News & Views 2018

“Passion is the world’s most redeemable quality” - AWARD School alumni Leo Premutico offers sage advice to 2018 students

Monday, 23 April 2018

AWARD School 2018 is now underway, with the first class held on April 9 in NSW and Victoria, and April 16 in Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia. School Heads from around the country kicked off the first lecture with inspiring messages and an overview of what...Read more

5 minutes with...Cummins & Partners Creative Director and Creative Leadership Graduate Mandie van der Merwe

Thursday, 19 April 2018

The AWARD Creative Leadership course has earnt an enviable reputation for preparing creatives and writers for leadership roles. So, when we heard about the latest promotion at Cummins&Partners we were not surprised. ...Read more

5 minutes with...The Monkeys creative and Gabberish founder Siobhan Fitzgerald

Thursday, 19 April 2018

Since graduating from the AWARD Creative Leadership course, star creative Siobhan Fitzgerald has found new motivation and kicked major career goals along the way. One year on from the course, we catch up with Siobhan about the successful expansion of The Monkeys in Melbourne, and her latest project promoting creative therapy...Read more

Latest AnalogFolk recruit Melina Hamilton appointed AdSchool lecturer

Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Huge congratulations to Melina Hamilton on her recent appointments as Strategy Director - Experiences at AnalogFolk and lecturer at AdSchool Digital Strategy and Experience Design, running in Sydney from 23 May 2018...Read more

'Ownership of strategy must be shared if it is to succeed' - David Warren, BMF Sydney Group Strategy Director

Tuesday, 17 April 2018

With 15 years of planning experience, BMF Sydney Group Strategy Director and AdSchool Presenter David Warren specialises in cognition and behaviour, and has helped his clients win five EFFIE awards and an APG silver....Read more

New President and subcommittee lead Youngbloods NSW into a massive 2018

Wednesday, 11 April 2018

TBWA Sydney creative Chloe Saintilan has been appointed as the new President of Youngbloods NSW, following the departure of Alistair Stephenson. The appointment has been accompanied by the addition of four new subcommittee members:....Read more

Rub shoulders with industry giants at the 2018 Award Creative Leadership Course

Friday, 6 April 2018

Course chair Warren Brown back by popular demand - Advertising legend Susan Hoffman is confirmed as guest speaker - 3-day residential course to run in Sydney from 27-29 May, 2018; member registrations now open. The 3-day intensive residential is a crucial step in the career journey for aspiring creative leaders....Read more

5 minutes with...Freya King, SBS Media Digital Solutions Executive

Wednesday, 4 April 2018

After graduating with a journalism and media degree, Freya King got her first start in digital at Mamamia before moving to SBS Media to work in the brand partnerships team. She chats to the Comms Council about her love for digital, what it’s like to work publisher side, and how the AdSchool digital course helped her succeed in the fast-paced role....Read more

The importance of ‘brand health’ and leadership - Carolyn Mooney, Senior Account Director, The Brand Agency

Wednesday, 4 April 2018

With over 14 years of experience in the advertising and marketing field, Carolyn Mooney from The Brand Agency in Perth has worked both client and agency side across digital and traditional strategy. She has worked on brands such as Synergy, Perth Airport, Perth International Arts Festival, Department of Health, and, most recently, Kleenheat....Read more

Facebook supports AWARD School 2018

Thursday, 29 March 2018

Facebook Australia has today been announced as official partner of AWARD School, Australia’s pre-eminent training program for aspiring creatives. As flagship partner, the Facebook Australia team will support tomorrow’s creative leaders through a number of initiatives during the 2018 AWARD School program, including providing a prize to the National AWARD School winner who will be flown to....Read more

Do today’s strategic planners need to shift focus? QLD planners weigh in

Tuesday, 13 March 2018

While the role of the strategic planner in today’s digital landscape has changed, many industry leaders say it’s time to evolve - but not without the fundamentals. Our QLD presenters for the AdSchool Core Strategic Planning course, which kicks off in Brisbane on April 17, share their thoughts...Read more

What kind of digital strategist are you?

Monday, 26 March 2018

From brand strategy, digital strategy, UX and technology, today’s employers and clients are looking for digital strategists who take a holistic approach. As a strategist, your leadership brand or style is equally important. So, what’s your leadership brand and what are the skills that will set you apart? For inspiration, we asked....Read more

Bryce Coombe's 5 must-have skills for account managers

Monday, 19 March 2018

As client problems and agency execution become increasingly complex, the need for outstanding account management has never been more important that right now. The most significant shift is the increasing requirement for account management to lead the entire customer experience on behalf of our clients, not just someone who implements marketing strategies....Read more

Banks must lift their branding game - Andrew Baxter, CEO, Publicis Australia

Monday, 19 March 2018

The essence of marketing is understanding what consumers need, and creating a product or service to fulfil it. For centuries, banks have understood that consumers wanted to put their money in a safe place and get access to it when they needed to. Or borrow money to buy a house or start a business, and pay it back in instalments...Read more

Common traps and hurdles facing aspiring account managers

Monday, 19 March 2018

Adschool presenter and advertising professional, Rob Kent, has worked on both sides of the advertising-marketing fence - first as Head of Marketing for Golden Casket Lotteries, followed by a 17-year MD role at Publicis Mojo, and a further 11 years in Head of Client Service and General Manager roles...Read more

"The fundamentals of planning never change" - Paul Yole

Tuesday, 13 March 2018

Paul Yole has strongly supported the field of account planning in Perth for over 30 years. He co-founded the Perth arm of the Account Planning Group (APG) and was formerly head of strategic planning at The Brand Agency. Ahead of his latest role as 2018 lecturer...Read more

The 'unhealthy obsession' distracting strategic planners

Tuesday, 13 March 2018

GTB Australia’s Head of Strategy and AdSchool course lecturer Anuj Mehra says planners are “distracted from their core reason to be”. Here, he shares the importance of the fundamentals in planning, and the one thing that planners should stop obsessing over...Read more

My road to social and content manager - Callam Hanks, NSW

Tuesday, 13 March 2018

Former AdSchool student Callam Hanks, NSW, says he has always loved ideas and finding ways to express them. One year on from his Strategic Planning course, Callam is now social and content manager at Infinity Squared and says upskilling was a win-win....Read more

Newly appointed Youngbloods QLD co-chairs proud to support Assisterhood Mentoring Program

Thursday, 8 March 2018

Helmed by two new female co-chairs, Youngbloods QLD is wasting no time by teaming up with PublicisQ to launch a new mentorship program to help address gender imbalance. Coinciding with International Women’s Day, the Assisterhood Mentoring Program will officially launch tonight, Thursday March 8, at Youngbloods QLD’s first event for 2018....Read more

How the evolution of planning is affecting strategy

Wednesday, 7 March 2018

A 'master of uncovering human truths', Melbourne AdSchool lecturer Lily Tidy is an experienced strategic designer who draws on insight to connect user with brand. In her latest article for Comms Council, she says there are three key challenges affecting today’s strategic planners. ...Read more

"You’ve got to ask what legacy you want to leave behind" - Chiquita King, Managing Partner, DDB Sydney

Wednesday, 7 March 2018

What are the challenges facing account managers today? And what does it take to be a great leader? DDB Sydney’s Managing Director and AdSchool course presenter Chiquita King shares her insights and how you can benefit from the upcoming eight-week Account Management for Tomorrow course...Read more

Why planners are going ‘back to basics’ in the digital era

Monday, 5 March 2018

Despite planning going through an ‘explosion of digital media’ in recent decades, the fundamentals of strategic planning are here to stay, says AdSchool lecturer and chief strategy officer Kate Smither. Speaking to The Communications Council in the lead up to AdSchool’s Core Strategic Planning course, Smither said...Read more

Three key takeaways from the AdSchool Core Strategic Planning course

Monday, 5 March 2018

Former AdSchool student Jake Batty, NSW, says he first came across the Core Strategic Planning course after his agency put him forward to help further develop his skills. Recently promoted to Senior Account Manager at M&C Saatchi Australia, Comms Council caught up with Jake about the course and his three takeaways for future students...Read more

88 strong jury to judge 39th AWARD Awards

Friday, 23 February 2018

The Australasian Writers and Art Directors Association (AWARD) has today announced the full line up of jurors for the 39th AWARD Awards - an annual celebration of the most outstanding creative communications work in the Asia-Pacific region...Read more

Advertising Doyenne Susan Hoffman's new role

Tuesday, 20 February 2018

The Australasian Writers and Art Directors Association (AWARD) is pleased to announce Susan Hoffman, Co-Chief Creative Officer of Wieden+Kennedy, has been appointed Chair of Judges for the 39th AWARD Awards. Known to challenge the status quo, Hoffman is behind some of W+K’s most memorable and game-changing ads...Read more

2018 AWARD School Heads Announced

Thursday, 15 February 2018

AWARD and The Communications Council is pleased to announce the 2018 AWARD School Heads - a team of seven leading creatives from across Australia set to inspire the next generation of young talents around the country. Coming from all walks of life, this year’s School Heads - including a CEO, Creative Group Head, Creative Directors and a Senior Copywriter ...Read more

AWARD School announces 2018 Applications

Friday, 2 February 2018

AWARD School, the leading Australian ideas programme for aspiring art directors and copywriters, opens for applications on February 9. Running for 34 years, AWARD School has equipped thousands of graduates with the skills to forge careers in advertising agencies, technology companies,...Read more

Call for Entries for 2018 Australian Effie Awards Now Open

Thursday 18 January 2018

The Communications Council has today announced the 2018 Call for Entries for Australian Effie Awards is open, with the closing date set for Thursday 19 April. Running for the tenth consecutive year, the awards celebrate the effectiveness of creative communications, recognising campaigns that can demonstrate outstanding...Read more

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