Australia - International Institute of Communications

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Michael Coonan Director of Public Policy, Free TV Australia; President of the Australian Chapter of the International Institute of Communications

Michael Coonan joined Free TV Australia in January 2024 as Director of Public Policy, having previously held policy, regulatory and government affairs roles at SBS and Foxtel. Prior to Foxtel, Mr Coonan worked at the Australian Communications and Media Authority, in both broadcasting and telecommunications regulation.

Michael is Vice President of the Australian Chapter of the International Institute of Communications, and a member of the Board of the Restless Dance Theatre.

Sarah Kruger Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, IAB Australia; Co-Vice President of the Australian Chapter of the International Institute of Communications

Sarah Kruger is Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs at IAB Australia, and Co-Vice President of the Australian Chapter of the International Institute of Communications. She has extensive experience in government affairs, policy, legal and regulatory work across the Australian, US and European media and technology sectors. Sarah joined IAB Australia from Seven West Media where she was Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs, and was previously Chief Legal & Government Affairs Officer at Commercial Radio & Audio. Before coming to Australia, Sarah was a Senior Associate at US firm Covington + Burling, where she worked for the tech industry on international policy issues from London and Washington DC. Sarah holds BA (Hons) and MA degrees from the University of Cambridge, UK.

James Konidaris Special Counsel, Squire Patton Boggs; Co-Vice President of the Australian Chapter of the International Institute of Communications

James Konidaris is Special Counsel at Squire Patton Boggs, and Co-Vice President of the Australian Chapter of the International Institute of Communications.

He has extensive legal and regulatory experience in communications and technology, spanning Australia, the UK, Europe and the Middle East. He advises on a broad range of regulatory, policy and commercial matters and disputes, including international and multijurisdictional advice and transactions. He regularly advises global companies in the IT, communications, and automotive sectors, as well as regulatory authorities and not-for-profit organisations. James is co-author of the ‘EU Electronic Communications Code Handbook’ (Bloomsbury Professional), and a contributing author to the LexisNexis Practice Notes on ‘The European Electronic Communications Code’ and ‘Radio Spectrum Regulation’.

Debra Richards Director, APAC Content, Studio & Production Affairs, ANZ Public Policy, Netflix; Treasurer of the Australian Chapter of the International Institute of Communications

Debra Richards took up the role Director of Studio & Production Affairs at Netflix in September 2019, covering studio affairs, production and content policy for the APAC region. She has over 35 years communications, media & screen industry experience, previously as CEO of the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA), a director of Australia’s broadcasting regulator, then the Australian Broadcasting Authority (& Tribunal) and as the immediate past CEO of Ausfilm, attracting major production and post production work to Australia.

Ms Richards has been involved in most screen content policy and production industry issues during her working life as regulator, stakeholder and advocate covering local content, sports rights, copyright, digital conversion and distribution disruption. She was also an advisor to a previous federal Communications & Arts Minister, Michael Lee.

Ms Richards is a Vice President of the Communications and Media Law Association (CAMLA) Board; a Director of the International Institute of Communications, Australia (IICA); Deputy Chair of the Alcohol Beverage Advertising Code (ABAC) adjudication panel; a Director of Northcott, a professional member of the Australian Film Institute (AFI) and a marriage celebrant.

Ms Richards has recently been reappointed as a Member of the Australian Film, Television & Radio School’s (AFTRS) Council (and is currently Deputy Chair) and a member of the NSW Film & Television Industry Advisory Committee.

Joanne Ryan Managing Director, Infodec Communications; Secretary of the Australian Chapter of the International Institute of Communications

Bio coming soon…

Established in 2005, the International Institute of Communications (Australian Chapter) has been instrumental in providing a neutral platform for discussion and debate surrounding key technology, media and telecommunications policy developments on a local and international scale.

The Chapter holds regular events featuring guest speakers from the ranks of Australia’s senior thought leaders, politicians and policy makers. Discussion is enhanced by tapping into the breadth of the IIC’s international network of industry experts with events regularly featuring global perspectives and insights.

Further details can be found https://iicom.org.au/

Recent appointments to the Committee for the Australian Chapter:

Executive: Michael Coonan (President), James Konidaris (Co Vice-President), Sarah Kruger (Co Vice-President), Debra Richards (Treasurer) and Jo Ryan (Secretary).

Committee: Sarah Mackie, Tim Webb, Sophie Dawson, Tanvi Mehta Krensel, Rebecca Dunn and Ian Robertson AO.

For further information or how to get involved please contact Enquiries at enquiries@iic.com

Upcoming Events from Australia

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15th April 2026

IIC Combined Chapter Meeting: Online safety – restricting Social Media Use – issues for parents, users, funders and advertisers Location: Virtual

Chapter Meetings

Past Events from Australia

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11th November 2025

IIC Australia Chapter meeting – Stopping Scams at the Source: Australia’s World-Leading Prevention Framework in Action Location: Sydney, Australia

6th August 2025

IIC Australia Chapter meeting – Digital Platform Regulators Forum (DP-Reg) Location: Barangaroo, Sydney

IIC Australia Chapter meeting – 30th Anniversary Location: Sydney, Australia

Chapter Meetings

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