Maree McDonough
Executive Director
In the mid-1980s, Maree was unsure whether to follow in her father’s footsteps of a career in advertising or become a teacher. The decision was made when she was offered a media job with Leo Burnett. In 1991, she joined Clemenger before moving to Mindshare in 1998. She mainly worked on QSR, FMCG and alcohol accounts.
In 2001, Maree took on the role of Training Leader with Mindshare Sydney and realised it was her vocation. As a result, she was awarded Mindshare’s Regional Training Leader in 2003. Maree was offered an opportunity in 2006 to move to Hong Kong to take up the first ever role of Regional L&D Director for GroupM Asia/Pacific. 5 years later, she was promoted to Managing Director where she led an award-winning team, co-creating over 25 workshops ranging from communication skills to leadership to digital. She is a trainer, coach, facilitator, and instructional designer.
When not working, Maree can be found on the streets of Sydney enjoying a renewed passion for running. She also loves yoga and going for long walks on the beach
Maree’s favourite quote from Oprah Winfrey is: “You teach people how to treat you.”
Linda Robson
Executive Director
In the mid-1980s, Linda was training to be an accountant and when faced with two job offers; one with an accounting firm and the other in finance with Lintas, she chose the latter. In 1989, Linda made her second career change and transferred from finance to media with Mitchell & Partners. From there, she moved onto JWT, Saatchi & Saatchi and Starcom and spent 17 years working on FMCG accounts.
In 2007, Linda made her third career change and joined the L&D unit with GroupM Asia/Pacific. It was an area she was passionate about having worked as a Macleay College Media Lecturer and being a founding member of the MFA Education Committee. At GroupM, she co-created over 25 workshops including an award-winning leadership program. Linda has worked in local and regional roles and speaks English, basic Cantonese and tourist Thai. She is a trainer, coach, facilitator, and instructional designer.
When she is not working, she loves travelling with her son. Highlights include; trekking in Nepal, snorkelling in the Galapagos, and taking an icebreaker ship to Antarctica.
Linda’s favourite quote from a 1985 Vidal Sassoon ad is: “If you don’t look good, we don’t look good.”
Michelle Ko
Training Consultant
Michelle has a degree in journalism from HK Shue Yan University and was looking at a career in journalism when the advertising industry caught her eye. Since 1997, she has held many senior leadership roles in North Asia including Managing Director of Mindshare Shanghai and President of MEC China. She has a track record in managing teams, identifying new business opportunities, and driving profitability.
Michelle joined GroupM’s regional learning and development team in 2012, working closely with Linda Robson and Maree McDonough. She has delivered training across 13 countries to over 3,000 individuals. Michelle is a trained trainer, coach, facilitator, and instructional designer. Her ability to speak three languages fluently (English, Mandarin, and Cantonese) is a real asset as a training consultant for The Hummingbirds in APAC.
Affectionately known as “Cherry”, she splits her time between Hong Kong and Australia and loves yoga, travel, and learning new skills. She recently learnt how to ski!
Michelle’s favourite quote from Henry Ford is: “The only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay.”
