and edit 4-5 stories a day. Covering major floods, drought, fire, fatalities and crime with very little experience was a challenge, but it set me up with a good foundation of skills for working under pressure and adapting to change.”

His ultimate goal – to work as a cameraman for Nine in Sydney – was achieved in 2007. For the next six years, he traveled the world, covering major global events, from the tsunami in Japan, Christchurch Earthquake, Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey and terrorist attacks in Jakarta, among many other major global events.

Today, Shaun works in Nine’s Resources department as a Senior Production Camera Operator and Drone Operator. He applies his extensive experience across a huge range of productions, including Wide World of Sports, NRL Broadcast, Stan Sports, 60 Minutes, Today, and the Olympics. He began flying drones for Nine in 2017, helping a small team integrate drone footage into live broadcasts for the Ashes Cricket and the NRL. The program has since grown significantly.

“We now have a large team of drone pilots across Australia using drones in most shows on Nine. Giving a completely new experience for the audience.”

Changes: flying over the crowds safely

Innovation in broadcasting is often tied to evolving technology and the regulations that govern it.

Shaun explains the operational advantage: “Recently we have now been granted approval to fly the drone with a parachute attached. This allows us to fly over people safely under specific guidelines and cover larger areas around the stadium.”

This technical permission has massive implications for capturing the atmosphere of major events. Where previously drone flight was heavily restricted around large crowds, Nine’s audience can now be fully immersed in the pre-game excitement.

“We can now fly down Caxton Street showing all of the crowds heading towards Suncorp Stadium,” Shaun notes, providing new, powerful shots that capture the energy and scale of the event. For the viewer at home, this translates to a richer, more engaging experience.

“This is a game-changer for us, as it allows us to fly further than we could previously, allowing for new angles and helping better capture the atmosphere during a game. The fresh pictures we can now film are incredible and I feel this is only the beginning of what we can do in the future.”

Capturing the atmosphere: drone operations on games day

For a major broadcast like the State of Origin, the drone operation is a complex, multi-person effort, not just one pilot. It involves Chief Remote Pilot planning, a team managing compliance, pre-approvals and due diligence, specialist ground technicians to set up broadcast links, and a pilot team preparing the drone operations.

Once airborne, Shaun’s goal is clear: capture the magic.

“Once we are flying and sending pictures back to the broadcast we are searching for the best angles to capture. We work closely with the director on what they need during the broadcast to help build the atmosphere of a major event like State of Origin.”

For Shaun, the key to a great drone shot is creating a sense of scale and anticipation. “It is creating an angle that makes the stadium feel like an epic event that gets the audience excited about what’s to come.”

The drone footage doesn’t replace traditional camera work; it enhances the overall narrative. It contributes to “the feel of a big event,” giving the audience a sense of place and capturing those stunning cinematic moments, like an epic sunset over the stadium. The NRL Grand Final, Origin, and the Lions Tour for Stan Rugby are among the standout events he’s covered.

Leading the future of live sports coverage

Nine’s investment in its drone program is a clear statement about its commitment to being a leader in visual storytelling and ground breaking innovation. Shaun reflects, “Nine’s investment into new technology keeps us at the forefront of new and creative ways to broadcast sport. Leading the way of what is possible. Every year there is always a need to give the audience something they haven’t seen before.”

The evolution of regulations is not just a technical win; it signals an exciting new era for sports fans. This landscape offers new opportunities to cover the game, proving Nine’s dedication to delivering a fresh, cutting-edge experience every time. The incredibly talented drone operators at Nine are constantly “hunting for that new look,” ensuring the broadcast maintains a competitive edge in the dynamic world of Sports and Media coverage.

Moving forward as one: How cross-functional collaboration drives success at Nine

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:41:23 +0000

At Nine, “Move Forward as One” is more than just a phrase; it is a core value that fosters a culture of collaboration and continuous innovation. Twice a year, Nine’s Spark conference brings together over 500 team members across product, engineering, data, cyber security, and group IT to celebrate achievements and share strategic updates.

The Spark awards recognise outstanding work within these teams, highlighting how individuals truly embody Nine’s values. We caught up with three members of The Allied Response Team to hear how this value guides their work and helps them tackle complex technical challenges.

The innovators behind the award

The Move Forward as One award was presented to a cross-functional project team of 15 members who perfectly embody this collaborative spirit. While each member resides within our digital and technology teams, their daily roles vary greatly. For this award-winning project, they came together with one shared purpose: respond to the security incident, determine the impacts and contain the threat.

We sat down with three of the award winners, Senior Platform Engineer Joshua Giumelli, Cyber Security Operations Manager Andrew Burnell, and Data Engineer Intern Rania Malibari, to chat about how they blended their unique skill sets to tackle a major challenge, and why Nine provides the ultimate landscape for collaboration.

Solving complex puzzles in real time

Cyber security and infrastructure management are rarely predictable. When a complex technical incident arose, the team had to look beyond standard protocols and work dynamically across departmental lines to find a resolution.

Andrew Burnell has been leading a small, agile team for the past 18 months, placing him on the front lines of responding to cyber threats and keeping Nine’s digital ecosystem secure. He explains that dealing with custom applications means managing a massive web of complex dependencies.

“There are so many technologies and moving parts in custom applications that it can be difficult to get the context and insight we need from a single security tool,” Andrew says. “This incident was a great example where we had to look at the data from our own tools but also leverage experts in other teams and their data to understand what is suspicious and what is normal.”

Instead of working in isolation, the teams pooled their data and technical expertise. This environment allowed them to test theories and explore data patterns collectively, turning a high-pressure situation into a masterclass in collaborative problem-solving.

What moving forward as one really looks like

For The Allied Response team, the award is a reflection of a deeply ingrained company value. It is the understanding that major breakthroughs do not happen in silos.

Joshua Giumelli and his team build the vital infrastructure and tools that enable Nine’s developers to seamlessly run their applications. For Josh, the formula for success comes down to a simple philosophy.

“Success comes from the work of a group rather than an individual. A unified team focused on a goal will produce a result greater than the sum of its parts.”

Andrew echoes this sentiment, highlighting the humility required to solve big problems. “Responding to incidents like this is absolutely a team sport. No one has all the answers; we rely on the expertise and experience of everyone involved to get to the best resolution for Nine together.”

A launching pad for continuous learning

Perhaps the greatest testament to Nine’s culture is how it supports emerging talent. For Rania, entering a fast-paced incident response environment just months into her internship was an incredible opportunity to learn by doing. Rania is part of Nine’s Data Platforms team and focuses on the infrastructure and tooling used by data engineers across the company.

“To me, ‘Move Forward as One’ means looking ahead rather than backward. After a major incident, we move forward by taking what we learned, sharing that knowledge across teams, and working together to build a more secure environment for Nine.”

Rather than fearing mistakes or unexpected hurdles, the team treated the challenge as a shared sandbox for growth. It provided Rania with a unique foundation that she will carry throughout her professional journey.

“I’m excited about taking the hands-on experience and knowledge I’ve gained from this incident response and applying it to the next chapters of my career.”

At Nine, we believe that the best innovation happens when we experiment, test, play, and explore together. By leaning into our Move Forward as One value, our teams thrive on curiosity, celebrate collective success, and turn everyday challenges into opportunities for growth.

More signal, less noise: Leon Tranter on successful delivery management and the power of knowing your customer

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:41:22 +0000

In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital media and streaming, delivering seamless user experiences requires more than just technical precision; it requires a relentless focus on the people using the technology. For Leon Tranter, Delivery Manager at Nine, this philosophy is at the heart of everything his team builds.

Leon recently took to the stage at the ‘Signal Not Noise’ conference in Sydney, a cross-disciplinary tech and product conference focusing on real-world practitioner insights. Leon’s presentation, ‘Who is your customer really?’, tackles a challenge that many software development teams encounter: correctly identifying who they are building for.

A 20-year journey from banking to broadcasting

After building a rock-solid foundation in financial services and honing his expertise as an agile coach, Leon made the leap to Stan. His trajectory at Nine quickly gained momentum, expanding his delivery scope across Stan and recently adding 9Now to his portfolio. Swapping banking algorithms for prime-time broadcasting, unlocked a dynamic, fast-paced world where every project his teams deliver directly shapes the entertainment experience for millions of Australians every single day.

The day-to-day reality of delivery management

For those unfamiliar with delivery management, Leon describes the role as the engine room that keeps complex, cross-functional product and technology teams running smoothly.

“I work with some amazing people in Product and Tech across Streaming. I look after a large team of developers, testers and product managers, and we are continually building new features into the Stan and 9Now platforms. My job is to make sure our teams are focused and effective in delivering the highest quality and priority items.”

In a world where digital platforms operate around the clock, a typical day is both structured and highly collaborative. Leon spends his time reviewing inflight work, identifying risks and removing blockers, all while engaging in meetings with other teams and stakeholders to identify and understand upcoming technical priorities.

Who is your customer really? Distinguishing customers from consumers

The inspiration behind Leon’s presentation stems from years of observing tech teams fall into the trap of misaligned priorities. In a fast-moving market where new competitors can launch in weeks, knowing exactly who you are building for is critical to success.

“It’s a topic that’s been buzzing around in my head for a few years, but really crystallised recently. Correctly identifying and prioritising your customer is enormously important. Businesses that don’t prioritise their real customers will get left behind.”

A common pitfall for product and engineering teams is confusing internal stakeholders with real end users.

“There is a weird cultural phenomenon known as the internal customer, where teams focus solely on pleasing the stakeholder paying for the build. They are an important stakeholder, but any solution you build won’t add value if it doesn’t help your real customers, and especially the consumers actually using the software.”

Leon highlights a crucial distinction: the customer pays for the product in market, while the consumer actually uses it. “Sometimes they’re the same person, sometimes not. For example, parents buy a Stan subscription so their kids can watch Paw Patrol. Businesses get into trouble when they miss this distinction.”

At Nine, this user-centric philosophy directly shapes how streaming platforms are built. For Leon, hitting project milestones means nothing if the end product fails the audience.

“When we’re building things, we prioritise the customer and consumer experience over just ticking boxes. Delivering a project on time and budget that delivers a bad customer experience isn’t helping anyone.”

An engineering culture built on collaboration and voice

According to Leon, what truly sets Nine apart for technology professionals, is its distinctive and empowering workplace environment. In a massive media and technology company, maintaining a culture where technical teams feel genuine ownership over their work is essential.

“There is definitely an engineering culture here, which is very important. Engineers are not just order takers or cogs in a machine, but have a powerful voice in directing how we work, the sorts of teams we build and our approach to technology.”

This empowerment is paired with a streamlined, collaborative approach to problem-solving. “There is also a great hands-on culture. There are hardly any architects or business analysts acting as intermediaries. Product people work super closely with technology and engineering to get the right things built the right way.”

An ecosystem that supports growth

Leon’s stepping onto the conference stage reflects Nine’s deep commitment to supporting internal career progression and investing in professional development.

“Nine have immensely supported my career. I received approval and funding to get my Project Management Professional certification, which gave me useful knowledge and increased my confidence to speak at events like this.”

For those eager to build their professional profile, Leon’s advice is straightforward: ask for what you need and put yourself forward.

“I recommend talking to your manager about what learning opportunities are available and relevant to you. Also don’t be afraid to apply to talk at conferences. Everyone has something unique to share, and smaller conferences are often looking for speakers.”

For delivery managers, product leaders and engineers considering their next career move, Leon believes there has never been a better time to join Nine. As digital streaming and technical innovation continue to shape the future of Australian media, tech professionals at Nine have a genuine seat at the table to build platforms that entertain millions every day.

“Nine are doing a lot of great things in the product and tech space and are clear leaders in this market. There’s a lot going on, and our product and tech teams are highly respected voices here.”

From archives to algorithm: behind the scenes at Nine’s hackathon, ‘Hack into History’

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:41:17 +0000

Software Engineer, Marc Lu, and his team won Best Overall Hack. Marc shares his insights on his team’s concept ‘Vertical Vault’ and how Nine’s hackathon is the perfect opportunity for cross-team collaboration and innovation.

Nine’s annual hackathon is a fast-paced, high-energy event where teams from across digital and technology come together to build, innovate, and problem-solve. It’s an opportunity for our people to apply their skills in new ways, collaborate across teams, and create something impactful in just 48 hours.

For this year’s hackathon, we decided to do things a little differently, utilising our historic archive of newspaper articles, images and articles that span 190 years. In celebrating this extraordinary asset, ‘Hack into History’ challenged participants to create innovative solutions that tap into the cultural, social, and financial value of our extensive media library, enabling our Australian audiences to access this content in user-friendly, engaging and enriching ways.

The team behind Vertical Vault proved that history isn’t just for the books – it’s for the feed. By transforming decades of archival footage into snackable, mobile-first content, they captured the imagination of the judges and took home the win. Here is how they turned the past into the future.

The big idea

The concept started with a simple question: How do we make history feel current? Marc’s team landed on Vertical Vault, an automated system designed to mine Nine’s vast archives and generate short, vertical “On This Day” videos specifically for the 9Now mobile experience.

Instead of letting historical stories live solely on a website, the team explored how AI could reframe existing assets into something quick, personalised, and easy to consume. “The idea came directly from what we found in the archive,” the team shared. “Since the theme was history, we spent a lot of time digging through it and kept coming across interesting images, videos, and stories. That made the ‘On This Day’ idea feel very organic.”

The process: mapping out the Vertical Vault

Collaboration across our Digital and Technology teams is about more than just sitting in the same room or on the same Google Meet call; it’s about aligning diverse skill sets toward a singular goal. The Vertical Vault team began their journey at a shared Miro board, where every member contributed their boldest ideas before grouping them into a realistic project.

To ensure they could deliver a working prototype within the 48-hour window, the team focused on keeping the scope tight. Marc and his team meticulously mapped the journey from archive to the user’s phone, understanding and then articulating the user flow for their concept.

Once this flow was mapped out, Marc explains the team’s emphasis on specialisation, splitting their group into Product, Design and Tech streams to drive the idea ahead. The team ensured they constantly iterated to ensure that their end-to-end solution actually worked.

The rollercoaster ride to success

No hackathon is without its hurdles, and for the Vertical Vault team, time was the biggest challenge. With only a day and a half to build a complex AI-reframing tool, the team had to move in parallel.

“The biggest challenge was time,” Marc recalled. “By the next morning, there were still pieces not fully done, so we had to quickly regroup, reshuffle responsibilities, and focus on what needed to be finished to meet the midday deadline.”

This meant making “quick calls” on scope – stripping the idea back to its most essential, impactful form to ensure they had a polished product ready for the final presentation. This agility allowed them to pivot under pressure, turning a stressful morning into a winning afternoon.

A unique opportunity to connect and learn

The magic of the hackathon lies in its ability to break down silos. The Vertical Vault team thrived by bringing together perspectives that don’t always overlap in the day-to-day grind. By grounding their boldest ideas in the practical reality of what works for 9Now, they created a product that felt like a natural extension of the business.

The process of sharing, refining, and building together helped the team land on a clear direction that everyone felt confident in – proving that the best innovations happen when you combine historical depth with modern technical expertise.

For the team, the event was about more than just a trophy; it was about the intersection of cutting-edge tech and practical application.

“Each year, hackathon gives us space to experiment,” says Fiona Chen, Product Manager and winning team member. “But there’s nothing more satisfying than using sparkly new tools to solve real user and business problems, and building something that could genuinely scale beyond the two days.”

The real win of hackathon

While taking out the win was a highlight, the real achievement was demonstrating how Nine’s rich history can be reimagined for a new generation of viewers. Vertical Vault showed that with a bit of AI and a lot of collaboration, Nine’s media archive isn’t just a record of where we’ve been – it’s a tool for where we’re going.

“Winning with the Vertical Vault wasn’t about finding the ‘perfect’ idea on day one; it was about the chemistry of a mobile squad that’s been working together for years. As a mobile squad, we have a shared language for what’s ‘ambitious but doable,’ that allowed us to skip the small talk and dive straight into solving the friction between legacy archives and modern mobile habits. Our win was less about the tech itself and more about the way we could pivot together—layering AI-driven tones and smart reframing over archival footage to turn something ‘old’ into something that feels like a personal, daily discovery!” – Adriana Breakspear, Product Design Manager and team member of the Vertical Vault.

From a Miro board brainstorm to a winning mobile prototype, Nine’s hackathon continues to be the ultimate launchpad for new ideas and career-defining collaboration.

From campaigns to Cannes: Client Solutions Executive Tayla Orr is driving commercial success at Nine

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:41:17 +0000

Recently returning from representing Australia at Cannes Lions Festival, Tayla Orr shares her insights on the learnings from the event she’ll be applying to her role, and what it’s like working on cross-platform campaigns for Nine’s internal creative agency, Powered.

A career built on cross-platform creativity

Tayla’s role is at the heart of the dynamic advertising industry, where creativity and strategy converge. As a Client Solutions Executive, she works on complex briefs, blending the power of TV, audio, and publishing to create holistic, impactful and tailored solutions for clients.

Joining Nine in 2023, Tayla quickly made her mark, advancing from Regional Sales Coordinator to her current role. She now works alongside some of Australia’s most prominent brands, providing innovative creative solutions across multiple platforms.

The spirit of collaboration is at the core of the Powered team. As Nine’s internal creative agency, the team works closely with sales and other divisions, leveraging the best of Nine’s offerings to create integrated, tailored solutions for clients. Tayla’s work on a major campaign for Married At First Sight (MAFS) is a perfect example, where her team leveraged everything from TV and publishing to podcasts to deliver a truly powerful campaign.

Representing Nine on the global stage

Held over a week against the idyllic backdrop of Cannes, the Lions Festival celebrates global creativity. Thought leaders and innovators across the advertising and communications industry gather to share insights and highlight groundbreaking work. For Tayla, attending the festival was a long-held ambition. “I’ve always wanted to work in the advertising world. And for those in this industry, Cannes Festival is the epicentre for creativity,” she shares.

Tayla and her manager, Head of Client Solutions for Victoria, Lizzy Nan Tie, decided to enter the national competition, with just five days to respond to a creative brief. They saw it as a great learning opportunity, regardless of the outcome.

After winning the national competition in the media category, Tayla and Lizzie were selected to represent Australia as Young Lions, securing their tickets to the week of workshops and sessions. Representing Nine and Australia on the global stage, this also meant the duo had 24 hours to tackle a creative brief once on the ground in Cannes, showcasing their ability to innovate under pressure.

Inspiration from influential speakers

Beyond the competition, the festival provided a platform for learning from global leaders and discovering the latest industry trends, from the rise of AI to the art of simplicity.

The experience reinforced a key lesson for Tayla: the power of simplicity. In an age of shrinking attention spans, she learned that being simple and clever is a powerful art form. “We’ve got so many layers and elements we can include in responses to creative briefs in my role. A huge learning during Cannes was how do we master the art of simplicity. I’m now working with my managers to incorporate that learning into the work we do.”

One of the highlights for Tayla was listening to keynote speakers presenting on personal branding. “We got to see Jimmy Fallon and Reese Witherspoon, and they talked about their own personal brand and how they advertise themselves, which is a way I had never looked at advertising and was a big eye-opener for me.”

The power of a supportive team

Tayla shares that the support from her team was unwavering. Her managers not only promoted the opportunity but also provided constant encouragement and even attended the festival. “Having their support was great for my personal development and helped me achieve a personal goal,” Tayla says. “They were behind us every step of the way. But they also saw so much value in what we could bring back from an experience like this.”

Reflecting on the support of the broader Nine team, Tayla says it was non-stop throughout the entire process. “From when we first started pulling together our ideas, to the leadup to our travels, the entire Nine team promoted what we were doing and cheered us on from across the country.”

Tayla’s experience is a powerful example of how Nine supports employees in reaching their full potential. By providing opportunities for personal and professional development, we ensure that our teams remain at the forefront of the media landscape, ready to tackle the challenges of today and shape the future of our industry.

The action never stops for Kate Solomonson, Sports Sales Executive

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:00:00 +0000

Discover how Kate and her close-knit team navigate the ever-changing landscape of major sporting events.

As a Sports Sales Executive at Nine, Kate Solomonson is part of a small, close-knit team handling advertising sales across Nine’s sports broadcast calendar. Nine’s extensive ecosystem—which includes live TV, streaming, radio, digital, and publishing—means Kate’s team is responsible for delivering unique and compelling sales strategies, especially for major sporting events like the Olympics and Paralympics.

With the rights to broadcast the 2024 Olympics announced only 18 months before the Games, developing and executing the sales strategy required a swift turnaround. The leadership team worked diligently to craft a unique offering, which Kate’s team then brought to market. Delivering this required agility and a deep understanding of client needs. The hard work paid off, resulting in a successful outcome for Kate and the team.

The move to automated trading

Not only did Kate successfully deliver a unique sales strategy, but the use of Galaxy, an automated trading platform for television advertising, during the Olympics and Paralympics, has significantly transformed the way the team operates.

Using 9Predict audience forecasting, Galaxy automatically managed client audience guarantees while honouring the agreed placement grid throughout the Olympics. This marked its implementation in a live sporting environment, giving clients confidence in 100% audience delivery and ensuring their presence in all the biggest Olympic moments.

When dealing with the unpredictable nature of live sports & breaking news, delivering advertising solutions for our clients is hugely complex. This technology has significantly reduced the manual workload of the sales team, allowing them to take client service to another level and turn their attention to the next sporting event.

“Just because we’re in the middle of a major sporting event doesn’t mean the rest of sports stops. During the Olympics we had the Paralympics and the NRL finals followed by the Australian Open. The Nine ecosystem is jam-packed with sports and as a sports fanatic – I love it” shares Kate.

A team with a strong culture

With a calendar of sporting events as jam packed as Nine’s, you need a strong team around you. Kate speaks highly of the supportive culture within the sports sales team. Despite the challenges that come with preparing for such major events, the team works together seamlessly, supporting each other through these busy periods. She describes moments of “team therapy” where the group sits down to discuss challenges and brainstorm solutions together.

Kate brings a valuable perspective to sports sales; she emphasises the welcoming and inclusive environment at Nine, and mentions that before she joined the team she had expected more of a “boys’ club” atmosphere that can be present in the business of sport. Kate knows that her opinions and contributions are valued, and she appreciates the respect and knowledge shared by her colleagues and the management team.

Unique learning opportunities

Working on major sporting events offers career-defining opportunities that are hard to find elsewhere. “When I arrived at Nine, I didn’t realise how big the business was, and how many moving parts there were. You learn something new every day.”

Working on events like the Olympics, the sheer volume of inventory and substantial spends involved are particularly eye-opening. Handling accounts worth five to ten million dollars requires meticulous attention to detail to ensure the best outcomes for clients.

The Nine sales team has a strong culture of learning and collaboration. The knowledge and expertise of leaders provides invaluable insights, fostering a continuous learning environment where every day brings new lessons.

“I think that the role of a Sales Exec can seem straightforward to some but there’s so many moving parts. When you add in the complexities of working in sports, which is always changing and evolving, it makes the role even more unique.”

With the next major sporting event always just around the corner, the excitement continues. Despite the fast pace, Kate’s passion for sports and the supportive team around her make her role at Nine a fulfilling and action-packed step in her career.

No place like home: celebrating World Photography Day 2026

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:41:15 +0000

This year’s World Photography Day theme is ‘Home’. We asked some of our photographers to choose one or more images from their portfolio that signify ‘home’ to them.

Indigo Lemay Conway, WAtoday

“In July, a group of Lancelin residents travelled two hours to bring a peaceful protest to Perth’s CBD to raise awareness for the devastating coastal erosion that is impacting their town. The man in this image owns the local pub where the dune has eroded to less than 2 metres away from his property line. Locals are at risk of having to physically move their town away from the coast if help doesn’t come from the government soon. But for many, they have called this humble seaside town home their whole lives.”

Photo: Indigo Lemay Conway

Louise Kennerley, Sydney Morning Herald & Australian Financial Review

“Waterloo Housing Estate is a 19-hectare public housing precinct in inner Sydney now facing a massive urban renewal. Inside Waterloo’s housing estate live thousands of Sydneysiders, each with their own stories of struggle and vulnerability. It’s a neighbourhood defined by disadvantage, these photos capture some of the human faces that call this community home.”

Image 1. Olivia Bright, 66, a transgender and Wiradjuri woman, and former showgirl, has lived on level 13 of the Daniel Solander building since 1991. 2. Linda Montana, 47, in her apartment. She has lived in the Marton building since 2005. 4. Billy McPherson, Kamilaroi and Kooma man, 63, in his apartment. He has lived on level 11 of the Marton building since 1993. 5. Margaret ‘Maggie’ Piuk, 82, has lived on level 2 of the Marton building since 1976

Photo:Louise Kennerley. Olivia Bright, 66, a transgender and Wiradjuri woman, and former showgirl, has lived on level 13 of the Daniel Solander building since 1991.

Photo: Louise Kennerley. Linda Montana, 47, in her apartment. She has lived in the Marton building since 2005.

Photo: Louise Kennerley

Photo: Louise Kennerley. Billy McPherson, Kamilaroi and Kooma man, 63, in his apartment. He has lived on level 11 of the Marton building since 1993.

Photo: Louise Kennerley. Margaret ‘Maggie’ Piuk, 82, has lived on level 2 of the Marton building since 1976

Markus Ravik, Brisbane Times

“This photograph is of my Mum teaching my stepdaughter to crochet in Mum’s living room. They share the same name, Audrey, two generations apart. I didn’t notice it until the film was developed, but in the background are photographs of my late father and his father, watching over the moment. To me, that’s what home is: the people who taught us, the people who came before them, all still somehow in the room together.”

Photo: Markus Ravik

Louie Douvis, Australian Financial Review

After nearly two decades, I returned to my spiritual home and my parents’ homeland, Greece. Though a bit apprehensive at first, I soon felt right at home navigating Athens and its vibrant suburbs. This is the cool and edgy neighbourhood of Exarcheia in Athens, known for its occasional clashes with activists and the law.

Photo: Louie Douvis

Louie Douvis, Australian Financial Review

While working in my Milsons Point living room one spring evening, I watched a lightning storm roll out toward the ocean. I initially brushed it off as a passing flash, but as the display persisted, I rushed to grab my camera before the show ended capturing this scene looking over Kirribilli.

Photo: Ruby Alexander

The London edge: how Nine’s reporter Karishma Sarkari gives Australia the inside story

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:41:14 +0000

The news never stops, and neither does our global reach. For Nine’s comprehensive digital coverage, bridging the time zones and cultural divides is critical – a job perfectly handled by UK correspondent for nine.com.au, Karishma Sarkari.

Based in London, Karishma covers the crucial Australian overnights, filing a mixture of essential pieces across royal content, politics, and entertainment. But her role is far more than just aggregating headlines; it’s about providing the unique perspective and on-the-ground context that only a journalist embedded in a world news capital can offer. We spoke with Karishma about the unique demands and immense satisfaction of giving Australian readers a true, nuanced understanding of the stories shaping the globe.

A whirlwind journey: the “don’t ask, don’t get mindset”

Karishma’s path to the London bureau is a masterclass in the power of timing and transparency. After starting at Nine as a freelancer and craving another stint overseas, she turned down a full-time role in Australia to pursue her international ambitions.

“My former boss loved to tell the story of ‘don’t ask, don’t get’ – before promptly telling juniors not to try to replicate it!” Karishma laughs. “What I hadn’t realised was they’d already been discussing having someone based in the UK. Within two weeks, it went from a hypothetical conversation at someone’s farewell to a job offer.”

The power of “boots on the ground”

While digital tools allow news to be tracked from anywhere, Karishma argues that nothing replaces physical presence when it comes to capturing the “mood” of a story. Whether it’s the somber protocol of a Royal funeral or the biting humor of British politics, being in the room changes the narrative.

“I think seeing subtle nuances gives you an insight into traditions that have existed for centuries. You’re able to appreciate the story in a deeper way and convey that accordingly.”

Equally, on the entertainment side of reporting, Karishma explains the access she gets to big name stars across screen and stage from Hollywood and Europe is not something that someone gets regularly in Australia.

This local immersion means that no two days are ever the same. Karishma shares that outside of the fact that there are no typical days working in the news cycle, her particular role is incredibly unique. “I’m the only one who works regularly across multiple teams. I have days where I work with the lifestyle team, other days I’m on the news desk and some days, I’m running the whole show solo through the Aussie night. So it’s really about being mentally ready to handle whatever the day throws at you from any or all angles.”

Bridging the world for Australia

Working the “overnights” means Karishma is often filing stories just as London winds down and Australia wakes up. Her secret weapon for making UK-centric news relevant to a domestic audience? A deeply personal connection to home.

“I’m writing it for my mum and dad, my family, and the people who watch 9News,” she explains. “They’re people I know; it’s not just a stab in the dark at what might be interesting to them.”

The landscape to make her mark

For Karishma, the profound impact of her work and the history-making events that she has witnessed and reported on, is not lost on her.

“When you nail the coverage of something as part of a team – like the Queen’s funeral, King Charles III’s Coronation, Harry & Meghan’s wedding, the Paris Olympics, many UK Prime Ministers, the inauguration of US leaders – it’s a satisfying feeling and some days you allow yourself to reflect for a moment and realise you were just part of history and how an event will be remembered.”

Nine’s unique ecosystem means that our people have the opportunity to pursue their ambitions, and make their mark.

Interview tips from our Talent Acquisition team

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:00:00 +0000

We want to empower you to bring your best self to the conversation, so we asked our Talent Acquisition team to share their top tips for success, from the importance of researching our iconic brands to why being your authentic self is the ultimate competitive advantage.

Success at Nine comes down to more than just ticking boxes on a job description. Our team looks for candidates who connect with our mission and bring a unique perspective to our culture.

We believe that the right preparation can turn a nervous moment into a career-defining opportunity.

“Do your research on the company – it’s so important, demonstrates genuine interest, and will set you apart from other candidates.”

Leanne Harrington – Talent Acquisition Partner – Digital & Technology

“Know your strengths, and know your CV well!

Candidates need to remember that they’re in the interview because the hiring team already liked what they had to offer on paper. The job now is to connect the dots from the CV into conversation – taking those bullet points and proving the real-world value you’ll bring to the team.”

Blake Males – Talent Acquisition Advisor

“Show, don’t just tell, your soft skills. Instead of just saying you’re a ‘great communicator,’ use the STAR method to give a specific example of a time you had to pivot your style to get a result. Proof beats a buzzword every time.”

Ashley Antidormi – Talent Acquisition Partner – Sales

“Tailor your CV to the role and go the extra mile and connect with the recruiter or hiring manager on LI to lift your application out of the pile!”

Ranj Pillai – Talent Acquisition Manager – Technology

“Avoid simply rehashing your CV, shift your focus from what you’ve done to what you will do. Show us you’ve done your homework by sharing specific ideas on how you’ll drive growth for our unique brands and audiences.”

Nicole Williams – Talent Acquisition Partner – Publishing

“Research the company until you find a specific project or goal that actually interests you. Link that interest directly to the role you’re applying for. Instead of just listing your skills, you’re showing them exactly why you’ll be motivated to do the work every day.”

Zoe Tye – Talent Acquisition Partner – Broadcast & Streaming

“Don’t aim for perfect, aim for real!”

Issy Thompson – Talent Acquisition Partner – Stan

“I deconstruct the job ad before I step into the room. I map my biggest wins directly to the responsibilities or ‘must-haves’ so I’m not just giving generic answers. Using the STAR method to bring those specific responsibilities to life makes the whole process feel way more intentional, and honestly, a lot less stressful because I know I have the relevant examples ready to bring to life.”

Katie Duckworth – Head of Talent Acquisition & Internal Mobility

NAIDOC Week 2026: 50 years of Deadly: how representation on and off the field shapes the future of Nine

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:00:00 +0000

At Nine, a career is rarely defined by just one path. From newsrooms to broadcasting operations, our people are encouraged to lean into their passions, champion meaningful initiatives, and shape the national conversation.

A perfect example of this is Simon Fordham. By day, Simon serves as Nine’s Head of Partnerships and Operations, a role that keeps him busy driving short and long-term commercial outcomes through our powerhouse sports content offering. But outside of his daily commercial strategies, Simon is also a driving force within Nine’s First Nations Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) working group.

For this year’s NAIDOC Week, Simon is merging his love for sports broadcasting with his commitment to reconciliation. He is leading a massive, collaborative initiative alongside the NRL to celebrate the theme “50 years of deadly” by shortlisting 60 of the greatest Aboriginal rugby league players of all time.

We sat down with Simon to discuss the upcoming historic voting event, how Nine empowers its people to drive social impact, and why authentic storytelling is at the heart of our culture.

A deeper level of purpose

For a sports lover like Simon, managing the operations behind Wide World of Sports provides plenty of motivation to jump out of bed every single morning. Yet, it is his work with the RAP working group that provides a different layer of personal and professional fulfillment.

“To be involved in channelling the power of Nine’s platforms and workforce to create meaningful change in the reconciliation space means that I can be part of a legacy that shapes Nine’s culture,” shares Simon.

Importantly, Simon highlights that this isn’t an exclusive privilege reserved for senior leadership. Nine actively provides the space and support for all employees to champion causes they care about alongside their core roles.

“The opportunities are there for all of Nine’s employees if you are motivated or passionate about the cause. I want to be a great role model for my kids and champion ideas and concepts that will enrich their lives in the future.”

Uniting two industry leaders for NAIDOC week

Thanks to a long-standing broadcasting partnership with the NRL and a shared history of celebrating incredible First Nations athletes, when looking to deliver a reconciliation initiative for this year’s NAIDOC Week, Simon knew exactly where to look. The NRL is widely considered the industry gold standard for reconciliation, having recently launched its second “Elevate RAP,” a first-of-its-kind achievement for an Australian sporting organisation.

“The NRL has a strong connection with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have played rugby league, so it was the perfect opportunity for Nine to connect and celebrate reconciliation through sport,” Simon explains.

To bring the “50 years of deadly” celebration to life, Simon brought together a specialised working group from Wide World of Sports and the NRL. Together, they established an elite panel of experts to help narrow down the historic shortlist.

The illustrious panel features a mix of rugby league icons, coaches, journalists, and historians, including:

Phil Gould (former player and coach, current Nine commentator)
Roy Masters (former coach and Sydney Morning Herald journalist)
Professor Megan Davis (ARL Commissioner)
Kevin Walters (Kangaroos Coach)
Jessica Skinner (Jillaroos Coach)
David Middleton (Nine’s rugby league historian)

By combining this expert panel vote with a public vote, Simon ensured that historical legends wouldn’t be overshadowed by modern fan favorites, giving players across the last five decades an equal spotlight.

You can’t be what you can’t see

Executing a project of this magnitude requires incredible operational coordination, a challenge Simon met by leaning on the deep professional and personal relationships he has built over eight years working on the NRL at Nine.

“When you lean into these relationships for an important cause that unites us all, it makes a project of this scale so much more collaborative, rewarding and successful,” he says.

But the true reward goes far beyond a successful broadcast. For Simon, the visible representation of Aboriginal athletes is essential for inspiring the next generation.

“Put simply, you can’t be what you can’t see,” Simon states. “By celebrating our First Nations players in this way we shine a light on their achievements, their talents and their individual journeys. If one young First Nations boy or girl sees these articles it might inspire them to one day play in the NRL or NRLW.”

A particularly significant aspect of this year’s initiative is the equal elevation of the 20 shortlisted First Nations women. With the phenomenal growth of the NRLW and the establishment of clear professional pathways, young girls now have direct lines of sight to the pinnacle of the sport. Today, powerhouse First Nations female athletes like Tamika Upton and Olivia Kernick have rightfully taken their places alongside icons like Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell as aspirational figures for young kids.

Driven by commercial success, defined by social impact

For professionals considering a career at Nine, Simon hopes this NAIDOC Week initiative serves as a powerful reminder of what media excellence can achieve when combined with a clear purpose.

“The phrase ‘Australia Belongs Here’ reflects Nine’s commitment to inclusivity and representation in the media landscape. We put a huge emphasis on the importance of authenticity and resilience when telling stories through sport, news or drama. A strong message of reconciliation should be built on the same characteristics. It’s the resilience and authenticity shown by the First Nations we are celebrating through this initiative.”

‘Australia Belongs Here’: Neary Ty on the power of culturally diverse storytelling

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:00:00 +0000

From starting as an intern to making history as one of the first Asian women to report for 9News Melbourne, Neary’s journey is one of tenacity. We sat down with the recent Quill Award winner to discuss her heritage, the importance of representation, and how her “difference is her superpower.”

Nine is Australia’s media company. We want all of Australia to belong here. It is a purpose brought to life by the people in our newsrooms who champion authenticity, resilience, and the diverse voices that make up our nation. 9News Melbourne reporter Neary Ty is a powerful example of this in action.

A career milestone rooted in community

For Neary, her recent Quill Award for Multicultural Affairs and Media was more than just a professional accolade; it was a deeply personal triumph. The winning piece involved interviewing her own father and members of the Cambodian Australian community.

“This would have to be the proudest moment of my journalism career,” Neary shares.

“Sitting down and interviewing my own father and other incredible Cambodian Australians was a true honour. Uncovering these untold stories and giving a voice to a minority community – especially my beautiful community – felt so special.”

Why representation matters at Nine

Neary believes that for a leading media organisation to truly serve its audience, it must reflect the reality of the streets we live on. By building authentic relationships with communities, we ensure that everyone feels heard.”People will engage in content and watch stories when they see themselves reflected,” she explains. “Australia is such a beautiful multicultural country and we need to reflect more voices and stories. As the leading media organisation in the country, we want communities to turn to us not only in crisis but in happier times too.”

Cultural background as a journalistic tool

Neary’s history as the daughter of refugees played a huge role in shaping her perspective as a journalist today. She recalls a time when her knowledge of Khmer allowed her to reunite a lost Cambodian woman living with dementia with her family. Neary shares: “She was picked up by police, and didn’t know how to speak English. They published a photo of her on their website, I sent the photo to the monks at the Cambodian temple in Springvale and they gave me the daughter’s phone number straight away. She was back home within the hour.”For Neary, her background and life experiences have instilled kindness above everything else. “Growing up with refugee parents gives you a different perspective,” she says. “Nothing comes easy; you have to work hard for what you want. As a journalist, it’s important to show kindness and sympathy to all humans, no matter their postcode, faith, or the colour of their skin.”

From a mobile phone to 9Now

Neary’s dedication to storytelling often goes beyond the standard brief. While her award-winning story was originally intended for print in The Age, she felt a visual record was essential. Fifty years after fleeing Cambodia, Neary spoke with some survivors of the brutal regime, providing them an opportunity to share their stories of survival and building new lives in Australia.

Using her own mobile phone and a tripod, she captured the raw interviews that eventually became a moving mini-documentary for The Brief on 9Now.

“It’s challenging when you are speaking to your own father about his past experiences for the very first time and having to hold back your emotions while making sure the audio is right,” she reflects. The project eventually grew into a collaborative effort, proving that great stories find their way to the screen when backed by passion. After the article was published, Nine’s chief cameraman Anthony Fitzpatrick suggested Neary pitch the story as a longer format piece to The Brief. “The rest is history!”, Neary shares, “I spent months working with a dedicated team of producers, an editor and cameraman to tell the story visually in a mini documentary.”

Advice for the next generation

Neary’s path from intern to award-winning reporter serves as a roadmap for aspiring journalists. Her secret? A mix of work ethic and embracing what makes you unique.

“My parents came here with nothing; they worked so hard to provide a brighter future,” Neary says. “I would tell other aspiring journalists from diverse backgrounds: believe in yourself. Your difference is your superpower.”

The future of storytelling at 9News

Looking ahead, Neary is determined to keep pushing the boundaries of mainstream media. For her, journalism is about more than just reporting facts; it is a tool for social cohesion.

“Storytelling is so powerful,” she concludes. “It humanises people and helps reduce stigma and racism. I’m determined to give people a voice and a platform. To me, that’s the most important part of being a journalist.”

Watch Neary’s Episode on 9Now

Read Neary’s recent article on breaking cultural norms

Leading with insight: Melanie Ingrey on data, digital evolution, and the power of strategic leadership

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:41:12 +0000

In the rapidly shifting landscape of Australian media, data is the compass that guides growth. For Melanie Ingrey, Director of Insights at Nine, that compass has been part of her professional DNA since the early days of the “dot com” boom.

From witnessing the birth of Google to now navigating the integration of AI, Melanie has spent her career translating complex human behaviours into strategic business wins. We sat down with Melanie to discuss her decade-long journey at Nine, the importance of strategic leadership, and why “keeping it human” remains the most vital skill for the leaders of tomorrow.

A career built on the digital frontier

Melanie’s path to a leadership role in tech and data wasn’t necessarily planned, but looking back, she notes it was almost inevitable. Having started her career in the UK during the turn of the century, Melanie was at the forefront of digital media measurement and ecommerce research when broadband and social media were brand-new concepts.

“I still recall the launch of Google and Twitter, and the short period when MySpace had more users than Facebook,” she laughs.

Today, Melanie leads a team responsible for delivering the insights that underpin decision-making across the entire Nine ecosystem, from publishing mastheads to streaming giants like Stan and 9Now. By working with both behavioural and attitudinal data sets, her team

Overcoming the “doubt” hurdle

Growth rarely comes without growing pains. When Melanie’s remit expanded to cover the broader Nine business, she faced the complex internal dialogue that often accompanies a significant step up in responsibility.

“I can recall weighing up the personal impact as well as considering whether the conditions are right to have success in an expanded remit,” she says. “There are doubts that creep in about your own ability to succeed. When balancing career and motherhood, I’ve needed to employ some pretty sound decision making around my choices and timing.”

Her solution? Drawing strength from the collective expertise of those around her. “I realised that when you have a great, talented team who are experts in their respective areas, supportive senior leadership and a business environment with a clear strategy and goals, you can draw strength from the people around you.”

Shifting from busy to strategic

One of the most profound shifts in Melanie’s career has been her evolution as a leader. She credits Nine’s leadership program as a turning point in her development, providing her with executive coaching and exposure to Nine’s senior leadership team.

“I now try to focus on being a strategic leader rather than a ‘busy’ leader,” she explains. “It’s about knowing what matters and where the team adds value, then prioritising the decisions that ensure the team is in the best position to succeed.”

This approach involves a deep understanding of her own strengths and, crucially, surrounding herself with people who complement them.

Why Nine is a “hothouse of talent”

For those looking to build a career in technology or data, Melanie describes Nine as a unique “hothouse” where passionate professionals are always willing to collaborate, happy to share their own knowledge and experiences and coach others. Whether it’s joining a Hackathon, participating in Nine Communities, or working on the digitisation of Nine’s archival content, the opportunities for self-driven development are endless.

“The opportunity to play a role in bringing award-winning journalism and entertainment to Australians, and work on brands that are deeply ingrained in culture, is pretty unique,” she says.

Advice for the next generation of women in tech

Melanie’s advice for women entering the tech space is rooted in authenticity and relationship-building:

“Build genuine, trusted relationships with the people you value, respect and can learn from, be open minded, curious and adaptable, embrace change and seize opportunities, know, and hone, your specific strengths and the value you bring to a business and stay true and authentic to yourself.”

The future: AI and the human element

As we stand on the cusp of an AI-driven revolution, Melanie believes the most successful leaders will be those who can find the “perfect blend” of technology and empathy.

“Future leaders need to find the balance of integrating AI into their practice while bringing authentic human skills to the fore to build trusted relationships and exhibit sound judgement,” she notes. “At Nine, I love that one of our core values is Keep It Human. There is no more important time to use this as a guiding principle.”

Revolutionising tech at Nine: amplifying human potential with AI

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:41:11 +0000

At Nine, we’re more than just a media company – we’re a thriving technology powerhouse. We build incredible software that millions use daily, powering applications like AFR, SMH, The Age, and Australia’s leading streaming destination, 9Now and Stan. Our AI for Engineering Excellence Program is set to transform how we create and deliver these amazing products. We’re not just exploring AI; we’re fully integrating it into the core of our engineering operations.

By Kelli Dudley, Director of Technology, Data and AI & Craig Bruce, Director of Technology, Streaming

The “why” behind our AI journey: unleashing human ingenuity

Our guiding belief is simple yet powerful: “The future is AI-augmented”. We strongly believe artificial intelligence will empower our teams, boosting their capabilities and amplifying our collective impact. AI isn’t here to replace human creativity or skilled individuals; it’s here to enhance them. Our primary objective is for AI to handle repetitive, data-intensive, and boilerplate tasks. This will free up valuable time and mental energy, allowing our teams to focus on more complex problem-solving, creative design, and ground-breaking work. This program aims to accelerate development, streamline processes for creators, and ignite innovation across all of Nine’s technological endeavours. We view AI not as an obstacle, but as a gateway to new skills.

For Engineers: your new development superpower

For our engineers, we’re seamlessly integrating AI into the development workflow to significantly enhance our capabilities. Imagine having a smart partner that takes care of the more predictable parts of coding, leaving you free to focus on tricky problem-solving, big-picture design, and building products that genuinely make an impact. We’re creating an environment where AI feels like a natural extension of what you already do.

Our development environments are evolving to be more intelligent and supportive, streamlining everything from code generation to understanding complex systems. We’re also excelling at prompt engineering, providing clear instructions to AI, and creating internal platforms to fine-tune our interactions with these advanced models for optimal results. This collaborative learning and refined teamwork enable us to integrate AI across the entire software development lifecycle, accelerating the creation and improvement of even large-scale projects. Our AI coding assistants have already significantly contributed to code production and facilitated countless interactions with AI chat features. It’s evident that AI tools are becoming an integral part of engineers’ workflows.

Rapid innovation for Product Managers & Designers: “vibe-coding”

Our program’s transformative changes extend beyond engineering, empowering product managers and designers to shape our future. We’re introducing “vibe-coding” exploration, a powerful approach that enables these teams to rapidly bring ideas to fruition. This method facilitates the creation of functional prototypes and significantly accelerates early-stage development.

This means tapping into advanced AI-powered tools that understand design principles and can turn concepts into interactive prototypes at an incredible pace. By thinking of creative challenges as problems for AI to solve, our teams are discovering that AI can come up with more thoughtful and effective design solutions. This approach significantly reduces the initial technical workload for engineers during early exploration, allowing design and product teams to test ideas with greater flexibility and confidence.

Fostering a culture of continuous learning and collective achievement at Nine

At Nine, we’re dedicated to cultivating AI expertise throughout our digital organisation. We’ll provide extensive training and specialised learning resources to empower everyone to confidently understand and utilise AI tools and techniques. Our dynamic internal social channels maintain a vibrant community, brimming with shared ideas and best practices.

We’re also keen on assessing the impact of AI adoption, focusing on how these tools enhance overall productivity, accelerate delivery, and improve the quality and maintainability of our work. This ongoing check-in ensures that our investment in AI is always delivering real value, helping our existing teams achieve more and supporting our big-picture business goals.

Join Nine: a future built on innovation and augmentation

Upon joining Nine, you’ll be part of a team that’s actively shaping the future of software development, using AI to amplify human capabilities, spark innovation, and build truly incredible products. We are, at our core, a technology company, committed to delivering cutting-edge software solutions and driving digital transformation across everything we do. If you’re an engineer, product manager, or designer ready to embrace AI as a powerful extension of your skills and be at the forefront of this exciting journey, we invite you to explore career opportunities with us. Come and build the future at Nine.

Nine’s parental leave policy: enabling the time that matters most

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:41:06 +0000

At Nine, we are redefining what it means to be a working parent. Central to this change is our parental leave policy that offers 18 weeks of paid leave for both parents, allowing families to equally share the vital early months of a child’s life. This commitment is not just about a policy document; it’s about actively nurturing a culture where family balance and shared responsibility are the norm, not the exception.

Equalling the balance: time for every parent

By offering equal paid time off for primary and secondary carers, Nine is intentionally breaking down traditional gender roles. This equal footing allows fathers to step fully into the primary caregiver role, strengthening their bond with their newborns, while ensuring mothers feel supported both during their time off and when they choose to return to work.

Senior Engineering Manager Rajdeep Matharu highlights the impact of this shared time: “Taking 18 weeks of parental leave allowed me and my wife to establish a truly equal partnership, sharing the responsibilities of caring for our newborn daughter.”For Rajdeep, the shift is woven through the culture, and encouraged from those in senior leadership positions. “One of the most powerful things at Nine is the culture. Seeing senior male leaders openly talk about their families and take parental leave has normalised it for everyone. These informal conversations and the visible commitment from leadership have created a culture where it’s not only acceptable for fathers to even out caring responsibilities, but it’s genuinely encouraged.”

For Senior Sports Reporter Emma Kemp, the policy provided a profound opportunity for connection and stability. “Being able to feel present with our little boy Jesse during those first few months of his life is far and away the most rewarding aspect, and such a privilege I know many parents aren’t afforded,” she shares. “The length of parental leave has made things more manageable financially, as has the flexibility around what returning to work looks like.”

The new norm: shared responsibility

For fathers at Nine, the 18 weeks of paid leave has transformed their experience of early parenthood and reset expectations around caring responsibilities. It’s an opportunity to gain confidence and a deeper perspective.

David Swann, who took the full leave, says it resulted in a more enduring change in his home life. “Taking 18 weeks of parental leave meant I was able to step up more as a father, and better share the parenting responsibilities… I feel like I have a much more 50-50 parenting arrangement with my wife than I did previously.”

The return to work, while a change of pace, felt supported. “It’s great being back and I think now I’ve struck a great balance between work and family life,” David adds. “I’m enjoying being back and using the ‘work’ part of my brain again.”

This level of involvement is actively changing the workplace perception of gender roles. Rajdeep notes that it’s the cultural environment that truly makes the difference. “Seeing senior male leaders openly talk about their families and take parental leave has normalised it for everyone,” he explains. “It’s clear that taking time for family is not just accepted at Nine – it’s fully supported and valued at every level.”

David reflects on how this policy is shifting the dial on expectations: “It was surprising to me that some people called me ‘brave’ for taking so much paternity leave. I think it should be a normal thing for dads to be able to take 18 weeks of parental leave and share the caring responsibilities as much as they can and I think Nine’s policies are helping shift that dial.”

Empowering all parents through flexibility

The support for parents extends far beyond the leave period, focusing on flexibility and a smooth transition back to the team. Morning Editor, 9honey, Amy Lyall experienced this firsthand.

“For me flexible work started with a part-time return to work after maternity leave, with managers who were really helpful in my return to Nine after 12 months off with my baby,” she says. “The flexibility I’ve had from my managers at Nine has let me return to work and also be a parent, in a way that works for not only my career, but my family too.”

This culture of support even begins at the hiring stage. Stephanie Calvert found Nine’s attitude towards family planning encouraging from the outset. “During my interview and offer process, I felt comfortable enough to share that we were planning to grow our family,” she shares. “From the very beginning, Nine’s attitude towards family planning made me feel genuinely supported.”

The financial stability provided by the 18 weeks of paid leave gives all parents greater choice and peace of mind. “The paid parental leave has given us the financial stability to take more time as a family,” Stephanie adds. “Because of Nine’s support, I’ve been able to take a full year off to bond with my son – something I wouldn’t have been able to afford without the generous 18 weeks paid leave.”

At Nine, our parental leave policy and the supportive culture it has fostered are clear signs of a modern, balanced workplace. We don’t just want our people to have a career, we want to support them to build a fulfilling and balanced life.

The power of presence: how Nine’s parental leave policy redefined family bonding for Engineering Manager Cyril George

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:41:06 +0000

Cyril reflects on how Nine’s leading parental leave program allowed him the opportunity to redefine family bonding, and use the extended time to travel Australia with his young family.

Taking the time that matters most

When Cyril George and his wife welcomed their second child, Leo into the world in 2024, they decided to use Cyril’s 18 weeks of paid parental leave to create family memories on the road.

Cyril, Engineering Manager for Nine’s Identity Platform, has been with Nine for over 11 years, during which time he has experienced the updates to Nine’s parental leave(opens in new tab) offering. Cyril reflected on what this meant for him, “I knew from my firstborn that those early moments are fleeting, so we decided that with the new parental leave policy that had been introduced in 2024 that we would take the time as a family to connect.”

When Leo was born, in May 2024, Cyril and his team were preparing for the Paris Olympics. Cyril and his family decided that he would take the 2 weeks of leave initially, and the remainder of the 18 weeks paid leave afterward. “This was the first Olympics for Nine in the streaming world, it was a big project I’d been working towards and I wanted to see it through so I decided to split the leave up to suit my family’s needs.”

Reflecting on his decision to travel Australia, Cyril shares that he realised what a significant time it was for his young family, with his eldest child starting school in 2025, and his wife planning to return to work, it seemed like the perfect time to travel. “We realised we could either be at home together, or we could be on the road travelling together, and the travelling idea seemed like such an awesome opportunity to connect.”

The road less travelled

“We said, ‘let’s just pack the basic things we need,'” Cyril recalls. “The only intention we had first was to see if we could make it to Melbourne.”

What began as a simple car trip evolved into a 40-day adventure. With no fixed itinerary or advance bookings, the family of four journeyed from Sydney to Melbourne, and then on to Adelaide and Kangaroo Island. They adopted a caravan-camping style of travel, stopping every two hours for feeding and nappy changes for their four-month-old baby. This unscripted approach allowed for genuine spontaneity and the freedom to adapt to their new family’s needs.

Navigating his leave was made seamless by the support from Nine. “My manager was very supportive,” Cyril notes. He worked with his manager to schedule his leave around key work commitments, ensuring a smooth transition for both him and his team.

Lasting reflections on a growth journey

Reflecting on the trip, Cyril speaks about the profound impact it had on his family. He contrasts it with his experience as a new father the first time, when long commutes and a busy schedule meant he had limited time with his daughter during her first few months. “By the time I was getting home, she would either be sleeping or getting ready for bed,” he says. This time, however, was different.

He observed how Leo bonded with the family and how his daughter thrived during the journey. “We almost felt in that 40 days itself there was a lot of difference in his growth,” Cyril recalls. “It is amazing and really nice to see how he also bonded to us as a family during the journey.” The trip created a strong foundation for their relationships, a meaningful contrast to the challenges that often come with modern family life.

Nine’s policy: building empathy and trust

For Cyril, Nine’s extended parental leave sends a clear and powerful message about work-life balance. “It’s an emotional support for the family and it’s also a huge bonding moment for fathers to connect with their family”, he says.

The policy provides families with options, whether that’s allowing a partner to return to work or, as in Cyril’s case, creating a unique opportunity for both parents to be fully present. Cyril felt “a lot more revived and a lot less stressed” upon his return to the office, having had the chance to fully disconnect and spend quality time in those pivotal moments.

Nine’s parental leave policy not only supports new parents but also fosters a culture of trust and empathy, encouraging employees to prioritise what truly matters: family.

Growing your career from the inside: the power of internal mobility at Nine

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:00:00 +0000

At Nine, we’re not just a collection of successful media brands – we’re a community where careers thrive. We know that some of our best talent is already walking our halls (or logging in remotely), and that’s why internal mobility plays a role in our people strategy.

Recognising our internal talent

Xanthea Yee joined Nine in 2021, and has worked in various roles and secondments during that time. Xanthea’s exposure to different areas within the People & Culture function has given her invaluable exposure to various brands and business areas at Nine. Her success, she shares, comes down to the leaders that have supported her along the way. “Each experience has been memorable, largely due to the amazing and supportive leaders who have consistently prioritised and supported my professional and personal development goals. This focus has allowed me to reflect, pinpoint my areas for growth, and actively build towards improving on them.”

When our people move into new roles internally, they bring a wealth of company knowledge, established networks, and a deep understanding of our values. That’s why at Nine, we recognise the value of our internal talent. The breadth of Nine’s ecosystem means that our people have opportunities to move and grow throughout the business when roles open.

Bronte Gossling joined Nine in 2021, originally working within the nine.com.au team. A long held career aspiration was to work at the Sydney Morning Herald. “A big reason I accepted my first role at Nine – as a casual weekend producer for nine.com.au’s lifestyle vertical – was because I wanted to be able to explore the ‘Nine ecosystem’, not because I needed a casual weekend job writing about celebrities!

This paid off three years later, when I had the privilege of working with Wide World of Sports during the 2024 Olympics from the “South Paris Bureau” (Nine HQ in North Sydney!). Even though it was two weeks of long, overnight shifts, it remains one of the highlights of my career, alongside speaking with Tom Cruise on the red carpet.” Utilising the support of leaders around her for planning her career trajectory, Bronte successfully stepped into a role as a reporter with the Sydney Morning Herald’s Growth Content team.
“There are so many opportunities to build your network and lean on leaders in different areas of the business when you need assistance with something that’s outside your area of expertise. I also get to work with the best journalists in the country at the Sydney Morning Herald, which has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl, and I’d like to think is a promising sign for my future!”

Integration Engineer Matthew Riley joined Nine 9 years ago, and has moved within four different teams in the tech space during that time, each allowing for personal and professional growth. Matthew shared, “I’ve been lucky enough to get hands-on business and technical knowledge across Sales, Research, Payroll, Finance and even TV production. Being able to say that you got the opportunity to travel Australia supporting sports and television productions for Nine is an incredibly unique experience which I’ll never forget.”

Reflecting on the process of applying for roles internally, Matthew explains, “Nine recognises that internal talent is by far its greatest resource and you can see this by the way they invest into development and wellbeing. Nine has provided me access to various training and certification options allowing me to consistently excel with the tools in my field.”

Your Nine passport: opportunities across the business

Being part of Nine opens access to opportunities across publications, programs, teams and functions. This isn’t just a perk; it’s a strategic advantage.

Imagine starting your career in our editorial team and moving to a data analytics role within broadcast, or transitioning from a sales role into a people and culture function. The possibilities are vast. Our structure— spanning news, publishing, television, radio, and digital — offers a comprehensive landscape for professional development and exploration across different media segments.

Toni Ambrogetti joined Nine in 2023, having started at NBN Newcastle as a reporter and producer. “Nine’s reputation for internal promotions was a key factor that initially drew me to the company,” A long-term goal of Toni’s was to work at 60 Minutes. Toni spoke about this goal during development conversations with her manager. “The opportunity to discuss my aspirations was very encouraging. Following that meeting, my leader supported this goal by connecting me with staff at the program and endorsing my application for the role”

Now an Associate Producer at 60 Minutes, Toni reflects on the diverse range of media platforms at Nine making it an “excellent place to build a long-term career.”

“The 60 Minutes team has also produced documentaries that are available on Stan and 9Now, ensuring that the hard work and investigations have a long shelf life with audiences who consume content on their own timelines.”

What does internal mobility look like?

Internal mobility can look different for everyone. It’s about gaining new experience, moving sideways, moving up, taking on new challenges.

Sometimes, the most valuable career move is a sideways step into a different function. This allows you to:

Broaden your skillset in a completely new area of the business.
Build a diverse professional network beyond your immediate team.
Gain a deeper commercial perspective of how another part of Nine operates.

Jade McHatton joined Nine in 2022 as a People Solutions Coordinator. With a goal to obtain “exposure to how all the different functions come together to deliver what we watch on TV, hear on the radio, and read in print or online”, Jade moved into a People Solutions Advisor role, and then onto a secondment as a Workday Functional Lead.

Reflecting on her contribution across different roles, Jade shares, “Nine has not only supported but also championed my professional development. Grow conversations with my manager helped me identify my goals. I was encouraged to pursue different learning opportunities, and I felt guided in the right direction to achieve my goals.”

“I have been able to get involved in various projects and learning opportunities, it is something I have really valued at Nine. To name a few, I have been able to get involved in developing leave guidelines, case management shadowing, assisting with the sponsored visa process and now the biggest to date, supporting the implementation of Workday HRIS.”

Whether it’s a temporary secondment, a lateral move to a new department, or an exciting promotion, we’re committed to giving our employees the first chance at new challenges.

We encourage our people to be proactive and curious about their career path. Internal roles are posted regularly, and we have resources available to help you understand what’s next.

Architecting autonomy: Engineering Manager Jyotsna Gajjala on leading Nine’s next-gen AI engineering teams

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:41:02 +0000

In the continually evolving landscape of digital media and technology, Nine is pioneering transformative approaches to software engineering. At the forefront of this innovation is Jyotsna Gajjala, an Engineering Manager in the Data Consumer Platforms team. As a technical leader driving structural change in artificial intelligence engineering, Jyotsna is guiding her teams through a massive technological shift.

By experimenting with the Agent Development Lifecycle (ADLC), Nine’s digital teams are moving away from static, manual coding toward orchestrating an autonomous ecosystem of specialised AI agents.

Leading a structural evolution in AI engineering

Stepping into an engineering leadership role during a period of rapid technological advancement brings unique opportunities. For Jyotsna, the transition has been defined by empowering her team to elevate their day-to-day impact.

“The most exciting part has been watching our senior engineers step out of the trenches of vibe coding and become true directors of an autonomous agent workforce,” Jyotsna shares.

Rather than spending hours on repetitive syntax, engineers at Nine are stepping up as directors and strategists, guiding AI tools to deliver high-quality technical outcomes.

Shifting from linear lifecycles to autonomous agent workflows

To understand the magnitude of this shift, Jyotsna points to the fundamental differences between the traditional Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and the pioneering ADLC framework currently being embedded at Nine.

“The different phases in an SDLC move in a linear, sequential manner with human-driven handoffs. But with ADLC, agents autonomously iterate through different stages of a deliverable guarded by human approval gates.”

This reimagined framework includes structured phases: Research, Plan, Implement, Test, Review, and Compound. In practice, this completely transforms the daily responsibilities of engineering squads.

“With ADLC, the focus of the engineering teams shifts from writing boilerplate code to defining clear intent and building a ‘harness’ for agents to produce trustworthy outputs. We now author specifications and skills in natural language to guide agents through isolated Research-Plan-Implement loops.”

The art of generation supervision and collaborative thinking

In this new paradigm, engineers transition from writing raw code to supervising generation. During a normal sprint, engineers following the ADLC audit the agent’s logic blueprints and generated outputs. They only approve the execution path when the quality of the output meets their rigorous standards. To achieve this, Nine utilises an entire collaborative ecosystem of specialised AI agents.

“We use a collaborative thinking system where a coordinator agent breaks down core tasks and delegates them to individual sub-agents that then carry out their specialised tasks. The coordinator agent ensures that these phases do not execute in isolation, and sub-agents are clearly instructed to pass the control back to the coordinator agent, which is also responsible for setting up human gates for engineers to review and approve.”

Embedding runtime guardrails and the power of human judgment

Granting autonomy to AI agents requires uncompromising governance and structural safety. To align autonomous systems with Nine’s robust engineering standards, Jyotsna and her team have introduced foundational steering rules.

“We embed non-negotiable data architecture and governance rules right into the root of our repositories using these steering files. They function as runtime guardrails that coding agents are programmatically instructed to parse before every single terminal session. Coding standards, best practices, architecture rules, and most importantly what the agent must NEVER do are all embedded into the agent’s harness so it’s never missed!”

Despite the sophisticated autonomy of these agents, human oversight remains the anchor of the entire delivery lifecycle. Human approval gates sit at every critical junction of the project hourglass, from initial spec generation and code review through to raising pull requests and updating Jira tickets.

“At every step, an agent is directed by the human with an approval or compounding loop. Human judgment remains the absolute steering wheel as agents just follow instructions that might be missing business intuition, strategic foresight, and risk ownership.”

Empowering engineers to solve complex strategic challenges

By delegating the mechanics of coding to AI, Nine is creating an environment where engineers can focus on high-impact critical thinking. Within the Data team, eliminating repetitive tasks opens the door to groundbreaking consumer innovation.

Jyotsna shares that by delegating the repetitive mechanics of data mapping and transformation workflows to autonomous agents, engineers have more time for innovation and strategy.

“With the time we save on automating repetitive coding tasks, we are able to have more time to innovate and build data products that make like easier for engineers, stakeholders and Product managers – focusing on data quality and observability, automating custom end-of-month reporting, building quick prototypes/POCs for innovative data products, building automated pipes and clear, self serve documentation so PMs don’t have to chase engineers for any questions from the business. The focus shifts from baseline maintenance to delivering AI-ready high value data products faster.”

Why mindset and architectural thinking matter for future talent

As Nine continues to lead the market in media and technology, the digital teams are actively seeking forward-thinking talent ready to thrive in an AI-driven delivery era. For engineers looking to make their mark at Nine, Jyotsna highlights the three core competencies that define success in this environment:

Architectural mindset: Modern engineers benefit greatly from thinking like data architects and orchestrators rather than traditional syntax coders.
Structured intent definition: The ability to clearly articulate intent, define precise instructions, and author specifications in natural language is critical for guiding agentic workflows.
Harness construction: Building agentic skills and engineering a stable, reliable harness are essential skills to ensure the trustworthiness and quality of agent-generated outputs.

At Nine, technology professionals are not just adapting to the future of software engineering; they are actively designing it. With leaders like Jyotsna pioneering autonomous agent frameworks, engineers are empowered to elevate their craft, steer cutting-edge technology, and build the data platforms that connect with millions of Australians every day.

Drive your career at Nine: how our people are leading the AI revolution

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:41:00 +0000

At Nine, we don’t just report on the future; we build it. We are celebrating Careers Week by pulling back the curtain on how our teams are leveraging our bespoke AI Masterclass to redefine the media landscape.

Through a series of tailored modules, we’ve empowered our people to move beyond the hype and integrate artificial intelligence into their daily workflows. We caught up with our employees who represent the different “AI Archetypes” to see how they are using these tools to drive innovation, efficiency, and creative autonomy.

The Builder: Matthew Borneman

Matthew Borneman, Production Manager in the Data Team shares his insights on how he’s using AI in his role.

Matthew acts as the vital bridge between technical engineering and commercial strategy. For him, AI has become a “personal teammate” that handles the administrative heavy lifting, allowing him to focus on higher-value leadership.

Matthew shares that Nine’s deliberate choice of “bespoke, hands-on learning over generic corporate training” made a huge difference for him. “ Having a real face to show us immediate, practical capabilities (without the hype) makes the investment feel tangible and relevant.”

It also helps Matthew prioritise his work-life balance. “As a parent, I don’t always have extra hours for research and administrative tasks; AI shortens that loop. It keeps me fluent, relevant, and self-reliant, ensuring I’m confident with all tasks I attempt and more flexible with what I can take on.”

The Creative: Chris Rolph

Chris Rolph, Senior Specialist Graphic Artist primarily working on the kids’ show Theatre Dome has embraced his archetype as ‘The Creative’ to push the visual boundaries of what’s possible on screen.

For Chris, the Masterclass has effectively lowered the barrier to entry for high-end technical work. Ambitions that once felt too time-consuming for a fast-paced production schedule are now within reach.

“I used to just type away, but that simple shift in prompting has massively improved the quality of the results I get,” Chris explains. By assigning Gemini a specific persona – like an expert in 3D software – he can now troubleshoot complex simulations without sifting through hour-long tutorials.

Chris highlights that the most rewarding part of the experience has been the support from Nine. “It made me feel incredibly supported knowing that Nine is providing this level of professional education to everyone across the board. It shows they are investing in our genuine, long-term growth.”

The Strategist: Tayla Orr

Client Strategy Manager in Nine’s Powered team, Tayla Orr works with some of Nine’s biggest advertising clients on cross-platform campaigns. For Tayla, her role is about finding that elusive human truth – and she’s discovered that AI is the perfect tool to help her dig deeper.

Tayla uses AI as a high-level critic to sharpen her own unique thinking, turning messy research into concise strategy.

For Tayla, the access to an AI-enabled ecosystem at Nine provides a distinct advantage. It’s not just about the software; it’s about a “listening culture” where employee input shapes how the tools are implemented across the business.

“Nine’s really fostered a collaborative environment where our input actually shapes how the tools work,” she says. “That gives me a massive competitive edge, providing immediate confidence while future-proofing my career in real-time.”

For Tayla, the best part of the training was the environment of psychological safety fostered at Nine. “It’s a safe space to play with new tech, where no question is ever ‘silly’ – in fact, silly questions are encouraged. The business invests in the people, not just the tools.”

The Foundations: Soham Srivastava

Soham Srivastava, Product Manager for Data Science and AI doesn’t just use AI – he helps build the very platforms that empower teams at Nine to innovate.

Soham’s work directly influences how teams at the Australian Financial Review (AFR) and The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) leverage data. For him, Nine’s AI Masterclass provided a crucial window into how different business segments perceive and utilise these tools.

For Soham, the executive-level support for technology is a key reason to join the organisation. He highlights that Nine’s approach goes far beyond the surface level seen at other companies.

“Innovation isn’t just a buzzword at Nine; it’s backed by actual resources,” Soham explains. “Most companies would’ve just provided basic foundation training. The role-specific training goes one step further and encourages us all to see how we can leverage the tool in our daily workflows. It’s a testament to how much senior leadership wants us to adopt new ways of working.”

The Operator: Julie Arlamova

Julie Arlamova, a Senior Financial Accountant in the GFA Revenue Team is the engine room of Nine’s financial reporting, and she’s using Nine’s AI Masterclass to make our revenue processes faster and more accurate than ever.

Julie found that Nine’s commitment to “on-the-job” learning ensures employees are leading the industry rather than just keeping up. For her, the flexibility of the training allowed her to upskill without losing focus on her high-stakes responsibilities in the finance team.

“I was very impressed by how important learning and training is for everyone at Nine. For me, the AI Masterclass has provided a channel for experimenting, learning and staying up to date with current tech advancements. It is not only interesting but also encouraging to develop my skills.”

“Nine focuses on giving people the opportunity to continuously improve their skills and stay up to date with trends,” Julie notes. “We are always encouraged to take the time to learn something new to help everyone work more efficiently. It makes me feel very proud to work at Nine.”

The Editor: Steve Georgopoulos

Steve Georgopoulos oversees the production and publishing of articles for the Sydney Morning Herald, both online and in print. As ‘The Editor’ archetype, Steve is using AI not as a shortcut, but as a sophisticated guardrail for quality.

As a leader overseeing a team of 22 staff and the production of the Sydney Morning Herald, Steve’s day is a high-speed flow of editing, data analysis, and quality checks. For him, Nine’s AI Masterclass has empowered him to test tools that can free up his time for high-value work by automating technical cross-referencing.

Steve believes that Nine is the ultimate place to blend traditional expertise with cutting-edge innovation, allowing staff to hit the ground running rather than playing catch-up.

“It puts Nine and its employees in a great position to make the most of AI opportunities,” Steve says. “Importantly, it also allows us to make sensible decisions about when to use the technology, and when not to use it at all.”

A culture of curiosity and support

The consensus across our teams is clear: Nine provides a “safe space to play.” Supported from the executive level down, our AI-enabled ecosystem gives our employees a massive competitive edge. Whether it’s automating the grind or stress-testing a creative brief, the innovation is wall-to-wall.

At Nine, we invest in the people, not just the tools. By fostering a “listening culture” where curiosity is encouraged, we are ensuring our talent stays sharp, relevant, and ready for whatever comes next.

From intern to Engineering Manager: how Rebekah Chow carved out a high-impact tech career at Nine

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:00:00 +0000

From starting as an engineering intern to leading the teams behind Australia’s largest metro mastheads, Rebekah Chow’s journey is a masterclass in the power of the Nine ecosystem. We sat down with Rebekah to discuss her seven year career evolution, holding the keys to platforms that shape the national conversation, and how Nine supports women breaking boundaries in tech.

Embracing the unexpected path from intern to leader

Rebekah’s journey at Nine began through the UNSW Co-Op internship program. After completing her placement, she stayed on as an Associate Software Engineer while finishing her degree, stepping straight into a full-time software engineering role upon graduation.

While leadership wasn’t initially on her radar, a major migration project in 2022 changed everything. Tasked with leading the technical feature release to bring the Traveller website under the main masthead domains, Rebekah got her first taste of cross-functional coordination.

“For the first time, my day-to-day went beyond writing code,” Rebekah recalls. “I was managing moving parts, working closely with stakeholders, and rallying a team toward a shared goal. I realised I absolutely loved that side of the work.”

When a short-term, three-month acting Engineering Manager position opened up in mid-2023, Rebekah threw her hat in the ring, despite feeling underqualified. It was a leap of faith that paid off. Nine chose to invest in her potential, and that temporary stint quickly evolved into a permanent leadership role. Since taking the reins, she has guided her team through massive milestones, from executing complex codebase migrations to expanding Nine’s popular digital puzzles lineup with Target Time and Mini Crosswords.

Holding the keys to platforms that shape national conversations

For Rebekah, the draw to Nine was always about impact. There are few places in the Australian tech landscape where your code is instantly interacted with by millions of citizens.

The gravity of that responsibility became clear early in her career during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only a month into her part-time role as a graduate, the world went into lockdown.

“Amidst the uncertainty, I was given the responsibility of building our very first piece of pandemic content: a strap at the top of the homepage highlighting our daily live coverage,” she says. “As the crisis evolved, our team worked at lightning speed, continuously shipping dedicated content hubs and data widgets under tight deadlines to keep the public informed. It’s one of my proudest moments at Nine as it proved just how much our engineering work matters to people’s daily lives.”

That same sense of massive scale was on display during the Paris Olympics. As the official broadcaster, Nine required an unprecedented, cross-functional engineering effort. It was Rebekah’s first major project as a permanent Engineering Manager, requiring seamless collaboration across multiple digital teams to deliver consistent, high-traffic coverage across all masthead brands.

Transitioning from code to culture with Nine’s support

Moving from the objective logic of coding to the human-centric world of people management can be a daunting leap for any engineer. Rebekah credits Nine’s deliberate support structures for making her transition a success.

Initially, she was paired with a seasoned co-manager in a uniquely structured dual-EM role, providing her with a built-in mentor for real-time feedback and advice.

Beyond team-level mentorship, Rebekah went through Nine’s training program, Leading at Nine, designed to give leaders a practical toolkit for people management. This is supplemented by casual, monthly internal sessions where leaders across the business meet to discuss management frameworks and strategies.

“While nothing beats first-hand experience, having these frameworks really ensures you don’t feel like you’re being thrown straight into the deep end,” she notes.

Staying technically sharp with JEDI time

While her day-to-day focus is now strategic, Rebekah remains an engineer at heart. To balance her leadership duties with her love for programming, she relies on code reviews and a beloved fortnightly team ritual.

Every second Friday, after a sprint closes, her team participates in Just Effing Do It (JEDI) time.

“The team is given total freedom to work on whatever they want, whether that’s squashing a nagging bug, refactoring clunky code, innovating new solutions, or knocking out tasks that never quite make it into a standard sprint,” Rebekah explains. “I almost always use this as a chance to get hands on with the code again. It perfectly scratches that coding itch.”

Paying it forward and championing diversity in STEM

As a successful woman leading an engineering team in a traditionally male-dominated field, Rebekah is passionate about creating pathways for the next generation. She regularly represents Nine at university campus career expos and office site visits, ensuring new interns and grads always have a supportive ally in leadership.

“I love that I get to collaborate with such a diverse group of people across our teams. As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field”

When it comes to corporate culture, Rebekah highlights Nine’s genuine commitment to inclusivity, particularly through groups like WIT+ (Women in Tech +).

“I feel incredibly fortunate that I’ve never been made to feel like a minority or treated any differently to my peers, I think it’s a true testament to Nine’s commitment to ensuring there are equal opportunities for everyone.” she says. “Within Digital, our WIT+ group is a massive driver of this, constantly raising awareness and creating a space where everyone feels they belong through initiatives like community-sharing events and mentoring.”

The ultimate pitch: Why ambitious engineers should choose Nine

For tech professionals looking from the outside in, Rebekah believes Nine offers the absolute sweet spot of the engineering world: the nimbleness of small teams combined with the immense scale of Australia’s largest media company.

“Digital is made up of small-to-medium sized teams, each owning massive, high-impact platforms,” she says. “While my team handles the website for the Metro Mastheads, there are also individual teams that look after the Australian Financial Review website, nine.com.au, 9Now, Stan, and each of their respective apps.”

The beauty of this architecture is the unparalleled internal opportunities it offers.

“The room for growth at Nine is massive. An engineer could start in Publishing working on a web team, pivot to working on our award-winning CMS, and then move over to Streaming working on 9Now. You can essentially build a handful of entirely different careers here without ever having to leave the business!”

How I've Made My Mark with Fiona Chen, Product Manager

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 01:00:00 +0000

Episode One with Fiona Chen, Product Manager.

Ever wondered what four years, working across a summer and winter Olympics and Paralympics, multiple product launches, app rebuilds and launching vertical videos on the 9Now app might look like?

Meet Fi, Product Manager in Streaming and an integral part of our Digital & Technology team. We sat down with Fi to take a digital walk down memory lane of some of the key moments, teams, projects and events that have shaped her time at Nine and where Fi has made her mark.

You probably know us through our iconic brands across free-to-air television, free and premium paid streaming, publishing, digital audio, and digital outdoor and retail media, but the real magic happens behind the scenes. It’s our team of people who bring this entire ecosystem to life.

Want to see how Fi is making her mark? Grab a snack and dive in.

How I've Made My Mark with Shaun Wellfare, Lighting Camera Operator, Streaming and Broadcast

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 01:00:00 +0000

Episode Two with Shaun Wellfare, Lighting Camera Operator, Streaming & Broadcast.

Since joining Nine in 2007, Shaun has travelled the world, covering major global events, from the tsunami in Japan, Christchurch Earthquake, and ANZAC ceremonies in Turkey.

Today, Shaun works in Nine's Resources department as a Senior Production Camera Operator and Drone Operator. He applies his extensive experience across a huge range of productions, including Wide World of Sports, NRL Broadcast, Stan Sports, 60 Minutes, Today, and the Olympics and Paralympics.

Want to see how Shaun is making his mark? Grab a snack and dive in.

How I've Made My Mark with Julia Tzoukos, Content Partnerships Manager, Sport

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 01:00:00 +0000

Episode Three with Julia Tzoukos, Content Partnerships Manager, Sport.

In the fast-paced world of live sports media, capturing audience attention requires far more than traditional ad breaks. It demands creative brand integrations that feel natural, exciting, and integrated into the fan experience.

Since joining Nine three years ago, Julia has sat right at the intersection of brand strategy and live production, turning client visions into memorable broadcast moments.

Want to see how Julia is making her mark? Grab a snack and dive in.

A day in the life with Rebekah Chow, Engineering Manager

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 01:00:00 +0000

Ever wondered what a day inside Australia's biggest media engine room looks like?

Here’s a look behind the scenes at a day in the life at Nine. Whether our teams are pitching ambitious commercial ideas, fine-tuning digital platforms, publishing breaking coverage, or collaborating across mastheads and screens, the momentum never slows down.

With Rebekah Chow, Engineering Manager.

What does it feel like to manage the digital platforms that millions of Australians access every single day?

Engineering Manager Rebekah Chow knows that feeling firsthand. Since starting at Nine as a university intern, she has helped shape our tech landscape through major codebase migrations, expanding our digital puzzles lineup, and delivering unprecedented Olympics coverage.

A day in the life with April Glover, Senior Reporter, nine.com.au

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 01:00:00 +0000

Ever wondered what a day inside Australia's biggest media engine room looks like?

With April Glover, Senior Reporter, nine.com.au

Ever wondered what goes into reporting Australia's biggest stories as they happen?

We went behind the scenes with April Glover to catch a glimpse of a day in her life as a Senior Reporter for nine.com.au . From diving into morning team debriefs to chasing breaking news, filing multimedia stories, and chasing leads, no two days are the same.

Love, respect, empower: how the Pride Community is empowering others at Nine and beyond

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 01:00:00 +0000

To mark the celebration of Pride month 2025 ‘Love, Respect, Empower’, Nine’s Pride Community co-chairs share their insights on how their ERG’s (Employee Resource Group) initiatives impact and make waves in the wider Nine community and beyond.

This Pride month, we’re highlighting the impactful work of our Pride Community and the passionate individuals who lead it. Co-chairs Alexander Needs, Director of Video Content, Partnerships & Growth in Broadcast and Streaming, Imran Abdulah, Head of Digital Content nine.com.au, and Chloe Nott, Senior Client Partner, Travel and Luxury, share their insights on how their ERG’s initiatives impact and make waves in the wider Nine community and beyond.

Representing Nine’s diverse ecosystem

Nine’s Pride Community, established in 2022, is one of four key ERGs dedicated to advancing Nine’s diversity and inclusion (D&I) goals, fostering shared values, and driving positive change within the organisation. The Pride Community is built on three core pillars: creating a safe and open workplace, fostering connections through engaging events, and driving meaningful change and awareness for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Reflecting on its inception, Alexander shares, “when the Communities were started I was lucky enough to be asked to be one of the chairs. We started off quite small with a few key people and now we’ve grown to over 100 members.”

The group’s growth has been crucial in representing the diverse employees across Nine’s ecosystem. “Our Community exists in almost all parts of the business and each part of those businesses brings a unique element not only to Nine Pride but helping the Nine Pride message go out into other places differently” says Imran. “The LGBTQIA+ community tackles quite a large cross-section of people so it’s really important to make sure that each of those letters are represented amongst Nine as much as possible.”

Empowerment through Community

The Community provides a visible and safe space for employees to bring their authentic selves to work, fostering a sense of belonging. “Empowerment is best achieved by people feeling comfortable and that they can bring as much of themselves to work as they choose.” Alexander says. “Having a visible community that has got nothing to do with your day job that has all different levels of the business participating in it is a really inclusive and safe space for people to connect with each other.”

The Community’s existence, Chloe notes, offers a sense of belonging and camaraderie. “It’s where there’s someone safe you can talk to, and is a community in the workplace that can mirror your own community you might have built outside of work.”

When reflecting on the members of the Pride Community, Alex shares that they are the heart of what’s important. “They are the community. We’re co-chairs, but we’re only current chairs. Our members are the ones recognising the need for change.” So much so that the members are working closely with Nine to develop a Pride Action Plan as part of its DEI strategy.

A powerful voice at the table

The Community has established itself as a potent advocate for LGBTQIA+ individuals, ensuring their voices resonate all the way to the leadership level. As Alexander highlights, “Purely existing within this organisation allows us to make sure we have lines of communication right to the top when we feel there’s something that’s not right.” This foundational presence enables direct engagement in decision-making processes. “The more we’re heard, the more we’re active and the more people will consider the needs of LGBTQIA+ people when they’re making decisions.”

This proactive approach has already yielded significant success, such as the impactful 9Now and Stan queer genre sections. Imran explains that what started as an internal conversation at a group meeting to collate content naturally evolved into a powerful external win: curating and promoting queer content in one easily accessible location on both streaming platforms, which Imran describes as “a huge win” for the Community, and for all LGBTQIA+ people that access the streaming platforms.

Looking ahead

Looking to the future, the aspirations for the Community are clear and ambitious. One of the primary objectives is to establish a dedicated Pride Action Plan, aligning it with other key diversity and inclusion initiatives endorsed by the Nine board. In conjunction with the plan will be Nine’s allyship and awareness training, ensuring everyone at Nine, regardless of their identity, can contribute to helping eliminate discrimination.

“Another big ambition is to participate in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) which will assess Nine as a great place for LGBTQIA+ people to work. The AWEI gives us external context, and enables us to make comparisons with other organisations. It’s about taking the work we’re doing internally and externalising it even more so now,” explains Imran.

Nine is dedicated to fostering greater LGTBQIA+ inclusion. While there’s still progress to be made, the passion and commitment from our Pride Community - and all of our communities - are driving meaningful change.

Parental leave at Nine: a policy that supports every parenting journey

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 01:00:00 +0000

Jarrad reflects on the impact Nine’s updated parental leave policy has had, and how it ensured he was treated the same as every other parent.

When Jarrad Parker and his husband welcomed their daughter Mabel into the world, they stepped into parenthood with excitement – and the full support of Nine’s inclusive parental leave policy.

Jarrad, an executive counsel in Nine’s legal team, had spent years pursuing surrogacy. “We were very lucky in the end – one of our close friends offered to carry for us,” he says. With Mabel now four months old, he reflects on the impact of Nine’s updated parental leave policy, which ensured he was treated the same as every other parent.

A leave policy that reflects modern families

Nine’s parental leave policy was updated in 2024 to recognise all parenting journeys. This included a significant shift in language to ensure inclusivity, replacing outdated terms such as primary and secondary carer with gender-neutral and family-affirming language. The change was particularly impactful for same-sex couples and those in a surrogacy team, ensuring they felt seen and supported.

While Jarrad didn’t need to use Nine’s pre-child arrival leave, he has benefited from the enhanced 18 weeks of paid parental leave, continued superannuation contributions during his time off, and the assurance that his first 12 months of leave count toward continuous service for long service leave.

“My husband and I both realised that this was a once in lifetime opportunity for us. It was a chance to spend time with Mabel that we would never get back. And we’re very fortunate that we’re in a position where, particularly because of the paid parental leave, we were able to structure our lives financially so that we could afford to do it” shares Jarrad.

Taking the time that matters

Jarrad took six weeks of parental leave when Mabel was born and is planning another six months at the end of this year. His husband is currently on 12 months of leave, and they’ve planned their time so that each of them gets dedicated bonding time with their daughter.

“It was all hands on deck for the first six weeks, which was crucial because, as first-time parents, we were totally at sea,” Jarrad laughs. “Having that time in the newborn bubble, figuring out routines, and not having to rush back to work was invaluable.”

“I was able to disconnect from work and just appreciate all those little moments. No phone calls, no text messages. It allowed us to just focus on being a family and on what Mabel needed and wanted.”

When he did return to work in January, the transition was smooth. “My manager, Rachel Launders, was incredibly supportive, as was my whole team. I mean there were obviously adjustments to be made with any new parent who comes back to work, but I couldn’t have asked for anything more. My team was fantastic and continues to be.”

More than just Policy – a cultural shift

Beyond the policy itself, Nine’s approach to parental leave signals a broader cultural shift. Jarrad says the responsiveness of the People & Culture team, the ease of applying for leave through the online portal, and the flexibility from leadership made a real difference.

“We had some due date changes in the last few weeks before Mabel came along. Every time we had to move the due date forward, I had a contact in the people solutions team who fixed it up for me. They were really helpful and responsive.”

Reflecting on the updates to Nine’s policy, Jarrad adds “It’s giving people the choice and the opportunity with traditional barriers to taking leave largely being removed. Not that I don’t enjoy coming to work, but I’m really looking forward to my six months with Mabel later this year. The fact that up to 18 weeks are paid means I can have that time without us having to compromise financially, which is huge.”

“If you’re on the fence, for what it’s worth my thinking is pretty simple – just take the leave,” Jarrad says. “I’ll never get this time back, and Nine has made it possible for me to do it without much worry. It’s an opportunity I don’t want to miss.”

Ensuring inclusive language and real representation

One of the most meaningful aspects of the policy update was the careful review ensuring that the language was genuinely inclusive. Jarrad reflects on how impactful this has been as a member of a same-sex couple: “There are obvious differences in the pregnancy process, particularly for those who go through surrogacy, but by making the policy gender-neutral and truly welcoming, it removes barriers that traditionally existed for same-sex couples wanting to take parental leave.”

He adds, “It’s refreshing to read a parental leave policy and feel that it actually applies to you without needing to make assumptions or do mental gymnastics. It’s written to include everyone, and that in itself is a huge step forward.”

“The policy was also reviewed by Nine’s Communities (ENG’s) including Nine’s Pride Community to make sure it applied equally to same-sex couples and people going through surrogacy,” Jarrad explains. “That was really reassuring.”

Supporting families at Nine

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 23:58:11 +0000

Find out more about how we’re supporting working parents at Nine.

Families@Nine is designed to support parents and caregivers at Nine. This initiative includes a range of benefits, and a parental leave policy that meets the needs of our employees and their families.

One of our values at Nine is “Keep It Human” – showing empathy, care, and looking after one another. Families are central to our lives and communities, so creating a supportive workplace for parents and caregivers is a priority.

Read on to find out about the updates and hear from parents at Nine about how they are benefiting from the policy.

What shaped the changes

We listened to feedback from employees through surveys and discussions with our Communities (ERG’s). We also looked at what other organisations are doing to support families and used that research to guide us.

The aim was to create an offering that recognises all kinds of families and the different parenting journeys they might have.

Features of our Parental Leave policy include:

Parental leave for all parents

Permanent employees are entitled to 18 weeks of paid parental leave, with no distinction between primary and secondary carers. This promotes shared caregiving and supports all parents equally.

“I am not just eligible but also encouraged to take time off to help and bond with my child. There wasn’t an arduous process to be able to get access to parental leave as a father which can be different elsewhere. My experience has been one of ease and support. This allowed me to just focus on wrapping up my work tasks before enjoying some bonding time with my son”

Mark Horgan

Senior Research Executive

No minimum tenure

All permanent employees are eligible for the policy, regardless of how long they have been employed by Nine.

Additional financial support

Parental leave can have a financial impact, especially for women. In addition to increasing paid parental leave to 18 weeks, we’ve taken extra steps to support our employees:

Employees on leave continue to receive annual salary increases, commissions, bonuses, and incentives (where applicable).
Nine continues paying superannuation contributions for the first 12 months of parental leave.
The first 12 months of leave count toward continuous service for long service leave.

“It has allowed my family and I to remain financially comfortable while taking the time to bond with my newborn”

Davina Stait

Head of Research

Pre-Child Arrival Leave

Every parenting journey is different. Employees can access paid leave for fertility treatments, surrogacy, adoption, and fostering appointments.

Support for the unexpected

Life doesn’t always go as planned, and our policy includes different types of leave to help:

Unlimited pregnancy-related sick leave
Neonatal and postpartum care leave for when a child needs hospital care after birth
Preterm birth leave to cover the gap between an early birth (before 37 weeks) and the planned start of parental leave

“The additional entitlement of unlimited pregnancy-related sick leave, recognises the real challenges – physical and mental – of pregnancy”

Julia Naughton

Head of Life SMH

We’re continually seeing the positive impact our parental leave offering has for our parents at Nine.

How I've Made My Mark with Callan Boys, National Editor, Good Food

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 01:00:00 +0000

Episode Four with Callan Boys, National Editor, Good Food.

In the vibrant and fast-evolving world of Australian food culture, guiding how a nation dines out takes far more than just chasing viral trends. It requires trust, and a genuine passion for the stories, chefs, and communities that define our culinary landscape.

As Good Food's National Editor, Callan sits right at the heart of this conversation, leading premier dining coverage and helping millions of Australians discover their next favourite dish.

Want to see how Callan is making his mark? Grab a snack and dive in.