IAB Australia has appointed Nicole Prior, Head of Media and Adtech Solutions APAC at Microsoft Advertising, as the Chair of the the Executive Technology Council (ETC). She succeeds Adele Wieser, Managing Director of Index Exchange, who has completed her two-year term as Chair.

In her new role, Prior will also serve as the ETC representative on the IAB Australia board. She brings nearly thirty years of industry experience to the position, having previously worked with organisations such as Xandr, UM Australia, Mediacom, Starcom, and Seven Network. Her extensive background spans agency, publisher, and adtech sectors, which has been highlighted as a significant asset for her new role.

CEO of IAB Australia, Gai Le Roy, said: “Nicole’s depth of knowledge and experience across agency, publisher and now adtech, made her the ideal candidate to lead the IAB Australia Executive Technology Council. Her input into the IAB Board on behalf of the ETC and independent ad tech will be invaluable.”

The IAB Executive Technology Council is dedicated to advancing advertising technology innovation. It provides insights, leadership, and strategic guidance, particularly within the digital value chain. A key priority for the ETC is the development and upskilling of industry professionals through initiatives like the IAB Mentorship Program.

The ETC collaborates closely with IAB Australia’s technology-focused councils on various projects. These include delivering definitions and guidance around Made for Advertising sites, which are pivotal in the current digital advertising landscape.

The council comprises representatives from a diverse range of companies, including Carsales, Cartology, Google, GumGum, Half Dome, Index Exchange, InMobi, Integral Ad Science, Kinesso, LiveRamp, Magnite, Microsoft Advertising, News Corp Australia, Nine, OpenX, Publicis Groupe, PubMatic, REA, Seven, StackAdapt, The Trade Desk, and Yahoo!

IAB Australia, an independent industry association, boasts over 170 members in Australia and nearly 9,000 globally. Its membership includes media owners, publishers, technology companies, agencies, and advertisers. The organisation aims to support sustainable and diverse investment in digital advertising across all platforms in Australia.

“I’m honoured to be appointed as the Chair of IAB Australia’s Executive Technology Council and look forward to working collaboratively with all members of the ETC on strategic initiatives to support the industry, and the many talented people that work within it,” said Prior.