About Publishers Australia

Board of Directors

Geoff Hird - Chair

Geoff is Publisher at Westwick-Farrow Media and Chairman of Publishers Australia. Geoff has a broad and extensive publishing and media background. His 22 years in the industry includes roles in editorial, design, sales, sales management and publishing management. Geoff has spoken at international and local conferences on brand extension, multi-platform publishing and the challenges facing traditional media companies in a rapidly changing landscape.
Jeremy Vaughan - Vice chair

Jeremy is the Managing Director of Haymarket Media and Vice Chairman of Publishers Australia. He was appointed chief executive officer of Haymarket Worldwide Asia and director of Haymarket Worldwide in 1999 and Managing Director of Haymarket Media and Events Australia in 2003. Jeremy is also a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) General Committee.
   Ash Hunter - Finance Director, Retail/Newsagency

Ash is CEO of JUST Magazines based in Melbourne. JUST Magazines is one of Australia’s largest privately owned publishing companies, publications include Just Cars and Just Bikes. Ash believes strongly in the 'niches' in today's marketplace, maintaining that classified niche advertising is a successful formula, be it off or online.

 
Bobbi Mahlab

Bobbi is the owner and managing director of Mahlab Media, a company she founded in 1997 that publishes contract and consumer magazines and digital content in Australia and more recently, in the USA. Mahlab’s career began as a business and commercial property journalist. She is the co-founder of two local newspapers including Sydney’s first newspaper for city residents. In addition to running her own enterprise, her experience includes roles with News Limited, Fairfax and Text Media.
Chris Bland - VIC

Chris is Managing Director of Great Southern Press, and has overseen a tenfold growth in the business in the past eight years, moving from a one title print publisher to a modern, integrated publisher. Holding Law and Arts degrees from the University of Melbourne, Chris has extensive experience in all aspects of modern publishing including sales, digital and events. Chris has a great love for business-to-business publishing, and the way it can enhance and add value to all industries and is passionate about ensuring that the publishing industry survives and adapts to the rapidly changing environment.
Lisa Paton - Custom

Lisa is Hardie Grant Magazines’ Sydney Publishing Director, is a UK journalist and editor by trade. She has had a long career in custom media, having risen through the ranks from junior editor at Specialist Publications (Omnicom) to an Editor for the Daily Mail Group before holding positions as Editorial Director, Publisher and then General Manager of Pacific Publications’ custom division. She then consulted to EMAP Australia, before joining Hardie Grant in 2003 to help build the Sydney business, which now flourishes under her creative leadership.
Nick Chan

Nick joined Pacific Magazines in March 2004, having previously held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Text Media Group. Prior to that he held a series of senior management positions at Australian Consolidated Press, including Group Publisher - Major Market & Lifestyle Group and Chief Operating Officer. Nick has a total of 20 years publishing experience.
Martin Lane - Digital

Martin is publishing director of Focal Attractions, a publishing and events company whose portfolio includes media and marketing website Mumbrella and Encore magazine. Martin started his career at TNT and Reed Business UK. Once in Sydney, he headed up Reed’s travel division, then became publishing director at TNT and set up Focal Attractions. Mumbrella launched in late-2008 and acquired Encore Magazine in 2010. In 2011, Martin oversaw launch of conference brands Mumbrella360 and EncoreLive.
Alan Kirk - QLD

Alan is Executive Director of The Magazine Publishing Company (TMPC), an established and respected Brisbane-based publishing house that has been producing B2B and custom magazine titles for more than 25 years. His vision, passion and commitment to the industry has led TMPC to win more Publishers Australia Excellence/Bell awards than any other Queensland-based publishing company. Alan has been a very vocal and supportive member of Publishers Australia for more than 13 years.
Phillip Tarrant

As director of Sterling Publishing, Phillip has played an integral role in the development and success of the business. Working with co-director Alex Whitlock, Phillip has driven the vertical integration and extension of all of Sterling’s products across traditional and new media – resulting in greater brand engagement and increased revenue. He previously worked at Momentum Media, and has over 10 years of publishing experience, working on the launch and development of a number of titles for the finance and international development sectors.