News & Views 2018

New categories added to AWARD Awards – final deadline for entries 10 December

Wednesday, 5 December 2018

To celebrate 40 years of AWARD, two new categories have been announced ahead of the 2019 AWARD Awards ceremony. The most prestigious award show in the region, the AWARD Awards attract approximately 2000 entries across the categories of film and video, promotion and experiential, PR, branded entertainment...Read more

Queensland AWARD School alumni create ‘One Less Present’ Christmas initiative to help abused kids

Monday, 3 December 2018

Young Brisbane duo Kale McRedmond (art director) and Anais Read (copywriter), of Publicis Worldwide, have spearheaded a new Christmas campaign for Australian charity, Act for Kids. Both McRedmond and Read graduated AWARD School in 2017, and the two are now teamed up at Publicis Worldwide in Brisbane ...Read more

'Hungry' committee jolts Youngbloods Victoria back to life in 2018

Monday, 26 November 2018

2018 has been a massive year for Youngbloods Victoria. After four years of inactivity we brought the committee back to life, and hosted several highly successful events. We kicked off the year with all the right ingredients: a committee hungry to re-ignite an important part of Australian advertising culture; a hint of legacy, which put us on the right track....Read more

The Graduate Diaries: Olivia Stone, Redhanded

Saturday, 24 November 2018

From training with senior creatives to having her first newspaper article published, Redhanded's Olivia Stone shares this photo diary as part of the Communications Council’s Graduate Program....Read more

The Graduate Diaries: Jiaan Koch, Clemenger BBDO

Friday, 23 November 2018

Jiaan Koch is currently completing the Clemenger Exception to the Rule Program, after impressing the team with his video interview. Once selected, he was enrolled into our Graduate Program for access to professional training, grassroots events and networking....Read more

The Graduate Diaries: Maddison Bailey, BMF

Thursday, 22 November 2018

Maddison was in her final year of uni when she started looking for employment opportunities and subsequently came across our Graduate Program. Now at BMF, Maddison is working exclusively on ALDI Australia and absolutely loving it...Read more

The Graduate Diaries: Georgia Holgate, Leo Burnett Sydney

Wednesday, 21 November 2018

University of Canberra Advertising major, Georgia Holgate landed a role at Leo Burnett after going through the Comms Council Graduate Program in early 2018. She has worked on global airline brand Emirates and pitched ideas to Adobe...Read more

BRAVO! Awards announces 2018 Global Award winners

Friday, 16 November 2018

Five Global Awards were presented to three Australian agencies at last night’s annual Bravo! Awards ceremony, hosted by The Communications Council and held at Crystal Bar in Sydney. Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness took out a silver award in the Pharma (Rx) section and a bronze in the Health & Wellness category for their Blown out of action campaign on behalf of Sanofi Pasteur.....Read more

ABAC Pre-Vetting: Important information for agencies

Tuesday, 13 November 2018

The Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code (ABAC) is an essential starting point for any advertising agency working on briefs for alcohol advertisers, and agencies must ensure their employees understand code and compliance processes and requirements....Read more

The road to AWARD School glory: 5 minutes with 2018 NSW Top Student Lucas Fowler

Monday, 12 November 2018

Newcastle barista Lucas Fowler always wanted to get into advertising but didn’t know if he had what it takes until he came across AWARD School. The 2018 NSW Top Student and National Finalist shares his advice for aspiring creatives...Read more

Big Wigs and the Big Think: Youngbloods WA wraps up 2018 with a bang

Thursday, 8 November 2018

Youngbloods WA has enjoyed another successful year, with a calendar full of events seeing great turnouts and high engagement amongst the industry (and those looking to join it). 2018’s event offering struck the balance between education, networking and fun. There was something for everyone and anyone – students and professionals, young and old, and everyone in between.....Read more

Youngbloods QLD goes from strength to strength in 2018

Monday, 5 November 2018

The buzz around the array of events run by Youngbloods Queensland confirms there’s a strong, young presence in Brisbane’s Adland. With an ever-growing appetite for more, this year’s committee – led by co-chairs Rubini Gunaratnam and Nicole Klinakis – have gone above and beyond to fill it. More so, they’ve shaken things up as we promised to do from the start.....Read more

New partnerships, sell out events and a Gruen pitch: Youngbloods NSW 2018 highlights

Thursday, 1 November 2018

2018 was another fantastic year for Youngbloods NSW. On the events front, we continued to sell out and with bigger audiences than ever. With the industry’s leading names talking about everything from breakthrough brands to innovation, we’ve now teamed up with General Assembly as a venue partner to meet the demands for tickets....Read more

Edward King: Meeting Goodby / Aussie Expats

Monday, 22 October 2018

In 2018, Edward King from QLD was named as Australia's Top Student at AWARD School. For the first time, the national prize included a trip to San Francisco for a once in a lifetime experience with Facebook's creative ambassador group. Read part two of Edward's 'Postcards from Menlo Park' series...Read more

Grant Baker: "The days of the reactive strategist are over"

Thursday, 18 October 2018

One of the biggest challenges among strategists in the new digital environment is knowing how to remain relevant and nimble. KWP! Director of Digital and Technology Grant Baker says that, in order to stay ahead, strategists must learn to shift from 'specialist' to 'generalist' in this Comms Council exclusive...Read more

Edward King: Postcards from Menlo Park

Wednesday, 17 October 2018

In 2018, Edward King from QLD was named as Australia's Top Student at AWARD School. For the first time, the national prize included a trip to San Francisco for a once in a lifetime experience with Facebook's creative ambassador group. Here, Edward recounts the big moments in this Campaign Brief and Comms Council exclusive...Read more

2019 AWARD School Heads announced

Wednesday, 17 October 2018

AWARD School is pleased to announce Josie Burns as the new National School Head for 2019, including two new appointments across Victoria and Western Australia...Read more

AWARD Awards Call for Entries launch in 40th anniversary year

Friday, 12 October 2018

New categories have been included this year to highlight and celebrate work that betters the world by addressing issues of inequality as well as a new Craft in Advertising category recognising craft in experiential advertising....Read more

The emerging trends in shopper behaviour 

Friday, 12 October 2018

Shopper Marketing doesn’t have to remain a mystery. Understanding the difference between a consumer and a shopper, the triggers to buy and shopping behaviour throughout the path to purchase, can turn any good business manager into a  shopper marketer....Read more

5 minutes with … AWARD School 2018 graduate and cartoonist Andrew Fyfe

Monday, 24 September 2018

AWARD school attracts people from all walks of life. This week, we chat to Former Hey Hey it’s Saturday cartoonist Andrew Fyfe who applied to AWARD School to upskill in the adland creative space....Read more

“Absorb everything you can” - Edward King, 2018 AWARD School winner

Tuesday, 18 September 2018

Before heading off for a trip of a lifetime to Facebook HQ, 2018 Top Student Edward King from Queensland reflected on his time at AWARD School and opened up about overcoming self-doubt....Read more

Digital strategists join forces to present AdSchool course

Wednesday, 5 September 2018

Two of the most respected strategists and innovators in the industry are joining forces to deliver the upcoming AdSchool Digital Strategy & Experience Design course, to be held in Sydney from October 3
...Read more

ABAC webinar: 5 key takeaways for alcohol marketers and advertisers

Tuesday, 4 September 2018

Last month, ABAC held its annual industry briefing on alcohol marketing and advertising guidelines in webinar format for the first time, with strong participation from the sector. The briefings, which are available to all marketers of alcohol products including PR professionals, media agencies and those in distribution and retail...Read more

Mark Ritson: Effective marketing begins with less strategy and more media

Tuesday, 4 September 2018

There is no higher award in marketing or media than an Effie. ­Despite an almost endless stream of industry galas to attend and gongs to collect, a Gold Effie is the prize anyone of substance aspires to win. There usually aren’t many handed out each year and, as the abbreviated name suggests, it is based on the only measure that ultimately counts...Read more

AdSchool offering heats up this spring

Monday, 3 September 2018

Back by popular demand, some of AdSchool’s most sought-after courses will be running this spring with something on offer for everyone, from advertisers and marketers, to writers, planners and digital strategists....Read more

2018 Effie Award Winners Announced

Friday, 31 August 2018

CHE Proximity named Effective Agency of the Year - Host/Havas awarded Grand Effie for “How transforming the Defence Force’s approach to recruitment delivered record returns” - Defence Force Recruitment - 10 Gold Effies awarded overall - ALDI Australia awarded The Effective Advertiser Award...Read more

Myles Pollard on career, confidence and life after McLeod’s Daughters

Monday, 27 August 2018

AdSchool Art of Persuasion lecturer, Myles Pollard, secured his spot in the hearts of millions of people around the world as Nick Ryan in the hugely popular McLeod’s Daughters. But, the popular WA actor is not one to rest on his laurels...Read more

IPA Strategic Planning Meet your Speakers series: Martin Weigel

Friday, 24 August 2018

Ahead of the IPA Strategic Planning Residential this September we asked some of our speakers to tell us 3 things that people may not know about them, and their responses are sure to surprise you...Read more

IPA Strategic Planning Meet your Speakers series: Melina Hamilton

Friday, 24 August 2018

Ahead of the IPA Strategic Planning Residential this September we asked some of our speakers to tell us 3 things that people may not know about them, and their responses are sure to surprise you...Read more

From ‘polymaths’ to ‘the AC/DC school of strategy’: Daily topics and guest speakers at this year’s IPA Strategic Planning revealed

Thursday, 23 August 2018

The Communications Council is pleased to announce the speaker line-up, and their session topics, for the 2018 IPA Strategic Planning Course to be held over three intensive days this September 2-4...Read more

IPA Strategic Planning Meet your Speakers series: Howard Parry-Husbands

Wednesday, 22 August 2018

Ahead of the IPA Strategic Planning Residential this September we asked some of our speakers to tell us 3 things that people may not know about them, and their responses are sure to surprise you...Read more

IPA Strategic Planning Meet your Speakers series: Tom Donald

Wednesday, 22 August 2018

Ahead of the IPA Strategic Planning Residential this September we asked some of our speakers to tell us 3 things that people may not know about them, and their responses are sure to surprise you...Read more

Isobar’s associate creative director Emma Park on the art of fearless writing

Wednesday, 8 August 2018

Ahead of the popular AdSchool Fearless Writing for the Digital Age course in September, the Comms Council spoke to the talented Emma Park, Melbourne presenter and Isobar’s Associate Creative Director, on the key to great writing, the ‘captive audience’ and the buzzword that’s here to stay...Read more

‘Outstanding success’ at this year’s Cannes Download screenings

Tuesday, 7 August 2018

More than 300 people from the advertising industry attended the 2018 Cannes Download special screening and panel discussion, held at Chauvel Cinema in Sydney and Palace Como in Melbourne in August Curated by the APG, AMG and AWARD, the Cannes Download screening featured a selection of the most interesting...Read more

“A starburst of planning inspo” - Strategy Director Erin Core on work and life after the IPA Strategic Planning course

Monday, 6 August 2018

Clemenger Brisbane Strategy Director Erin Core started her media career in TV production before moving across to the advertising world, where she has worked for over a decade. In 2017, she completed the popular IPA Strategic Planning Residential - which she describes as a “must-do” course...Read more

Registrations Now Open for 'Must Do' Responsible Alcohol Marketing Webinar - Live @ 23 August 2-3pm

Friday, 3 August 2018

This free of charge webinar is an essential event for any advertising, PR or media agencies who work with alcohol products (including distribution and retail). Alcohol producers, distributors and retailers are also invited to the event...Read more

AWARD School 2018 State Top Students Announced

Friday, 27 July 2018

The Top Students of 2018 AWARD School in each state were revealed on Thursday night (26 July) in a celebration of emerging talent at graduation ceremonies held in capital cities around the country...Read more

W+K Amsterdam’s Martin Weigel is confirmed as guest speaker at 2018 IPA Strategic Planning Residential

Tuesday, 24 July 2018

W+K Amsterdam’s Martin Weigel is confirmed as guest speaker at 2018 IPA Strategic Planning Residential. Registrations now open for September course...Read more

Nobody Knows Anything. Including Me.

Tuesday, 10 July 2018

The legendary screenwriter William Goldman once wrote about the Hollywood movie-making process that “Nobody knows anything.” The context for the quote was a studio system chock-full of giant egos, unsubstantiated opinions and my-way-or-the-highway judgement calls...Read more

Youngbloods Victoria Makes Its Mark With Successful Speed Mentoring Event

Monday, 9 July 2018

What do you get when you put 80 young-guns of the communications industry in the room with 40 desks, 80 chairs, 10 cases of beer and 40 industry leaders? You get the inaugural Youngbloods speed mentoring event...Read more

Why ‘generalist’ is no longer a dirty word - insights from chief strategy officers Angela Morris and Kate Smither 

Friday, 6 July 2018

From T shaped planners to the rise of the generalist. The increasing risk of “Google Planning”. Top tips for staying curious, inspired and well-informed. All this and more in our exclusive Q&A with IPA Strategic Planning course chair Angela Morris (JWT), and co-chair Kate Smither (Saatchi & Saatchi)...Read more

“Every day we are a different kind of expert” - One Green Bean SAM, Abbey Wirth, on working in a PR agency

Monday, 2 July 2018

What’s it like to work at a PR agency? We asked AdSchool grad and Senior Account Manager at One Green Bean, Abbey Wirth, about her path to agency life, what her job entails and how she stays motivated and inspired...Read more

Why I was drawn to advertising - Q&A with Business graduate Zac Kelly

Thursday, 28 June 2018

Account Coordinator Zac Kelly studied Business at RMIT but has always been drawn to creativity and ideas. It wasn’t long before he realised a career in advertising was a natural fit. We recently caught up with Zac to chat about agency life, why he pursued AdSchool, and the opportunity to lead a creative brief for Mental Health Awareness Week...Read more

2018 Australian Effie Awards Announce 97 Finalists in Round One

Wednesday, 27 June 2018

Following a rigorous round of online judging by 120 industry experts, The Communications Council announces 97 finalists from 36 agencies on behalf of 45 clients have made it into round two of the Australian Effie Awards...Read more

Healthy pitching guide for Australian healthcare marketers

Monday, 25 June 2018

Pitching can be a great opportunity for both agencies and clients. However, it requires a significant investment in time and resources, on top of normal day-to-day business. The Healthcare Communications Council guidelines are here to help. Download your free copy now...Read more

5 minutes with...Sandra Brewer, General Manager of Marketing, National Lifestyle Villages 

Thursday, 7 June 2018

In the lead up to the AdSchool Core Strategic Planning course in Perth, we caught up with Marketing Manager Sandra Brewer on working client side, becoming a ‘brand advocate’, and her thoughts on social media for baby boomers...Read more

Mark Green Appointed Chair of The Communications Council

Thursday, 7 June 2018

Group Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of The Monkeys, Mark Green, has been appointed Chair of The Communications Council, following the Annual General Meeting held last week in Melbourne. Green will oversee a number of initiatives during the coming months. His focus will be on showcasing the value of commercial creativity...Read more

New IPA Strategic Planning Residential shifts focus to 'Post Specialist Era'

Wednesday, 6 June 2018

JWT Chief Strategy Officer Angela Morris to chair course; Saatchi & Saatchi Chief Strategy Officer Kate Smither to co-chair 3-day residential to run in Sydney, 2-4 September 2018. Strategists must prepare for the post specialist era, and as such, place greater value on becoming a new breed of generalist who can connect the dots across specialisms through deep, yet broad insight...Read more

How will the GDPR affect Australian agencies and their clients?

Tuesday, 5 June 2018

The European Union General Data Protection Regulation (the GDPR) came into effect on 25 May 2018. But, what does this actually mean for Australian businesses, and how does this affect your obligations under the existing privacy law?...Read more

Think:Long event wrap

Monday, 28 May 2018

On Friday, AWARD and The Communications Council hosted our first creative summit, Think:Long - Short Talks on Creative Longevity, in partnership with Facebook. The event, held at Carriageworks in Sydney, set out to explore key questions surrounding the long-game, whether it’s building brand and trust over time, the ‘long career’, or the future of pricing in advertising...Read more

5 minutes with...Emily Brydon, Strategy Manager and AdSchool graduate

Saturday, 26 May 2018

AdSchool graduate and Strategy Manager Emily Brydon enrolled in the advanced strategic planning course to work more effectively with her creative colleagues. Along the way, she learnt how to challenge campaign briefs, to uncover a client’s ‘real’ problem, and to embrace ‘simplicity’...Read more

39th AWARD Awards winners announced

Friday, 25 May 2018

The winners of the 39th annual AWARD Awards were announced tonight in a celebration of the most outstanding creative communications work in the Asia Pacific region. The theme for the night was “Count Yourself Lucky” and didn’t disappoint with a record number of golds being presented....Read more

Brisbane AWARD School graduates hold their own in global creative competition

Thursday, 24 May 2018

As Young Glory nears its end, Brisbane duo Anais Read and Matt Newman are close to finishing at the top. Both Anais and Matt are products of AWARD School, graduating in 2017 and 2016 respectively. A global creative competition based on consistency, Young Glory is the ultimate test for young creatives wanting to prove themselves...Read more

For the second year running, the Australian Directors’ Guild awards Gender Matters: Commercial & Content Directing Mentorships to eight recipients

Thursday, 17 May 2018

Now in its second year, the Australian Directors’ Guild’s (ADG) Commercial & Content Directing Mentorship program announced its next round of eight mentoree recipients, at a special event held last night at FINCH, Sydney and attended by members of the screen and advertising...Read more

From agency to publisher side - Q&A with Southern Cross Austereo Campaign Insights Director, Emma Davis

Tuesday, 14 May 2018

Emma Davis (QLD) was working in media agency world for 10 years when she decided to build on her experience and learn something new from a different perspective. Seeking opportunities to engage with like-minded creatives, Emma enrolled...Read more

Highlights from ABAC’s first quarterly update

Tuesday, 8 May 2018

The Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code Panel has released its first quarterly review for 2018, including key statistics on complaints since the adoption of new alcohol marketing placement rules which came into effect in November last year...Read more

5 minutes with...The Monkeys Creative Director Barbara Humphries

Tuesday, 8 May 2018

In the lead up to the AWARD Creative Leadership Residential, Comms Council chats to former student and The Monkeys CD Barbara Humphries about career highlights, her thoughts on the course and the best thing about her job...Read more

5 minutes with...BMF Creative Directors David Fraser & Dantie van der Merwe

Tuesday, 8 May 2018

Over the last few years, creative duo David Fraser and Dantie van der Merwe have used live mammoths to sell tinfoil, made men die in the pasta sauce aisle, and upset a few foreign liquor makers. Since graduating from AWARD Creative Leadership, they have been promoted to CDs on ALDI....Read more

In conversation with…
Warren Brown, AWARD Creative Leadership Course Chair

Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Returning for a third year as chair and course curator, Warren Brown says there’s a lot to love about the Creative Leadership course. So, what is the most rewarding part of delivering the course? What's the essential quality all creative directors need to possess? And, what does it take to stay creatively fit? Find out in this exclusive interview with....Read more

Creative Longevity on the agenda at bespoke AWARD Summit

Friday, 27 April 2018

THINK:LONG - Short Talks on Creative Longevity on Friday, May 25 10.00am-2.00pm Carriageworks The AWARD committee has today announced a mini-creative summit to be held earlier in the day of AWARD Awards on May 25, in partnership with Facebook...Read more

“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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