Note mention of new studios at South Eveleigh.
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Lucinda Gemmell joins Seven West Media
Seven West Media today announced the appointment of Lucinda Gemmell as Chief People and Culture Officer, reporting to Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer James Warburton.
Ms Gemmell will join Seven West Media in March and will lead the human resources and employee experience across the Seven Network and Seven West Media (WA).
Since June 2020, Ms Gemmell has been Chief People and Culture Officer at air navigation service provider Airservices Australia, where she was responsible for the people and culture strategy and transformation, talent, diversity and inclusion, leadership development, organisational effectiveness, functional training, and industrial relations.
Before Airservices Australia, Ms Gemmell was Chief People and Culture Officer at Virgin Australia Airlines. She has also held people and culture roles at Woolworths, Diageo Asia Pacific, Fairfax Media and Rio Tinto.
Mr Warburton said: “I am very pleased to welcome Lucinda to Seven. She joins us with an impressive resume that includes experience in senior people and culture leadership, business, strategy and commercial management roles in ASX, multinational, Asia Pacific and government organisations.
“In recent years, Seven has seen significant industrial reform, an expansion of our people experience programs, and a strong focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. In March this year, we became the first media company in Australia awarded a citation as Employer of Choice for gender equality by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency. Seven was just one of just 12 companies across Australia to be added this year.
“We have a great people and culture team at Seven and I know that they, and all of our company, will enjoy working with Lucinda,” he said.
Ms Gemmell said: “I am delighted to join James and the team at Seven West Media and continue the great work that has been done as an employer of choice for gender equality and on inclusion and diversity. It is a privilege to continue to build on this legacy, working with the executive team, the people and culture team and all of the fantastic team at Seven.”
Ms Gemmell has also been a Director of Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia since November 2019.
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Melissa Hopkins joins Seven West Media
Seven West Media today announced the appointment of Melissa Hopkins as Chief Marketing and Audience Officer, reporting to Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer James Warburton.
Ms Hopkins, who will join Seven West Media in March next year, is currently Vice President Marketing CMO at Optus. She has worked at Optus since late 2016 and previously held the roles of Head of Consumer Marketing and Senior Director of Marketing and Communications.
One of Australia’s most successful and acclaimed marketers, Ms Hopkins returned to Australia in late 2015 following 20 years working overseas with leading brands such as the British Army, Absolut Vodka, Procter & Gamble, the UK Government, Fujitsu, Docomo and Vodafone (where she was Global Head of Marketing).
At Seven West Media, Ms Hopkins will be responsible for driving audience numbers and growth across the entire portfolio.Her remit covers Seven West Media brand strategy, consumer and trade marketing, audience research, promotions, publicity, social media and corporate communications. She will also partner closely with the Commercial and Content teams to deliver their ambitions.
Mr Warburton said: “Melissa is a fantastic addition to the team that has made Seven Australia’s most-watched total TV network and one of the best-performing companies in the local media sector.
“A highly commercial, creative and energetic senior leader with over 25 years’ global experience both agency and client side, Melissa has deep consumer and enterprise experience across a wide range of sectors and high-profile brands. She has a strong track record in driving award winning and commercially successful brand initiatives and platforms, leading to strong market share, revenue and earnings growth.
“I am very much looking forward to welcoming her to Seven,” he said.
Ms Hopkins said: “It is a privilege to be joining one of Australia’s most iconic brands at a period where there is such strong ambition for growth and transformation. I look forward to joining such a visionary leadership team to drive growth and shake up the category”
Ms Hopkins is also a strategic advisor to the National Mental Health Commission and an advisory board member at ADMA.
Seven West Media launches Reconciliation Action Plan
Seven West Media today announced the launch of its inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Endorsed by Reconciliation Australia, Seven’s first Reflect RAP has been developed to strengthen Seven’s relationship with First Nations communities, embed reconciliation throughout the business and provide Seven with meaningful accountability.
Seven’s Reflect RAP aims to set out a long-term framework that will contribute positively to the pursuit of reconciliation, as well as empower and educate those within Seven about issues that continue to face First Nations people.
Seven West Media Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, James Warburton, said: “Seven is very proud to launch its Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan and receive accreditation from Reconciliation Australia.
“We have already commenced our journey and Seven’s RAP cements our commitment to meaningful reconciliation efforts across Australia.
“As the home of Australia’s biggest and most watched commercial television network and Western Australia’s #1 newspaper, we always strive to use this position to effect positive change,” he said.
Seven West Media Director of People and Culture, Davanh Inthachanh, said: “Diversity, inclusion and driving positive change is at the heart of Seven West Media. That’s why we’re committed to delivering a RAP that enhances our internal capacity and awareness about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, while using our unrivalled national platform to raise awareness and celebrate the culture and histories of First Nations peoples.
“In our journey towards reconciliation, over the coming year we will increase our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander procurement, create Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment strategies, develop internal policies that enable our people to volunteer time to participate in First Nations peoples charities and community work, and to provide tools, resources and activities to help our people better understand, celebrate and empower First Nations people. We look forward to reporting the progress and next phase of our RAP journey.”
Seven’s Reconciliation Action Plan is part of the company’s sustainability framework, which has a purpose to use the power of Seven’s platforms to inspire a better “us”, by making a difference in areas that matter to individuals, families, communities, businesses, organisations and to our nation.
Seven commissioned emerging artist Brian James Devonshire to create bespoke artwork to reflect its story. The artwork is titled “Niina Marni” and was inspired by Seven’s connection to the communities it operates in, from the small regional towns in heartland Australia to the largest metropolitan cities.
Describing the artwork, Mr Devonshire said: “The Rainbow Serpent of life meanders through the regional communities of the states and territories of our Australia. The artwork is also inspired by Seven West Media’s inclusiveness of LGBTQI+ across the organisation, so I took the opportunity to incorporate non-traditional shades in the piece and use more contemporary colours.”
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Seven partners with The Careers Department
The Seven Network today announced it has joined forces with The Careers Department, a leading Australian educational tech company, to provide career education resources and help prepare students for roles in growth industries.
The partnership will see Seven support The Careers Department’s 2022/2023 National Schools’ Tour and face-to-face workshops in over 100 metropolitan, regional and remote schools, with 7NEWS and Sunrise reporters, including Sam Mac, creating video content that will give students a behind-the-scenes look at life working in the television industry.
Seven will also promote The Career Department’s inaugural national virtual work experience competition, which is open to all Australian students with the winner given the opportunity to undertake a week’s work experience at one of Seven’s offices and studios, along with a $2,000 Apple voucher.
Founded in 2016 by Samantha Devlin and Sarah Warmoll, The Careers Department unlocks career opportunities for students. Its online platform has helped 1.4 million Australian families and is licensed by over 650 high schools and 1,000 primary schools.
Seven West Media Director of Marketing, Larissa Ozard, said: “By joining forces with The Careers Department, we hope to help students access job opportunities and inspire career decisions they may never have considered before.
“Seven has a long commitment to providing opportunities for future generations and creating clear pathways for young Australians. Last year we established the David Leckie Seven Scholarship Program, which offers a 12-month scholarship at Seven West Media for a junior graduate with a passion for sales, programming or news, and we continue to dedicate major resources to projects and initiatives across Australia that deliver a better future for younger Australians.”
The Careers Department Co-Founder, Samantha Devlin, said: “We are pleased to welcome the Seven Network to our partnership family. As a leader in the media industry and Australia’s most-watched TV network, Seven’s reach across broadcast and digital will be fantastic to engage students, teachers, and their families on the benefits of The Careers Department’s work.
“Our partnership with Seven and its participation in our national virtual work experience competition means we can use its national reach and influence to ensure as many students as possible can be exposed to industries and careers they may not otherwise have known about.”
Research by The Careers Department has found that 38% of students leave school without knowing what they want to do as a career, with parents being the biggest influence on students and their chosen careers.
Ms Devlin said: “We believe no student should be limited by their network, heritage, geographic or socio-economic circumstances when choosing their career. The employment and tertiary study choices of high school students are often impacted by their limited understanding of different industries. If they cannot see it, they cannot be it.
“Many students will only choose a career based on what they see around them or via parental direction, so the national virtual work experience competition is an opportunity for all Australian students to explore, discover, and try their hand at a new field they may never have considered working in previously.”
For more information on the competition, please visit: http://www.thecareersdepartment.com/competition
Chris Brown joins Seven
The Seven Network is delighted to announce that one of Australia’s most popular and talented television presenters, Chris Brown, will join the network in July.
The much-loved, award-winning presenter and author started his television career on Seven’s Harry’s Practice two decades ago before going on to star in and present some of Australia’s most successful programs.
Seven will announce details of Chris’ new projects for Channel 7 and 7plus later this year.
Seven West Media Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, James Warburton, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Chris back to Seven. It’s been too long.
“Chris is one of the most popular and recognised people on Australian TV, bringing warmth, intelligence and a great sense of humour to everything he does. We can’t wait to have him on board and to announce the great new content he will star in.”
Growing up in the suburbs of Newcastle NSW with his dad Graeme as the local vet, it seemed logical that Chris would follow in his father’s footsteps. But Chris’ path has been a diverse and interesting one.
After graduating from Sydney University with first-class honours, Chris’ career took a strange turn when he was spotted by a talent scout telling animal stories over a few beers in a pub. He has been telling stories and helping animals on our screens ever since.
From Harry’s Practice to Burke’s Backyard and then Bondi Vet, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, The Living Room, Vet Gone Wild and a regular panellist on The Project, animals and adventure have made Chris one of TV’s hardest-working hosts. Yet, he still finds time to do what he truly loves: working as a vet in the Bondi Junction Veterinary Hospital, surfing, playing some (terrible) guitar and spending time with his dog Buzz and cat Cricket.
Chris said: “I’m not entirely sure my old access pass works but once we get over that hurdle and I’m back from the jungle, I can’t wait to sink my teeth into some exciting new projects in the second half of the year and beyond with Seven.”
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Sounds like an exclusive deal which would mean this is his last season of Jungle
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That “For Lease” sign went up last year and I posted a photo of it on Media Spy.
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Chris Brown to be part of a news/current affairs panel show at 7pm, Home and Away moves to 7.30 -an hour twice a week. That’s my speculation.
They did talk about drama being scheduled at 7.30…
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Today Tonight revival maybe? Or national Flashpoint? Should be on 7two.
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Permanent replacement for Dr Harry Cooper. BH&G will transition from Cooper to Brown for the animals segment next year.
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With Carrie Bickmore. 
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The sign was up last November when i was in Sydney
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They should wait until they move to their new studios and then launch.
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I know this debate has been done several times and this isn’t the right thread, but why on earth would Seven want a news/current affairs show at 7pm? The market is already filled with four options in The Project, ACA, ABC News and SBS World News. You’d struggle to find enough viewers for a fifth news program - why would they leave what they’re already watching when Seven would basically be producing the exact same? Home and Away is an alternative for those not interested in news and is rating well this year. We need to look after Australian drama.
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Are you worried that they will produce a high rating program that will be too woke for your conservative views? 
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Can’t beat ‘em?
Join ‘em.
Chris will likely do BH&G, some Sunrise/TMS and probably front one of the primetime reality shows or an animal themed show.
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One day you guys will let this go. It’s not going to happen.
Home and Away is safe at 7:00pm and on the main channel no matter how much it irritates some people here.
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