MELBOURNE: PLATFORM | Junior Professionals Networking – Developing your personal brand

Dan Speake is a Senior Consultant at Porter Novelli, having joined in 2021 after more than four years in the legal industry at one of Melbourne’s top-tier family law firms. In his time at Porter Novelli, Dan has supported and led full-service integrated communications campaigns, stakeholder management and issues management for clients across professional services, property, government, health, not-for-profit and agriculture.
During his studies, Dan co-founded a watch company from funds raised through a crowdfunding service. He still owns the business today and leads the content creation and brand management.

Giorgia Manenti is a seasoned Content Lead at Australian Brushware Corporation (ABC) and DIY Resolutions (DIY). With seven years’ expertise spanning agency and in-house environments, she specialises in communication strategies for the lifestyle and home interior sector. Having begun her journey at ABC and DIY as a Marketing Coordinator four years ago, Giorgia now leads a dynamic content and social media team, revealing the pivotal role of content marketing in today’s landscape. At the helm of creative direction for five prominent brands within ABC and DIY, Giorgia ensures the seamless execution of best-in-class content across visual and written mediums, encompassing brand-led campaigns, social media direction, TV commercials, public relations, and brand partnerships.

Craig is an intellectual property and technology lawyer with expertise in all facets of IT contracting and procurement, including advising on competitive procurement processes and the preparation and negotiation of supply and service contracts, such as anything-as-a-service, agile software development, hardware supply and maintenance contracts and managed services arrangements. He has also worked with clients to develop terms of use for electronic commerce platforms.

Craig is experienced in data security and information privacy matters, such as preparing privacy and credit reporting policies, employee procedures and data breach response plans, as well as delivery of privacy training. Craig has a broad knowledge of Victorian and Commonwealth privacy laws, as well as the GDPR. Craig has advised a number of clients on compliance with the mandatory data breach notification requirements under the Privacy Act, including whether a data breach is notifiable and the preparation of notifications and applications for exemption from notification requirements.

As a registered trade mark attorney, he has routinely advised and represented clients in relation to intellectual property protection, commercialisation and enforcement. Craig has worked with clients to recognise and protect their valuable intellectual property assets, including identifying those assets and taking steps to protect the assets through registration (if available). He has prepared and negotiated commercialisation agreements, including licence agreements, collaboration agreements and research and development agreements.

Sam Williams is an Associate in the Melbourne Dispute Resolution & Litigation team. A general litigator with three-years of post-admission experience, Sam works across a broad range of litigation and disputes in corporate and commercial law.

Sam has experience advising and representing clients across a wide range of industries, in matters involving shareholder disputes, trusts litigation, Australian Consumer Law claims, banking and finance litigation, wills and estates and insurance litigation. He has worked on a number of large, complex disputes in the Supreme Court of Victoria, as well as Federal Courts and other Victorian Courts and Tribunals.

Sam is currently studying a Master of Data Analytics, which enhances his analytical and problem-solving skills. This unique combination enables him to provide innovative solutions for his clients.