Announcing Jane Evans: ‘The Gospel Of A Mad Woman’ Australian Tour 2026
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 hours ago
Independent adland movement Mavens, together with industry recruiters No Sunday Blues, will present UK-based advertising legend Jane Evans in her bold Australian tour, ‘The Gospel Of A Mad Woman’.
The B&T Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Founder, Author, Keynote Speaker, Matriarch, Futurist and Myth Buster will deliver keynote talks for Mavens at INNOCEAN Australia in Sydney (May 21) and HERO agency in Melbourne (May 28). Each talk will share anecdotes and lessons from Evans’ admirable career in advertising, which began as a Junior Art Director at London hot shop Leagas Delaney.
In the first ten years of her career she was the first woman in the creative department three times. She was handcuffed and carted into the back of a Paddy Wagon saying, "But I'm wearing Zampatti darling, one simply can't be committed in Zampatti!" She launched Microsoft Word v1. She gave Cate Blanchett her first job granting her three wishes from the Tim Tam genie. She got Sydneysiders onside to host the Olympics. She headed the team tasked with explaining how digital would affect Kodak (they didn’t listen).
She made the first ads to show a divorced couple, an unmarried couple living together, and men doing the laundry.
She set up her own agency with clients like Revlon, Maserati and the Guide Dog Association. And she gave us James Squire Beer.
Then she disappeared off to London and became completely invisible. Then invaluable. Now she’s coming back and bringing all the tea.
Mavens Founder, Copywriter Leah Morris, first met Evans when Morris interviewed her for Mavens magazine in a piece titled ‘Why ageism against women can get f**ked’.
“Look around the Australian advertising industry and you’ll see that experienced women role models, especially those over sixty, are rare as roo eggs”, says Morris. “Jane Evans is punk as f**k and it’s really refreshing. She is exactly what this industry needs more of.”
Evans’ Australian Tour is supported by industry recruitment company No Sunday Blues as Major Partner. With Founders Charlotte, Steph, and Mikhaila shaking up recruitment to make it feel more human, it’s a partnership close to their hearts.
Says Mikhaila Warburton:
"As female founders, this partnership is deeply personal for us. We've experienced the realities many women face across this industry. From bias to burnout to rebuilding careers on our own terms. Mavens creates the kind of space we wish existed earlier in our careers, where women can be seen, heard and supported to grow.”
“We're proud to stand behind a platform that is actively shaping stronger, more connected futures for women in our industry."
Says Jasmin Bedir, CEO of Innocean Australia and Founder of FcktheCupcakes: “I’m delighted that we can not only support Jane’s tour and our close friends from Mavens and No Sunday Blues at the same time. I mean Jane Evans in our building, this has to be the coolest event ever! This will be no doubt be sold out in no time.”
Anais Read, Senior Copywriter at HERO and Assisterhood Creative Lead says: “HERO is extremely excited to support Mavens and host ad royalty like Jane. There’ll be plenty to laugh at and plenty more to mull over, no matter your gender.”
Jane Evans will also cover:
How to go from invisible to invaluable as a midlife woman in advertising.
Challenging algorithmic bias via #FairnessInTheFeed with Cindy Gallop and Samantha Katz.
Building a community of matriarchs, The 7th Tribe.
Her new book, which will be available for purchase and signing.
Jane Evans: ‘The Gospel Of A Mad Woman’ Australian Tour 2026
QLD
Cairns Crocodiles
May 12-14
NSW
INNOCEAN Australia 40-50 Francis St, Darlinghurst
Thursday May 21, 5.30pm
VIC
HERO Melbourne
26 King St, Prahran
Thursday May 28, 5.30pm
Tickets for both Mavens venues (VIC and NSW) are $27.50 + booking fee. Includes include drinks, light refreshments, Q&A and networking. Tickets are strictly limited so get yours now.
Get involved:
Follow on Instagram: @mavens_aus Follow on LinkedIn: Mavens Website: themavens.com.au Credits:
Founder & Editor: Leah Morris Chief Strategist: Alison Rentoul Mavens branding: MEK Portrait of Jane Evans: Maya Hart Mavens 2026 Champion Ally: Wiplist
