"Surround yourself with good people" was a piece of sage advice I received early on. I've been lucky to have the opportunity to do just that. So, before a few details about myself, I want to acknowledge the skill and passion of those around me during my career to date. Creativity is a team effort, so when I say 'I', I also mean 'we'.
A culture of creativity.
One of the things I’m incredibly proud of over the last decade is the culture of creativity that was built across the agency. I’m a big believer in having perspectives from outside of the creative dept in the right creative conversations. It only makes ideas better and really connects the brand to work and the work to results. It’s not always easy, and is a continuous task, but worth every ounce of effort. Building a strong creative culture helped us retain great talent and attract the next generation of beautiful thinkers.
Strategists are my favouritE. (Don’t tell the account dept)
Because, incredible strategic discussions lead to incredible work. A modern creative needs to know why an idea is good and why that idea is right. Deep knowledge of a brand and an understanding of the strategy will make that happen. Being able to walk into a room and present the strategy with as much clarity as the idea is a creative’s secret weapon in presentations.
A FEW ACCOLADES.
From the 80+ awards at whiteGREY, here’s a few:
2023 AFR BOSS Most Innovative Companies – Most Innovative Media and Marketing, Most Innovative Small Business AUNZ
2023 Fast Company - World Changing Ideas Honouree
2022 AFR BOSS Most Innovative Companies - No.1 Australian Creative Agency, No.4 Media and Marketing
2021 Earthshot Prize, Finalist
2020 Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards, Best Design APAC, Sustainability
2020 WARC Effectiveness Awards - Grand Prix for Effective Innovation
2020 Media Federation Awards (MFA), Grand Prix
Positivity is the greatest creative influence.
If I was ever to print t-shirts for the people I work alongside, this would be on it. Positivity around the work transforms it and brings everyone into the thinking. And never underestimate the power of positivity in front of clients - obvious, maybe, but a creative’s greatest asset. Positivity is a superpower that we don’t use enough of in this industry.
WORLD-CLASS WORK.
The need for growth means a genuine need to create work that got noticed in all the right places. And we certainly achieved that at whiteGREY. The bit that makes me smile the most is the breath of those accolades - from an Effectiveness Grand Prix to a nomination for the Earthshot Prize, from Cannes Lions to exhibitions in the London Design Museum.
NEXT..
I still very much love what I do and get incredibly excited thinking about the amazing people I will get to work alongside next.