THese things can be a bit weird, right?
But, weird is good.
Advertising is my third career. Plus around 34 hustle jobs, like washing Heath Ledger's long johns, covering sheep shows for ABC Outback Radio and making truly awful cocktails in gay clubs. My hustle jobs have taught me more than any real job about how to connect with humans, to understand what makes us tick, laugh, cry or feel weird. (See earlier note about awful cocktails).
Following film degrees, I worked in book publishing. Then media. But then I found an industry that combined my love of writing, film and ideas with a tonne of cold pizza - and here I am. Currently Creative Lead at 72andSunny ANZ.
For nearly two decades my work has been recognised globally across a diverse range of clients and disciplines. However I’ve never done it alone. I’m grateful to have worked with many wildly talented and generous creative people. A few arseholes too, but they’re dead now.
Together with nice, clever, funny people I strive to make great creative that drives positive change in the world. I’ve led projects in APAC, EMEA and USA. A hybrid thinker, I’ve created global platforms, films, documentaries, activations, web series, connected experiences, digital and real world products, influencer comms. Whatever the channel, it all begins with finding a provocative ‘ah-hah’ idea that will move real humans.
My queer-identified outsider energy makes me an empathetic and inclusive leader. I’m good at listening but I can also make decisions. I’m optimistic, curious and have the chutzpah to inspire diverse thinkers to work together to make things that make us proud. I like to have fun, it shows in the team, and the work. I’m also a lifelong LGBTQIA+ activist and champion of DEI.
Clients include Google, Booking.com, Uber, UpWork, BMW MINI, Nike, Converse, Corona, P&G, ESPN, Tiffany, H&M Kids, Amazon, The Honest Company, Lion Nathan, Paspaley, FitBit, SoulCycle, Planned Parenthood USA, Montefiore-Einstein Hospitals, Girls Scouts USA, Parley for the Oceans.
PLACES I’VE EATEN COLD PIZZA
Creative Lead 72andSunny ANZ
ECD, Partner Alto New York, "Top 10 World's Most Innovative Companies" Fast Company.
Group ECD R/GA New York
Global CD Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam
CD Wieden + Kennedy Shanghai
CD BMW MINI Global, BSUR Amsterdam
Creative Group Head, M&C Saatchi Sydney
Senior Freelance, The Monkeys Sydney, Campaign Palace, Mark, Smart
Senior Creative, DDB Melbourne
YES, YES, THE SHINY STUFF
NY EMMYs / TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL / CANNES LIONS / D&AD / ONE SHOW / CLIOS / EPICA / GLOBAL EFFIES / US EFFIES / AICP NEXT AWARDS / FAST COMPANY WORLD CHANGING IDEAS / ARIAS / SHORTYS FOR GOOD / THE GERETY AWARDS / WEBBYS PEOPLES CHOICE / NEW YORK FESTIVALS / ADFEST / AWARD AWARDS / ADMA / MADC / MOBIUS / B&T AWARDS / MUMBRELLA / GRUEN TRANSFER winner and more
Work featured in publications such as The New York Times, Vice, HypeBeast, Vogue, Nowness, The Drum, Forbes, Creativity, AdAge, Adweek, It’s Nice That, Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, The Australian, Muse By Clio, Shots, Little Black Book.
JUDGING
CANNES LIONS x 2
ONE SHOW
WEBBYS
AWARD AWARDS (Chair - Life Changing Jury)
THE GERETY AWARDS
LBB IMMORTALS x 2
NEW YORK FESTIVALS
MADC
ADMA
BADC
CAMPAIGN BRIEF
AWARD SCHOOL SUPER JUDGES
INDUSTRY
Panel - Cannes Lions Workshop “The business of creativity”
Panel - Cannes In Cairns “ Queer as F**K Panel”
Panel - Mumbrella Sports Marketing Summit “ Girls on Fire: the ascent of female narratives in sport”
The Drum: Creative Life In Amsterdam
Little Black Books: Behind the Work Who Gives A Crap
Campaign Live: Private View
Adweek: How Booking.com wins summer
Campaign Brief Asia: All the wrong places
Panel - ADCN Panel Cannes Lions
Campaign Brief Q+A: Behind the Optimism
AdNews: Maximum Fabulosity unleashed
Mumbrella: Celebrities supporting same sex law reform
Luerzer’s Archive: Superpower
