News & Views 2018

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

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