LinkedIn Top Voices 2019: Australia

Today we’re unveiling our 2nd annual Top Voices list highlighting professionals in a variety of industries and regions who are building communities and starting thoughtful conversations on LinkedIn through their articles, posts, videos and comments. These are the people you should be following to get inspired and stay informed. 

To find standout voices, we used a combination of quantitative and qualitative signals, starting with a custom algorithm from our LinkedIn Data Science team and then curated by our LinkedIn Editors. You can learn more about how we compiled the list at the bottom of this article and can check out Top Voices around the world and across industries — from finance to education — here. 

We dug into the data to find standout voices in Australia. From an Olympian to a CEO, government minister to musician, this year's Top Voices are more diverse than ever. Despite their differences, what stands out about this group is that they all understand the importance of learning together and helping others to create opportunity out of their experience — whether that means going behind the scenes, creating a video series or going deep on the issues that matter to Australians.

Here are this year’s 10 #LinkedInTopVoices in Australia.

What she talks about: With 27 studio albums to her name, Ceberano knows the music industry inside out. She posts behind-the-scenes photos, AMAs and announcements, sharing with her fans and industry alike.

A look into her content: In what she calls a great “luau of love,” the talented musician reveals she likes to “invite different friends to come up and play on the night and we all rotate instruments” just for fun.

Follow Kate Ceberano

What he talks about: With a “straightforward and honest perspective,” Chant draws inspiration from two decades’ worth of creative industry experience to share key learnings with leaders for “happier and more creative, productive and effective” workplaces. 

The best career advice he’s received: “You will only be right 50% of the time — the trick is to get to a point where you know which 50% that will be,” Chant tells LinkedIn. To get there, he recommends honing your “gut instinct” and acknowledging that “along the way you’ll make a lot of mistakes”. 

Follow Rodd Chant

What she talks about: From 2D dining experiences in Seoul to Copenhagen’s Hogwarts-inspired projection ceiling, Di Stefano’s mission is to highlight “the importance of art” beyond being “purely a viewing experience”. She does this by showcasing a combination of large-scale immersive experiences and art installations.

One thing not on her LinkedIn profile: An artist across mediums, Di Stefano’s past life as a cellist informs her present-day work, instilling in her “the importance of the perfect soundscape for creating a truly engaging and immersive experience,” she tells LinkedIn.

Follow Dorothy Di Stefano

What he talks about: After joining the family business while he was still at school, maybe it was inevitable that Drake would go on to lead the largest independent retailer in South Australia. The racing enthusiast has created 17 videos discussing retail news, written articles to support a skilled workforce with new jobs, and built posts about representing retail in regional initiatives.

The most interesting opportunity out of LinkedIn: After writing a story about the “detrimental environmental impact” plastic packaging has, Drake connected with an employee from an alternative packaging company called Cucumber. A year later, Drakes became “the first supermarket in the country to launch continental cucumbers with compostable wrap”.

Follow John-Paul Drake

What he talks about: Former Socceroos captain Foster finds a way to bridge his passions of social impact and football. Highlights include sharing his visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, a behind-the-scenes look at the United Nations and bringing indigenous children together with sports.

A look into his content: “As busy as we all are as former players,” Foster writes, “it’s so important to still spend time in the grass roots, with local clubs, volunteers.” 

Follow Craig Foster

What she talks about: Since founding Showpo in her parents’ garage back in 2010, Lu has made plenty of mistakes and enjoyed some major successes. As a key voice in Australia’s startup scene, she shares her learnings with early entrepreneurs while celebrating major personal and company-wide milestones. 

The trend she’s watching in 2020: “There’s so many exciting trends in retail,” Lu tells LinkedIn. “It’s one of the things I absolutely love about this industry.” To stay ahead of the curve, she’ll be watching “entertain-merce” — a hybrid of e-commerce and entertainment — social shopping and alternative delivery methods.

Follow Jane Lu

What she talks about: One of Australia’s greatest Olympians, Pearson shares inspirational and motivational content, including her personal struggles, with her followers for honest insight into her world as a dual world champion.

A tip about productivity life hacks: Pearson doesn’t believe in shortcuts. “There are no hacks,” she says. “Preparation is key to being highly successful. If you are getting ready for a competition, project or job interview that you’re really passionate about, then preparation is not a problem.”

Follow Sally Pearson

What he talks about: As chief executive of a professional services firm, Sayers shares what he calls “a combination of content” from his day-to-day work — from detailing PwC’s latest insights, to starting a powerful conversation about age discrimination in the workplace. 

The best conversation he’s seen on a LinkedIn post: Sayers’ favourite posts are the ones that “generate real conversation”. His post about homelessness stirred up quite a buzz among his readers, resulting in an 80-person workshop with the firm to develop practical solutions.

Follow Luke Sayers

What she talks about: Levelling the playing field for women in the workforce by 2025 is Vines’ North Star. She draws from diverse voices and personal experiences to highlight the “power of visible leadership” and inclusivity. 

One thing not on her LinkedIn profile: Vines became a widow at 31 whilst juggling a full-time job and two young children. The hardships she faced drove her to create opportunities for women to “thrive no matter what life throws at them”.

Follow Fiona Vines

What he talks about: A voice for Australia’s indigenous community, Wyatt actively finds ways to bring marginalised communities together to “shed light on the past, challenge the mainstream of thinking and create a truly inclusive future”. 

A look into his content: After being sworn into the 46th Parliament of Australia, Wyatt thanked “the people of Hasluck for this privilege — and to all who have walked this path with me”.

Follow Ken Wyatt

You’ve read about the Top Voices in Australia this year. Now, check out the #LinkedInTopVoices in India, the UK, the Gulf region, and more.

How we compiled the Top Voices list

First, our editors partnered with the LinkedIn Data Science team to measure the actions a member is able to generate when they engage on the platform. Specifically, we looked at the volume of responses a person’s contributions sparked and the secondary spread of those responses. These signals are proxies for conversation and community development. That said, engagement metrics aren’t enough. Our next filter was qualitative. Editors refined the list by looking at the member’s body of work: Are the contributions insightful, conversational and timely? Do they seek to give and get help vs being self-promotional? Finally, does this list reflect the world we work in today? 

All sharing activity measured took place over a 12-month period, from September 2018 to September 2019. As with all LinkedIn Lists, we exclude LinkedIn and Microsoft employees from consideration.

Reported by: Lauren Lee, Natalie MacDonald and Capucine Yeomans