Comms Council announces 2026 speaker lineup for AXIS Speaks

The Comms Council has announced the return of AXIS Speaks for 2026.

The lineup brings together five creative leaders for a morning of inspiration, insight and fresh thinking for New Zealand’s advertising, marketing and communications community.

The event will be held on March 26 at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland.

MC’d by Peter Vegas, the speakers span cultural strategy, award-winning creativity and resilient entrepreneurship.

The 2026 speaker lineup

• Marcus Collins – professor at the University of Michigan, bestselling author of For the Culture, and former chief strategy officer at Wieden + Kennedy. Collins is a leading expert on cultural strategy and consumer behaviour, helping brands create meaningful impact by understanding and embracing cultural movements.
• Andy Blood – Globally one of advertising’s most awarded creatives, Blood has held leading roles at TBWA, Colenso BBDO and Facebook New Zealand. He is also a lecturer in creative entrepreneurship, bringing deep insights into creative excellence and innovation to audiences worldwide.
• Elle Bullen – part-time creative partner at Hellions, copywriter and full-time mum. Bullen has founded two independent advertising agencies, navigated two rounds of maternity leave and two battles with breast cancer, all while being awarded at every major award show, including the Cannes Grand Prix for Good. Her story exemplifies resilience, determination and creative excellence.
• Tau’ili’ili Alpha Maiava – Samoan-born, New Zealand-based vocalist, content-creator and composer. His eight-part documentary series Instruments of the Moana takes him across seven Pacific Islands to rediscover traditional musical instruments and preserve the sounds and stories of the Pacific before they’re lost to time.
• Yuki Kihara – Kihara is an interdisciplinary artist of Samoan descent working and living in Samoa. Her work seeks to challenge dominant and singular historical narratives by exploring the intersectionality between identity politics, decolonisation and ecology through mediums, including performance, sculpture, photography, film and curation.

An essential event for the creative community

“AXIS Speaks has quickly become an essential event for our creative community,” says Simon Lendrum, CEO at the Comms Council.

“This year’s lineup represents the very best in creative thinking, from cultural strategy and consumer insight to award-winning creativity, inspiring personal journeys and powerful Pacific voices. We’re thrilled to bring these perspectives to our industry.”

AXIS Speaks aims to challenge thinking, spark new ideas and set the tone for a year of bold creative work. The event appeals to professionals across advertising, marketing, production and related industries.

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