Cairns Crocodiles, presented by Pinterest, is putting more boots on the ground across Asia Pacific, unveiling a new-look advisory board and its first crop of regional ambassadors ahead of the festival’s return in May 2027.
The two groups will play different roles in shaping the next chapter of Crocs. Its advisory board will bring senior industry perspectives into conversations around content and the direction of the festival, while the new ambassador network is designed to give Crocs stronger connections into individual markets across the region.
Joining the Cairns Crocodiles advisory board for 2027 are Morihiko Hasebe, global executive creative director at Hakuhodo; Jessica Yue, founder and CEO of POLARIS+; Sangeeta Leach, founder, executive coach and board member; and Shyaire “Shy” Ganglani, associate creative director at Leo Burnett, head of AWARD School Online, Mavens editor, stand-up comedian and Cannes Lions See It Be It 2026 alum.
They join an existing line-up of senior industry figures and long-time Crocs supporters, including Esther Clerehan, founder of Clerehan, and Rob Galluzzo, CEO of Finch.
“An advisory board shouldn’t just be a list of impressive names on a website. I want people who will challenge us, tell us what we’re missing and introduce us to ideas and people we might never discover ourselves,” said Pippa Chambers, content director of Cairns Crocodiles.
“What excites me about this group is how different they all are. We’ve got perspectives spanning different markets, disciplines and corners of the industry. That mix is really important when you’re trying to build a festival that genuinely reflects where the industry is heading.”
Crocs Builds Its APAC Network
Alongside the board, Cairns Crocodiles is launching a new ambassador program for 2027, with its first representatives based across China, South Korea, Japan and India.
Shenzhen-based Gill Zhou, former managing director of Condé Nast China and a former senior marketer at IBM and Motorola, joins as an ambassador in China. Zhou is also chair of Shenzhen International Fashion Week and adjunct professor at Shenzhen Finance Institute, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
IKEA Korea country marketing manager Yuli Park will become an ambassador in South Korea, after making her Crocs debut on stage in 2026. Park impressed and delighted audiences in equal measure with her sharp marketing knowledge, brilliant humour and infectious personality, making her a natural choice to help champion Crocs in Korea.
In Japan, Tokyo-based Hideo Rai brings more than 30 years of marketing and advertising experience to the role. Now founder and CEO of Rainmaker Advisory, Rai was previously president and CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network Japan and executive director of Dentsu Innovation Initiative, where he led the development and implementation of new technologies and solutions across the group.
In India, Mumbai-based BrandMusiq founder Rajeev Raja returns for his third Crocs. Raja has previously delivered a keynote and masterclass at the festival and worked with Crocs to create and launch its sonic identity.
The ambassador push comes as the Cairns Crocodiles team increasingly spends more time on the ground across Asia Pacific, building relationships with agencies, brands and industry leaders in individual markets.
Rosie Oakshott, managing partner of The Misfits Media Company, B&T and Cairns Crocodiles, and Cairns Crocodiles co-founder David Hovenden recently travelled to Singapore and Japan and will return to the region in October. Chambers has also recently returned from South Korea, where she attended the MAD STARS international advertising festival in Busan.
“As a team, we’re increasingly spending more time travelling through the region, and every time we do, we come back with a long list of brilliant people, businesses and ideas we simply wouldn’t have discovered sitting at our desks in Sydney,” Chambers added.
“That’s really the thinking behind the ambassador program. We want people on the ground who know their markets inside out and can point us towards the names we should know, not just the names everyone already knows.”
The ambassador line-up is expected to grow further as Cairns Crocodiles continues to strengthen its connections across Asia Pacific ahead of May 2027.
The festival’s Film & Screen track will also return for its second year in 2027, supported by its own advisory board spanning film, television, production, entertainment, media and marketing.
Cairns Crocodiles has unveiled a bold new creative look. Check it out here. The Awards are now officially open for entries, and a handful of awesome speakers have also been revealed. See them all here.
Cairns Crocodiles returns to Cairns from 25–27 May 2027.
Secure your tickets now: www.cairnscrocodiles.com
