The new faces of Pause Awards from agency and media innovation

Discover industry leaders from top agencies and innovators in media growth. An inside look into their career accomplishments and anticipation for this year’s entries.

The Pause Awards ‘23, in partnership with VicGov, is open for entries until 1st September. The Standard Entry deadline is on Friday 18 Aug, at midnight AEST.

Anticipation is brewing for Pause Awards ‘23, a platform celebrating and recognising audacious innovation in the dynamic landscape of Australian businesses. This year, the award entries will be evaluated by two additional groups of experts in their respective fields, the ‘Top Agency Executives‘ and the ‘Media Growth & Innovation‘ tribe.

Let’s delve into the profiles of these visionaries who will be evaluating this year’s entries.

First up, meet Lachie McKernan, the dynamic CEO of Huckleberry. A guide and mentor for some of Australia’s most influential brands such as Frank Green, Reece Group, Bunnings, and IGA, he believes deeply in the transformative power of creativity and innovation. Lachie, just like you, is excited to see what the world-changing potential of these awards will uncover.

Then we have Ben Flint, the Principal of the Supernormal Agency. Fluent in Mandarin and educated at Harvard in disruptive strategies, Ben’s global experience encompasses operations across the USA, Japan, China, and Australia, and his portfolio includes names like Red Bull, Boost Mobile, and Shopify. Ben sees the Pause Awards as a platform to foster boundary-pushing and informed risk-taking among Australian business leaders.

In the midst of our line-up is Fiona Triaca, CEO & Founder of Naked Ambition. Fiona is a design-led innovation evangelist who is not just fostering growth of local and global brands, but is also exploring enterprise innovation and AI through her podcast. She’s thrilled to be part of championing Australia’s most ambitious companies.

Next is Judy Sahay, the founder and CEO of Crowd Media Group, a passionate influencer who has made a mark on the industry. A member of the Forbes Business Council and Australia’s Top 50 Influencer, she’s looking forward to engaging with the talented individuals that Pause Awards attract every year.

Emile Rademeyer, the Executive Director of Creative Strategy at VANDAL, is another accomplished figure on our panel. Emile is known for bridging art, advertising, digital media, content, and culture, and has a rich experience as a speaker and judge at prominent industry events. He is passionate about innovative thinking and is honoured to judge the most ambitious and forward-thinking ideas at the Pause Awards.

Also joining our panel is Veljko Golubovic, an Executive Creative Director at New Moment. With numerous awards from major advertising festivals and a background in psychology, Veljko’s field of interest extends to the psychology of artificial intelligence. He’s thrilled to be at the verge of tomorrow, witnessing the creativity of the human mind in full bloom.

Chris Jeffares, a partner at Safari, is another esteemed member of our panel. A two-time finalist in ‘Executive of the Year’, he’s led his agency to numerous accolades. With his unique ability to weave captivating narratives, Chris will be looking for the most compelling brand stories.

Our panel also includes Sergio Brodsky, an internationally experienced brand and foresight strategist from Landor & Fitch. A contributor to the Davos Agenda at the World Economic Forum and the author of “Foresight in Marketing and Marketing Research,” Sergio’s insights will be invaluable to those who can think ahead and strategize accordingly.

Melissa Voderberg from Publicis Sapient is our resident expert in customer experience and innovation. An award-winning consultant, she’s excited to celebrate the best new start-ups that demonstrate innovative strategies to improve customer experience.

Representing the vibrant world of media is Tori Benzie from LinkedIn. Tori brings over 20 years of experience in Media and Technology to the table and looks forward to seeing the positive impact of the most innovative and creative ideas from across Australia.

We’re also pleased to introduce Jocelin Abbey, the Director of Growth at The Guardian in Australia and New Zealand. With nearly 20 years of experience, Jocelin works at the intersection of storytelling, creativity, and commerce, and is thrilled to be a part of rewarding organisations making a positive impact through innovation.

Also joining the panel is Kate Thompson, the Strategy & Innovation Director at Hardie Grant Media. With over 15 years’ experience in brand, marketing, and communications strategy, Kate is excited to witness the diverse thinking and creativity that Australian companies bring to the table.

Last but certainly not least, is Sarah Greenan from B&T. As Strategic Partnerships & Growth Manager, Sarah has a passion for recognising the exceptional work and ingenuity that drives progress for business and humanity. She sees the Pause Awards as an essential platform for acknowledging this creativity.

With this remarkable panel of judges, your submissions will be in the hands of the best in the business. We wish you the best of luck and look forward to celebrating the most ambitious minds in the industry!

Pause Awards ‘23

Pause Awards recognises the most ambitious and effective companies in Australia, powered by over 60 independent senior experts who set an industry benchmark for evaluation criteria annually. We take a more holistic approach to awards, by entering your breakthrough moment we measure how ambitious and effective your company is. And from this year, how investable you might be!