Felix Barnett: Co-Leading Young Bloods and being an Art Director at 26

In this Industry Convo, I sit down with Toni Newman, owner of Toni+Co, and a dear friend.Toni’s career has been an adventure in shifting, diversifying, networking, and staying open to any possibilities. From starting as a secretary, moving through advertising, production and casting, to running her own production company for many years, each chapter built toward something more meaningful.That led to Toni+Co. An interior design, decorating and styling studio grounded in truly understanding clients (their needs, their lives, their budgets; the whole picture!) to create spaces that not only work and are beautiful, but genuinely improve how people live. One of Toni’s driving forces has always been to say yes and work out the details later. Knocking on doors, leaning on her network, and learning from every experience; she’s a real powerhouse, and her story is a reminder of where backing yourself and saying yes can lead!

In this conversation I talk to Laura and Lily, exploring how their fields in the design industry converge and intersect as a brand strategist and an account executive at the award-winning Melbourne-based creative agency, SICKDOGWOLFMAN. Laura Agricola-Moss is an advertising and brand strategy professional who serves as a Strategy Director. With experience at major agencies such as Saatchi & Saatchi Australia and CP+B in the United States, she specialises in brand communication, and strategic insight. Her work focuses on helping brands develop strong, distinctive positioning by combining creative thinking with data-driven strategy. Get in touch with Laura: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraagricola/ Lily Brownbill-Stevens recently graduated from RMIT with a Bachelor in Professional Communications (Public Relations) and has been steadily building her career in the industry ever since. After completing several successful internships, she gained hands on experience and developed strong client and communication skills. She now works as a Senior Account Executive at SICKDOGWOLFMAN, continuing to grow and establish herself in the field. Get in touch with Lily: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-brownbill-stevens-60b63920b/ Get to know SICKDOGWOLFMAN https://www.sdwm.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/sickdogwolfman/?hl=en

Marcus Byrne once hated AI. After 20 years of making things the hard way, discovering Midjourney felt like the end of his creative identity. Then he changed his mind. In this June 2026 conversation, Marcus, now a creative director and AI specialist, talks about curiosity, craft and learning to see the possibilities. We talk about the four generations of makers in his family, his first experiments with Midjourney, and why human connection and a unique point of view matter more than ever in the age of AI. He's one of the most curious creatives I know. Listen if you're a designer, photographer or creative wondering what AI means for your work.

In this interview we talk to the founder of Studio Round, Michaela Webb. A leader in the design industry, she has spent years shaping her practice into one of Australia’s most thoughtful and influential design studios. Her work is grounded in a belief that design should speak with honesty, intention, and a strong sense of place. With her calm clarity and generous approach to creative thinking, Michaela leads with both intuition and insight. Notable works include the rebranding of Chadstone Shopping Centre, and many renowned restaurants that make up part of Melbourne’s nightlife such as Gimlet, Cumulus Inc, and Attica just to name a few.

Shene Pao is a Melbourne-based communication designer and a recent graduate of Swinburne University’s Communication Design (Honours) program. Her work explores the intersections of culture, identity, and visual storytelling, often drawing on her Chinese heritage to inform thoughtful and inclusive design outcomes. Blending graphic design, love for fashion and analogue craft, Shene brings a reflective, research-driven approach to every project while continuously pushing the boundaries of contemporary visual communication.Check out her workhttps://readymag.website/u3807967818/shenepaodesign/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/shenepao_archives/LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/shene-pao-a2bb6723b/Get to know the Brownbill Effecthttps://thebrownbilleffect.com/