“Let the Work Speak for Itself”: Brent Smart on elevating creative standards
With the AWARD Awards deadline fast approaching, Telstra CMO Brent Smart shares a candid call to action: less spin, more substance. He wants to see work that doesn’t need a case study to shine—just great ideas, powerfully executed. What advice would you give to...
Top Aussies named to judge Cannes Lions 2025
Nine of Australia’s most respected creative leaders have been selected to join the international jury for this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity — the world’s most prestigious benchmark for creative excellence in advertising and marketing....
Creativity takes the spotlight at Young Lions Australia 2025
On Friday 11 April 2025, the energy was high at WPP House Sydney as we unveiled the winners of the Cannes Young Lions Australia competition. Fifteen standout teams made it to the final judging round, impressing our Executive Juries with their creativity, insight, and...
2025 Young Lions Australia winners announced
Advertising Council Australia (ACA) has today announced the winners of the 2025 Young Lions Competition—exceptional talent who will now represent Australia on the global stage at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in June. After impressing industry...
Cannes Lions announces its 2025 Dan Wieden Titanium Lions Jury line-up
Cannes Lions has revealed the line-up of industry legends who will serve as the 2025 Dan Wieden Titanium Lions Jury. The Dan Wieden Titanium Lions celebrate game-changing creativity, honouring work that breaks new ground, challenges industry norms and redefines the...
Finalists announced for 2025 Young Lions Australia Competition
Advertising Council Australia (ACA) has today announced the 2025 Young Lions Competition finalists—rising stars who are now one step closer to representing Australia on the global stage in Cannes. This year’s competition saw hundreds of competitors across media,...
Shift 20 survey: Measuring progress on disability inclusion
Can you spare two minutes of your time to help us understand how disability inclusion is changing in our industry? Complete the survey here. It has been 18 months since the industry first banded together to tackle the issue of disability inclusion in...
ACA hosts first ‘Pints with a Planner’ event in Perth
On March 20, ACA held its inaugural Pints With a Planner event in Perth – a relaxed after-work catch-up designed to bring creative, media, and digital strategists together. While local creatives often connect, planners rarely get the same opportunity. This initiative,...
Val Morgan joins Meta and Nine as sponsors of Young Lions
ACA is delighted to welcome Val Morgan as a supporter of Young Lions Australia, joining Meta and Nine in championing the next generation of creative talent. As sponsors of the Film, Digital and Media categories respectively, each will play a pivotal role in the 2025...
Jury Chairs and jurors announced for the 46th AWARD Awards
The Australasian Writers and Art Directors (AWARD) has unveiled its panel of Jury Chairs and jurors for the 46th AWARD Awards, bringing together 81 of APAC’s top creative minds to judge the region’s most outstanding work. Judging will take place in two rounds: the...
Sharpen your strategy game
Great strategy isn’t about ticking boxes—it’s about thinking and executing differently. AdSchool Core Strategic Planning facilitator Sebastian Revell (Executive Strategy Partner at Emotive) has spent years honing the skills that transform good thinking into...
Spikes Asia announces its 2025 shortlists
Australia one of three countries with the most shortlists. Spikes Asia, APAC’s most prestigious and sought-after Award for creativity and marketing effectiveness, has revealed its shortlists for the 2025 Awards. From an initial 2759 entries from 20 markets, 613 pieces...
2025 Young Lions challenged to rethink food sustainability with Saveful
Advertising Council Australia (ACA) has unveiled the briefs for the 2025 Young Lions Competition, with this year’s challenge spotlighting social enterprise Saveful—a free, sustainability-driven app helping Australians save money and food. Entrants are tasked with...
Want to win Young Lions Film category? Jordan says this is key.
After winning Young Lions Australia’s Film competition last year, VML copywriter Jordan Ellis took on Cannes, learning firsthand what it takes to stand out. His biggest takeaway? A strong idea beats slick execution. He shares how he tackled the 48-hour film brief,...
Inside the win: Aussie marketers reveal how they cracked Cannes Young Lions
Winning Cannes Young Lions isn’t just about creativity — it’s about grit, insight, and playing to your strengths under serious time pressure. That’s exactly how Arianne Riley and Krishma Sood claimed victory in the Australian marketing category, earning their spot on...
From Australia to Cannes: Daniel Borghesi’s Young Lions Playbook
Few competitions can fast-track your career like Cannes Young Lions. Just ask Daniel Borghesi, Creative Director at M&C Saatchi Australia, who turned his 2023 Digital win into a launchpad for global recognition. Here’s what he learned along the way—and what every...
Nils Leonard, acclaimed co-founder of Uncommon Creative Studio, appointed jury president of the 46th AWARD Awards
*Awards to be presented 14 August during This Way Up, Sydney.* The Australasian Writers and Art Directors (AWARD) has today announced that Nils Leonard, acclaimed co-founder of Uncommon Creative Studio, will head up this year’s AWARD Awards as jury president. Nils...
Google announced as marquee sponsor of the Australian Effie Awards
Image from L-R: Michael Rebelo (Chair, ACA), Suzana Ristevski (CMO, Google Australia & NZ), Tony Hale (CEO, ACA) *** Advertising Council Australia (ACA) has today announced Google Australia as the new marquee sponsor of the Australian Effie Awards - a partnership...
2024 Young Lions to Host ‘Roadmap to Cannes’ Masterclass | February 27
A team of 2024 Young Lions Australia winners will host a Roadmap to Cannes Masterclass on Thursday 27 February, equipping emerging media, marketing, digital, film, and PR talent with all the insights they need to secure their place at the International Festival of...
AANA Environmental Claims Code: What you need to know
By Hannah Sturrock, National Head of Engagement & DEI Lead, Advertising Council Australia. *** Big changes are coming in March 2025. The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) is rolling out its new Environmental Claims Code, which means brands must be...
CPC launches best practice guide for fairer production pitches
The Commercial Producers Council (CPC) has released a best practice guide to ensure fair, transparent, and sustainable creative pitch processes for agencies, clients, and production companies. Pitches demand significant time and resources, yet industry pressures have...
Entries now open for the 2025 Australian Effie Awards
Entries for the 2025 Australian Effie Awards are now open, spotlighting the year’s most effective campaigns and the winning strategies, ideas, and teams behind them. Three new categories—Business to Business, Youth Marketing, and Performance Marketing—reflect the...
Want to take home gold? Master these 5 AWARD-winning tips
With the 46th AWARD Awards fast approaching, we sat down with Katrina Alvarez-Jarratt, Executive Creative Director at TBWA\ Sydney and AWARD Council Member, to discuss what makes a winning entry, the shifts shaping creative excellence, and the trends set to define...
AWARD School 2025 applications now open
Applications are now open for AWARD School - the ultimate hothouse for anyone passionate about creativity and ideas. The 12-week part-time program consists of weekly lectures and tutorials by some of the country’s top creatives - equipping participants with the skills...