Laura Maxwell champions the commercial power of journalism

Published Mediaweek

ThinkNewsBrands’ new chair Laura Maxwell brings startup agility to local media, driving the commercial power of news.

Speaking from the Gold Coast, recently appointed new chair for ThinkNewsBrands and News Corp Australia state managing director for Queensland, Laura Maxwell, might have surfers catching waves outside her window. But her focus remains strictly on the high-stakes business of Australian journalism.

“My passion for journalism and for news, why we exist, why it’s important, has never been stronger,” Maxwell said. “Chairing ThinkNewsBrands, which really is a champion for journalism, is an absolute privilege. But also I see it as incredibly important.”

Maxwell thrives in the complexity of modern media disruption. As the former chief executive officer of New Zealand’s Stuff Media, she carved out a fierce reputation for leading teams to drive sustainable profit and capture market share.

Prior to that, she held dual heavyweight roles as chief digital officer and chief commercial officer at New Zealand Media and Entertainment. This hybrid background uniquely shapes her approach to leadership.

She’s just as comfortable driving sweeping, company-wide newsroom transformations as she is applying the relentless focus needed to scale a digital startup.