Thomas Moon
Head of Marketing, Daily Mail Group Events (dmg events), Africa International Defence Exhibition, London
Bachelor of Communication Studies in Digital Media with a minor in Advertising Creativity
Now leading the marketing and communication strategy for the Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX), Bachelor of Communication Studies graduate Thomas Moon loves the variety his role offers.
“Daily, I move between brand and go-to-market campaigns. A key part of the role is working with governments, ministries of defence, armed forces and related institutions to align communications, engagement and participation. Launching a defence and security platform in a new market means translating complex defence, technology and dual-use concepts into clear, protocol-safe communications for diverse audiences in a sensitive, regulated environment. I enjoy building repeatable systems that reduce friction, strengthen credibility and keep the narrative anchored. I enjoy building this event in an unknown, untapped market, turning highly technical defence and technology terminology in a highly confidential, highly regulated market into messaging for everyone and building a story behind it all.
“Before joining my current company, I worked on DSEI in London – the biggest defence and security networking event in the UK and Europe – and on large-scale sports events including the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, The Open Championship 2022 and UEFA EURO 2020 in the UK.”
Feeling prepared
He says his studies at AUT prepared him well for the career he has today.
“AUT opened the door and trained me to be self-sufficient. I’ve always been excited by media and the thrill of seeing ideas come to life on screen, on air and online. I chose AUT because the learning is practical. Most classes required us to bring ideas to life – filming short documentaries and stories, producing radio ads and building websites.
“The emphasis on hands-on practice, collaboration, deadlines and real briefs prepared me for the pace and expectations of the industry far better than purely theoretical study could. Today that shows up in my work as faster issue resolution, cleaner workflows and campaigns that launch on time.”
Another highlight of his time at AUT was being elected as a student representative.
“The role involved resolving student concerns, presenting at Board of Studies meetings, and liaising between students and academic staff to improve the learning experience. It gave me a voice for students, a seat at the Board of Studies and real responsibility to channel feedback into positive change. I also represented communications in interfaculty sport and served as the communications sports representative. It was a great way to stay connected to my sporting passion. Finally, co-organising two major student balls was another standout. From concept and budgeting to vendor management and promotion, delivering large-scale events that people still talk about taught me as much about leadership and logistics as any class.”
Advice for other students
Thomas, who graduated from AUT in 2015, has some great advice for other students.
“Try everything while you can and notice what genuinely makes you happy and give your energy to that. Volunteer for productions, events and help out other students. Build a portfolio that proves you can deliver under real constraints.”
Make yourself indispensable, he adds.
“You don’t need to be the smartest or the hardest working. Be the person people rely on – show up, solve problems and deliver on time.”
