This Way Up reveals the alignment

This Way Up, the advertising festival of creativity, returns to the Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney from 13-15 August.

AWARD brought together innovators, critical thinkers and emerging talent to showcase over three days.

The theme “Creativity breeding ground for worthy opinions” aims to challenge participants to play a more active role in debating today’s pressing industry issues, highlighting creativity as a key driver of business and career growth.

Mandie van der Merwe, AWARD President and Creative Director at Saatchi & Saatchi, reflected on the previous year’s success and noted that it inspired greater aspirations for the 2024 festival.

“This Way Up is renowned for attracting top creative leaders, both local and international, as well as marketers and clients who are committed to sharing their insights and driving creative thinking forward. Our focus is to have the right people in the room, the ones who enrich and expand the conversation in all directions, but especially upwards.

“The carefully curated program is designed to propel the discussion, giving attendees the chance to engage with a range of ideas and leave inspired by the limitless possibilities of creativity,” she said.

See also: This Way Up advertising festival announces its lineup of local and global speakers

Highlights of the upcoming festival include:

Speaker sessions
Internationally famous creatives, Liz Taylor and Damon Stapletonare among the first keynotes for This Way Up in 2024. Taylor, Ogilvy’s global chief creative officer and jury president of the 45th AWARD Awards, made history as the first woman to be named a top CCO in the world The Drum 2023. Stapleton, CCO and founder of The Monkeys Aotearoa, and MD, Accenture Song, is one of the region’s most acclaimed creatives.

The festival will feature panels from CCO and CMO teams that have thrived on long-term creative partnerships and the careers of respected industry luminaries. Speakers include Mim HaysomEGM brand and customer experience, Suncorp, Andy Ferguson, creative director, Leo Burnett, Brent Smartmarketing director, Telstra, and Micah Walkerfounder and creative director, Bear Meets Eagle on Fire, plus Dave Bowmancreative director, Publicis Groupe ANZ, Tara McKenty, head of innovation and co-ECD, BMF and Steve Coll, creative director, M&C Saatchi.

AWARDS Hall of Fame Black Tie Dinner
Festival activities also include a gala dinner on Tuesday, August 13, hosted by AWARD. The evening celebrates this year’s Hall of Fame inductees – pioneers with a celebrated body of work that defined a generation of advertising.

Representatives are usually nominated by AWARD members; however, for the first time in AWARD history, Hall of Fame nominations have been accepted from the wider industry, with nearly 100 pioneers nominated to date.

AWARD Uni
The Uni AWARD returns after its sell-out inaugural year in 2023 with a refreshed course programme, organized and facilitated by Jonathan Kneebone (co-founder, The Glue Society), van der Merwe (CCO, Saatchi & Saatchi), Julian Schreiber (Partner and CCO, Special Australia) and Sarah McGregor (ECD, Denstu Creative).

Designed for middleweight creatives, two modules of a program of six workshops will take place at This Way Up, equipping delegates with hands-on practical experience, critical thinking and the confidence to maximize their day-to-day and long-term careers. potential.

The Golden Pencil Awards Party
AWARD will conclude the festival with a party on the evening of August 15 for the winners of the 45th edition of AWARD Awards and specialists and AWARD School 2024 National Top Student, held at the MCA Foundation Hall.

This Way Up is supported by Meta, Google, LinkedIn, OMA and CRA.