Dion Appel is an absolute influencer in youth culture in Australia. As Australia’s leading digital resource on youth culture – fashion, music and sports he ‘lives and breathes youth culture’.

Appel is currently the Managing Director of DDB Melbourne, a highly awarded multinational and multidisciplinary advertising agency network.

As a managing director, Appel is responsible for integrating the Lifelounge Agency’s business and segmentation model into the group, which together with DDB’s scale and infrastructure, is a real point of difference amongst the competitive set.

As young professionals Appel and his team craft strategy and design ideas for Australia’s leading corporations. Their knowledge of and proximity to the youth and young adult markets assists their clients in getting value out of every marketing dollar invested.

Prior to his current role Appel served as the CEO of Lifelounge Group, a leading Australian digital media, content and advertising agency, specialising in social marketing. The Idea of founding Lifelounge Group came when Appel and his talented colleagues decided to combine their passions and expertise to create a unique business proposition for brands: offer an understanding of and access to the youth market in a credible and relevant way.

Appel is a multi – award winner including the Young Entrepreneur Award (2010), Ad News, 40 under 40 (2009), BRW Fast 100 (2009), and Valedictorian at Deakin University (2006).

Mr Dion Appel

Managing Director, DDB Melbourne

• Founder, Lifelounge Group
• Director, Melbourne International Comedy Festival
• Member, MCRI Biennale Committee, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
• Member, Victorian Digital Careers Steering Committee, Department of State Development, Business & Innovation