Trainers

Brendon Cropper

Course Director

Digital Training Creator Brendon Cropper is one of Australia’s internet pioneers. With more than 17 years in media planning, digital training, and online sales, Brendon has developed wide experience and a vast array of contacts.

Brendon has worked for leading digital agencies like DDB, Carat and Starcom on hundreds of blue chip global brands.

In early 1999, he founded Real Media Australia, one of the country’s first online sales networks.

More recently, he  chaired the Australian Media Federation's Digital Committee. He also moderated a session at AdTech Sydney 2007 and was one of the select judges at the 2008 IAB Interactive Advertising Awards.

Brendon is one of Australia’s leading internet proponents and the creation of Digital Cadet is the natural extension of his belief in and commitment to the industry.

"For me it's all about helping people gain meaningful insights, valuable contacts and the practical skills required to enter and contribute to this dynamic industry."

Heather Albrecht

Digital Strategist & Trainer

A co-founder of leading agency, Whybin/TBWA (Sydney), Heather Albrecht is one of Australia’s leading digital strategists and trainers.

After a stellar international career in direct marketing, Heather was among the first to see the marketing potential of the internet and became an expert in the integration of digital channels with traditional media.

She has provided digital communications training to leading Australian media agencies like OMD, Zenith, OptiMedia, Starcom, Universal McCann, Initiative, Carat.

She has also worked with major advertising agencies like Digitas in NYC, Publicis, Host and the TBWA network across 12 European countries.

She has been a judge of numerous interactive awards including Chairman of the Judges for the 2003 and 2004 Internet Advertising Awwwards; ADMA Internet Awards; MSN Creative Clique Awards; and the MPNZ web site awards.

Heather works across all digital and emerging media channels with a special interest in Web 2.0 and Social Media applications.

Jo Gaines

Sales Training Consultant

Jo Gaines has spent over 15 years working in advertising sales. She moved into digital sales in 1999, with her first foray at Terraplane Press, assisting to create juice.net, to support Juice (print) magazine. Since 1999, she has worked for various digital publishing companies and networks, including BMCMedia, Sensis and Yahoo!7.

In her most recent role at Yahoo!7, she was responsible for sales management, which included managing a team of 30 employees, forecasting and maintaining sales revenues, dealing with various advertising and sponsorship partners, R&D, and so on, for the Australian business.

Over the past 8 years, she has received various accolades, including MFA Online Representative of the Year (2000), Internet Dream Team member, Mindshare Interactive Salesperson of the Year (2003) and nomination for Yahoo! Global Superstar award (2004). She has also been a key member of the IAB and had various industry speaking engagements.

Jo is currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Management). She has also run several training seminars for her sales team/s. She has an Acting Diploma and has studied Marketing through Sydney Technical College. She has also completed various sales and management specific training modules such as Conflict Resolution Skills, Leadership & Management and Negotiation Skills.

Jo is presently working on a new business initiative with fellow industry leaders, which will launch in the second half of 2007.