A seat at the table: Creating the Good Food app at Nine

When Kevin Lau, Engineering Manager and Claudio Russo, Product Manager started working on the new Good Food app, they knew they had a big opportunity in front of them – not just to build something great, but to shape the future of how Australians engage with food content. 

For the first time in its 40-year history, Good Food is available as a digital guide that users can carry in their pocket. It’s a big leap from the traditional book format, offering a more interactive and personalised way to discover Australia’s best dining experiences

A blank canvas: The chance to shape things

“It’s a kind of greenfield project – we’re starting the build from scratch” Kevin explains. This presents a brilliant opportunity for individuals to make their mark. 

The team emphasises empowerment, offering roles like “Feature Leads” where individuals, regardless of seniority or tenure, can take ownership of specific aspects of the app. Feature Leads are encouraged to work directly with stakeholders, enabling them to address questions promptly and efficiently. This model empowers teams to take ownership, make quicker decisions, and advance projects efficiently, compared to slower, centralised decision-making.

Kevin and Claudio also encourage all team members to contribute their ideas for the app.  You don’t have to work in product or design to suggest new features. “Some of the new engineers weren’t used to making decisions or even suggestions. Good ideas come from everyone –  even if it’s not on your patch”  explains Kevin. 

“There’s a lot of investment from the team in what we do, which really promotes a feeling of pride,” Claudio adds. “Everyone can have a direct impact on what the end-user experiences.”

Support from leaders and peers

A strong sense of support and collaboration runs through both teams and leadership. Claudio highlights how the backing from leadership has enabled his growth. “Stu Fagg and Amy Chan have given me the freedom to really sort of open my wings here, which has been great. They’re great people to bounce ideas off, and if you’ve got things wrong you’re not berated for that. If anything, you’re supported to help shape what would be bigger and better decisions moving forward.” 

This supportive environment helps individuals thrive. “It’s really helped me gain confidence in my ability to be able to do this job at a really high-performing level” reflects Claudio. “It’s a great environment. I’ve worked with plenty of engineering teams, but Nine is nothing like I’ve experienced before. It’s warm, friendly, and collaborative. You don’t get that everywhere.”

Kevin adds “This culture of collaboration extends beyond our team and is felt all across Nine.  We had to work with so many different teams to get the app off the ground. No matter if you’re working with marketing, subscriptions or editorial, people genuinely want to pitch in and get the best result.”

Growing with Nine: Career development

“With a growing company the size of Nine, there’s never a shortage of interesting problems to solve”  shares Kevin. “It’s a big business, and we have people making career shifts, from engineers to product managers or from front-end engineers to platform engineers.”

Having been with Nine for over 11 years, Kevin reflects on his own journey. “I was tapped on the shoulder and given the opportunity to lead the apps team, even though I had zero experience in that area. I doubted myself – could I really lead a team when I didn’t know much technically about it? But I’m so glad I took that leap.”

Claudio also highlights the unique advantages of working at Nine. “Good Food is a huge brand, and Nine is a powerful amplification platform. I often remind my team that what they’re working on will be visible to a large part of the Australian population. Don’t underestimate the impact this will have – it’s going to be seen everywhere because Nine has the reach to make that happen.”

Endless Possibilities: The Future of Good Food

The launch of the Good Food App is just the beginning. “We’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg,” Kevin enthuses. “There’s so much more we can explore in terms of the AI side of things and personalisation. So far we’ve achieved the foundation and there’s just so much to build upon.” 

For those seeking a dynamic environment where they can contribute to a high-impact project, have their ideas valued, and grow their careers, Nine’s apps team offers a compelling opportunity. 

Download the Good Food App on the Apple App store or Google Play.