Nine
insights

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.

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.

Every engineer at Nine knows the scenario: a beautiful design is handed over, and the next few days are spent on the repetitive, low-value work of translating that design into code. We write Application Programming Interface (API) specifications, set up server entry points, create configuration files, and build the initial UI skeleton - all before solving the first real business problem.

At Nine, we're not just reporting the news; we're building the future of digital experience. When powerful generative AI tools first emerged, the excitement was electric. Like many tech teams, we dove straight in. Everyone was experimenting - designers generating wild concepts, engineers spinning up boilerplate code in seconds.

With widespread use of AI, here at Nine we have been enthusiastically experimenting with Generative AI for opportunities to amplify our capabilities. Empowering our engineers to focus on complex design, creative problem solving while leaving AI to help through mundane tasks and accelerate prototyping.

After two years of using AI coding assistants, Nine has learned that these tools amplify existing engineering practices. Teams with strong release processes, automated testing and collaborative code review extract maximum value from AI, while outlier teams require targeted interventions.

Remember that feeling when you hit a wall in a coding session, wishing for a way to fast-forward to the solution? At Nine, we’re not just wishing - we’re building a future where our engineers work alongside AI to bypass roadblocks and focus on creativity and innovation.

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.

At Nine, "Walk the talk" is more than just a saying; it's a core value that shapes careers and fosters a culture of integrity and continuous learning. We sat down with Product Manager Kiri Winfield, a recent recipient of Nine’s "Walk The Talk" Spark award, to understand how this value guides her daily work and has propelled her career journey at Nine.

With Agile Australia's 2025 conference centred around 'Delighting our Customers', two of Nine's Iteration Managers took to the stage to deliver an interactive workshop, 'The Rescue Mission Game,' highlighting the importance of people over process.

Kevin Lau, Engineering Manager and Claudio Russo, Product Manager share how working on the app has given the team the freedom to take ownership, bring new ideas to the table, and make a real impact.

Data Engineer, Morgan Kerle and his team won both Best Overall Hack and Most Popular Hack. Here's how they did it.