2020 Jury

Andrea Hunt
Senior Vice President, CMO
Arterra Wines Canada

Andrea recently made the move back to Canada and to the ‘World of Wine’ to help this industry leading firm entrench a consumer-centric strategy & put brand building back into the heart of their growth agenda.

Over the last two decades, Andrea helped drive growth at blue-chip companies including CIBC, Kellogg, Molson, Kraft, Mondelez, and Weston. The 20+ year career has allowed for stewardship of iconic brands among them Special K, Coors Light, Kraft Dinner, Oreo, and Wonder Bread – It has also led to a well-stamped passport including extended work chapters in Europe and the United States. An energetic and dynamic leader, Andrea’s responsibilities have run the gamut including corporate strategy, media, communication, innovation, supply chain reinvention, and commercial leadership.

Andrea has a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University, an MBA from Schulich School of Business at York University, and is earning a Doctorate in ‘Patience’ as taught by her three boys. When away from work and not shuttling to an arena, Andrea longs for the opportunity to squeeze in a run or indulge in her passion for design and art – unless of course, someone is offering a glass of Wine…

Roehl Sanchez
Partner, EVP & Chief Creative Officer
BIMM

Roehl’s belief in great design, the power of data and "work that works" has led to countless award-winning campaigns and programs for some of Canada’s biggest brands such as Leon’s, Audi, Shoppers Drugmart, Loblaws, Bell, Coca-Cola, Shaw, Telus and Cogeco. He personally lead the launch of Shoppers Drugmart’s Optimum program, Murale, VIB as well as the PC Plus program from Loblaws.

Roehl’s work has garnered awards both nationally and internationally. From CMA awards, PROMO!, ADCCs, Atomic Awards, Shopper Innovation and Applied Arts to DMA ECHOs, One Show, Webby, Epica and Cannes Lions. Together with his team, he has led his agency to Silver Digital Agency of the Year in 2018.

Over the years, he has been chosen to judge numerous industry awards shows such as  Cannes Lions Direct festival (twice), the DMA Echos, New York Festivals, John Caples, Applied Arts, Marketing Awards and Chaired the Canadian Marketing Association Direct division as well as the National Advertising Awards Direct division.

Tom Evans
Executive Producer
Zulu Alpha Kilo

Tom is Zulu Alpha Kilo’s Executive Producer, heading up their in-house content studio, Zulubot. He has over 15 years’ experience making content for global brands – such as Sony, Rolex, Nike – across a wide range of media (film, TV, branded content, etc.). 

He made a name for himself in the UK directing feature-length documentaries and factual TV series for international broadcasters. In 2009, his film ‘Return to Nablus’ was nominated for an Emmy for ‘Best Current Affairs Documentary’. Other award win/nominations include Bafta, Royal Television Society, The Japan Prize and Channel 4s young documentary director of the year. 

Tom’s an innovator and entrepreneur, passionate about telling stories using a multitude of media, and has helped establish, develop and grow a number of industry-leading content studios. 

Kelly Graham
Head of Marketing
Ritual

Kelly Graham leads marketing for the wildly popular mobile pick-up app Ritual, which has rapidly expanded from its start in Toronto to now being present in cities across North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Before pivoting into the startup world, Kelly worked in several global marketing & strategy roles for Unilever around the world, developing iconic brands such as Dove, Degree, Axe, Becel and rapidly developed new brands for emerging spaces. 

Jackson Hitchon
Senior Director of Marketing
Hershey Canada Inc

Jackson leads the marketing department at Hershey Canada including the analytics and insights team. Blending old school fundamentals with leading edge tactics Jackson is dedicated to connecting with consumers and growing brands.  Jackson has helped ignite iconic brands such Reese, Hershey’s, Twizzlers and Oh Henry!  In 2019 Hershey’s shook up the confectionery category with the return of the international award winning Oh Henry! 4:25 bar, a full length feature film Reese The Movie and the fashion-forward influencer led launch of Hershey’s Gold.

Brooke Leland
SVP & GM, Ontario & West
Cossette Media Inc.

Brooke Leland is Senior Vice President, General Manager Cossette Media and manages the Toronto and Vancouver teams. She is the custodian of culture, is incredibly approachable and focuses obsessively on Employee Engagement.

She started her media career with Cossette 20 years ago and has been pushing her clients to innovate in the world of media ever since. Brooke has earned a reputation for her innovative and award-winning media work, partnering with such clients as General Mills, Whirlpool, Coca-Cola, Nike, IKEA, TIFF and Capital One.

Brooke has been Nationally recognized with Media Innovation Awards and Atomic awards for her clients. She has also seen success Internationally, with Cannes Lions for IKEA and Nike as well as an Effie award alongside partner Leo Burnett for work done on IKEA.  She was named as a nominee from Canada to sit on the Cannes Media Jury in 2018.

Brooke is on the COMMB board developing cutting edge mobile lead media measurement platforms in outdoor advertising...and has always been a huge fan of OOH winning the People’s Choice Award for Outdoor media planner.  She is also on the Vividata board and passionate about the future of media research and insight development.

Brooke is a bold and creative thinker who inspires great work that drives great results.

Ian Mackenzie
Chief Creative Officer
FCB Six

Across 15 years in the business, first as writer then creative director, Ian has worked at the forefront of digital and creative innovation. During that time, his work has earned more than 100 international awards for creativity and effectiveness, including One Show, D&AD, Clios, Webby Awards and a total of 21 Cannes Lions. In 2014, he was ranked #1 Copywriter in Canada in Strategy Magazine’s Creative Report Card. Ian was also co-creator and writer of the influential “Our Food. Your Questions.” radical transparency platform for McDonald’s, which started in Canada then rolled out globally. As creative leader of the data-driven creative agency FCB/SIX, Ian helmed “Destination Pride” for PFLAG Canada, which became the most awarded Canadian campaign at the 2018 Cannes Lions – and one of the most awarded campaigns in Canadian history. Also in 2018, Ian was ranked #11 most awarded Executive Creative Director in the world, according the The Drum’s “Big Won” report. Recent highlights include helming the 2019 Cannes Lions Creative Data Grand Prix-winning campaign “Go Back To Africa” for Black & Abroad. Major clients have included Honda, AB/InBev, Cadbury, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Taco Bell and BMW.

Anthony Palermo
Co-Founder and VP, Leisure & Entertainment
Connect&Go

Anthony is the co-founder of Connect&GO, a global leader of guest experience RFID technology solutions for the leisure, sports and entertainment industries and whose vision has always been to create technology that makes entering, paying and playing so simple it’s almost invisible. Anthony has led tech teams to deploy some of the largest RFID experiential activations for brands like VISA, Pepsi, HBO, Amazon, Target and Honda at some of the biggest events in the world including the Super Bowl, the Olympics and SXSW. Today the company’s focus on amusement parks, resorts and attractions has led them to be listed as the 9^th Fastest Growing Technology Company in Canada on the 2018 Growth 500 and a winner of numerous technology innovation awards. Anthony was a finalist for the ARISTA Awards for Jeune Entrepreneur de l’Année and Jeune Leader International, a Quebec Finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the Year as well as La Presse’s Personalité de la semaine and named as one of BizBash’s Most Innovative People in the events industry.

Mia Pearson
Co-Founder
North Strategic

A brand advisor to some of Canada’s most well-known CEOs, Mia has more than 25 years of experience in PR, executive thought leadership and crisis communications. She is one of the most respected experts in professional branding and a vocal advocate on behalf of women in business.

A serial entrepreneur, Mia has co-founded and sold three companies. She has worked with iconic brands including Samsung, P&G, American Express, Coty, PepsiCo, Canada Goose, Airbnb, among many others. She serves as a trusted advisor to C-level executives as they navigate some of the most contentious brand and reputational risks. 

She has been awarded the coveted RBC Female Entrepreneur of Year Award and been named in the top 10 of Women in Business in Canada.  In 2015, Mia was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, having won the award in four categories. She was recently featured inCanada 150 Women, a book featuring a collection of conversations with female leaders, champions and luminaries from across Canada.

Mia has sat on numerous boards in Canada, most currently on the Board of Directors of Enactus, and is chair of the Branding Committee.  She was invited by the Prime Minister to advise on the advancement of women in business and has a regular column in the Globe and Mail on the topic. She is one of the country’s top advisors in helping female executives develop strong personal and professional brands.

Vincent Ramsay-Lemelin
Main Director, Digital Creation & Innovation
Sid Lee

Vincent has been a creative entrepreneur for more than 15 years. He has been involved in the design, programming, and strategic development of several large projects, and is now Executive Creative Director at Sid Lee. He is actively involved in experience design with brands such as Samsung, Hyundai and The North Face.

Samantha Redman
CMO KFC Canada
Yum! Restaurants International

Since joining KFC nearly 15 years ago, Sam Redman, Chief Marketing Officer for KFC Canada, has been on an amazing journey around the world to transform the brand via consumer insights, creative communications, media planning and social responsibility.  South African by birth but international by heart, Sam has welcomed the opportunity to live and work in places like Johannesburg, London, Dubai, Dallas and Toronto.

Sam holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Natal in South Africa.  Prior to joining the global KFC family, Sam began her career at Johnson & Johnson South Africa followed by Reckitt Benckiser UK.  She has won various awards over the years, including most recently AtoMIC Gold and CMA Gold in 2018 for her clever leadership on the Bitcoin Bucket, a daring idea that capitalized on the cryptocurrency craze.

Tal Riff
Director, Content & Strategy, Branded Entertainment
Shaftesbury

As a senior content strategist and producer, Tal helps brands explore their voice using scripted, unscripted, and social media content to connect with their audience, creating “fans”, and driving measurable ROI. Tal’s 15+ year career has given her a holistic view of transmedia branded content development and production – from broadcast television and digital series, as well as influencer and social marketing, and PR.

As Director of Content Strategy, Branded Entertainment, at Shaftesbury, Tal has been a driving force behind key properties such as the multi-award winning “Carmilla” for U by Kotex, as well as “V Morgan is Dead” for RBC, and “Upstairs Amy” for Walmart and Interac. She is the co-creator of “Turning the Tables”, a series produced for got2b, and the production executive on Nokia’s “Futurithmic”.  Prior to that, Tal developed and executed cross-platform brand partnerships on CBC properties including “Dragons’ Den”, “George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight” and “Canada’s Smartest Person”.

Tal is passionate about experimenting with storytelling styles and platforms, finding the sweet spot of creating entertaining and engaging content that is enhanced by successful brand partnerships. She’s been a recurring guest lecturer at WIFT-T (Women in Film & Television), as well as a judge for the Cynopsis Digital Awards and representing Shaftesbury on industry panels in Canada and the US.

Steve Savic
EVP, Executive Creative Director
Critical Mass

Steve creates break-through digital experiences that put people right in the action. He leads work that covers the digital spectrum, from transactional to brand-rich campaigns for Mercedes, Dell, Rolex, Nike, and Nissan.

His team’s drive for deeper and richer integrated programs have earned dozens of awards that include Cannes Grand Prix, several Cannes Lions, One Show, D&AD, the Effies, Tomorrow Awards, and many more. Always results focused — Delivers deeper customer and meaningful brand connections.

Mary Beth Williamson
CPG Cannabis Practice Lead
CCI Deloitte

Mary Beth is a Cannabis Strategy and Marketing Consultant.  In addition to developing corporate and commercial strategies for cannabis companies, she has led in the creation of multiple cannabis brands designed to meet a variety of consumer segments and needs.  Prior to entering the fast-paced cannabis space, Mary Beth was CMO of Jamieson Vitamins, Canada’s #1 vitamin and supplement company where she delivered outstanding business results with double digit top-line and bottom-line growth while significantly building brand equity for long term success.  She developed and supported a strong marketing team that more than doubled the ROI of the marketing investment by creating a Masterbrand campaign, tripling the innovation rate and elevating media effectiveness. 

Throughout her career, Mary Beth held leadership roles domestically and internationally in blue chip companies including Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo as well as consulted with small start-ups and large consumer companies.  In these roles, she combined her passion for the consumer and brands with a disciplined and data-driven strategic approach to problem solving.  She has had the privilege of developing and coaching great marketers while nurturing iconic brands such as Tide, Pampers, Always, Bounce, Pantene, Pepsi, Maple Leaf, Orville Redenbacher and Jamieson.  Among her career highlights were:

• Her role as a key leader on a six-person start-up team for P&G in Eastern Europe that launched 18 brands in 18 months generating positive profit in year two;
• Spearheading the gold-standard consumer recovery for Maple Leaf Foods from a highly publicized national product recall with CEO information commercials followed by a consumer campaign that rapidly re-built consumer confidence; and
• Creating the Jamieson Essentials marketing concept which leveraged consumer insight to drive core business and category growth.

Mary Beth sits on the Advisory Boards of several organizations:  Canadian Red Cross Marketing Advisory Committee, Chicken Farmers of Ontario Innovation Advisory Committee and DIG Research Advisory Board.  She holds an MBA from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.

Sharyn Byrne-Nearing
Director, Brand and Digital Marketing
Metrolinx

A savvy marketer with over 18 years of experience, Sharyn Byrne-Nearing has a passion for breakthrough creative, innovative technology and highly collaborative client/agency partnerships. 

Sharyn has lead advertising, design and PR agencies in the development of disruptive campaigns which engaged audiences and delivered strong business results. They also delivered awards. Her work has been recognized nationally and globally at an array of industry shows.

Sharyn currently serves as the Director of Brand and Digital Marketing at Metrolinx where her team is leading a complete brand and digital transformation. It’s aim is to build strong, resonant brands that connect with consumers and deliver on Metrolinx’s vision of becoming a world class transit system for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

Raul Garcia
Executive Creative Director
Momentum Worldwide

Raul is an internationally awarded Creative Director with over 19 years of experience working for agencies in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Not only has Raul won at every major national and international award show, but his work also has garnered the attention of main stream media and pop culture. His work has made the front page of the Toronto Star, has been the subject of local news across the globe, has landed on the front page of Reddit (twice), was spoofed by Rick Mercer, and has been blogged by 50 cent, Pharrell Williams, and tweeted by Rosario Dawson, and Zoe Kravitz.

Outside of advertising, I am a big video game junkie. In 2013, I was ranked 51st overall in Call of Duty Black ops 2 (for about 15 minutes).

Liam Greenlaw
Creative Director
Wasserman & Partners

Jason Hill
Creative Director
Target

Jason Hill recently joined Newfoundland agency Target in September 2018 as Creative Director, to oversee creative work on all accounts, including the much loved and awarded Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism.

Jason began his career in a few small but award winning boutique agencies in the UK, before eventually moving to TBWA.

In 2002 he relocated to Canada where he worked as an art director and ACD at some of the best agencies in Toronto including Taxi, Zig and CPB Toronto. 

During his career, Jason has produced many award winning campaigns for brands such as IKEA, Viagra, Virgin, AXE and Nissan, and has been awarded globally in many shows including Cannes and One Show.

Karen Howe
President
The Township

Karen Howe is a globally-awarded creative director, writer and speaker. She decodes trends in creativity, technology and culture to audiences across North America. Karen is also a frequent advertising commentator for Strategy, CTV, TVO, CBC and The Globe and Mail.

As one of the very few female creative directors in the world, Karen is a vocal champion for more women in management roles.

Alyssa Huggins
VP, Brand & Integrated Marketing
Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation

Alison Lawler-Dean
Marketing + Communications Consultant

Stuart MacMillan
Creative Director
lg2

Lyranda Martin-Evans
Executive Creative Director, Vice President
DentsuBos

Lyranda is an award-winning creative director, author, and podcast host. She currently sits on the Advertising and Design Club of Canada board of directors and is the host of their podcast “ADCC Created” which interviews top talent and unpacks how some of the best campaigns actually got made.  Her bestselling book “Reasons Mommy Drinks”, a humour book about parenting, has been published in three languages. She is also the podcast host for Google’s “Lead by Womenwill” which aims to address gender disparity in the workforce and champion young women in their careers. A working mom with two young boys at home, in her spare time she enjoys mainlining coffee. 

Gaetan Namouric
Founder & Strategist
Perrier Jablonski

Gaëtan Namouric is a creative strategist with more than 20 years of experience in communications. He teaches innovative branding at HEC. He has worked for Apple, Ubisoft, Nike, Lucasfilm, Burger King, Toyota, Air France/KLM, and many local companies. Having led more than a hundred campaigns, he has earned a great many awards and nominations, including at Cannes, New York Festivals, the Cassies, as well as the Créa and Marketing Awards. 

In 2015, he opened Perrier Jablonski, a strategic consulting firm unlike any other, based on three simple principles: understanding consumers better than anyone else; thinking with our clients, never without them; and developing clear action plans that are easy to execute. Many brands have opted for this radical approach: Danone, National Bank, Ubisoft, Brother, Loto-Québec, South Shore, Otsuka, and the City of Montreal, just to name a few – as well as communication agencies that understand Perrier Jablonski is an asset in their game, such as Cossette, Bleublancrouge, Omnicom, and many more. Gaëtan is also a frequent public speaker in Quebec and around the world on topics ranging from strategy to innovation, creativity, and change.

Ron Smrczek
Executive Creative Director
The & Partnership

Ron got his start in advertising a little earlier than
most, starring in a Mr. Christie cookie commercial
at the age of 5. But it would take nearly twenty
years before he would be on the other side of the
camera, as an Art Director in Toronto.

Prior to joining The&Partnership, Ron worked at
Zulu Alpha Kilo, Commonwealth/McCann in Milan,
and TAXI Toronto, New York, and Amsterdam. In
that time, he’s led regional and international clients
like Chevrolet, Coca-Cola, Kraft, MolsonCoors,
Nike, Unilever and Viagra.

Some personal highlights include multiple podium
appearances in Cannes, a nod for one of the
world’s top five campaigns in The Gunn Report,
being ranked as one of the top ten creatives
worldwide by Boards Magazine, and an Emmy
nomination.