Cam Blackley Appointed AWARD Chair As Mike Spirkovski Steps Down

The Communications Council has appointed Cam Blackley, CCO at M&C Saatchi, as Chair of the Australasian Writers and Art Directors Association (AWARD).
He takes on the role from Saatchi & Saatchi CCO Mike Spirkovski (feature image) who steps down after two years as Chair of the Committee.
Blackley, an AWARD Committee member since 2016, said he is proud to have been part of the committee for three years and is looking forward to steering AWARD during such an exciting time.
He said: “I tip my hat to Mike for the great job he’s done over the last couple of years, the future of AWARD is all the brighter for his contribution.
“Whilst it’s a privilege to lead the AWARD Executive Committee I don’t underestimate the responsibility of cementing AWARD as the region’s champion of creativity. The shifting landscape of the industry means there’s always more work to be done.
“I’m up for it and will be supporting progressive ideas from the committee that promote higher standards of creative excellence for future generations of creatives and marketers.”
Some significant achievements for AWARD during Mike’s reign as chair include:
- Attracting Susan Hoffman (2018) and Leo Premutico (2019) to Australia as AWARD Awards Chair of Judges with special guest appearances at the AWARD Creative Leadership courses.
- Tom Lawrence being announced top student of AWARD School in 2018 and winning a prize to meet David Droga on the 30th anniversary of Droga winning AWARD School
- Expansion of AWARD School into regional Victoria and Northern Territory in 2019
- Introduction of AWARD School Indigenous Scholarships in 2019
- Attracting Facebook as the official partner of AWARD School in 2018 and AWARD Awards in 2019
Outgoing committee chair Mike Spirkovski said it has been an honour to represent the much-loved association.
“Looking back I am very proud of our collective achievements, in particular, our work in the areas of diversity and nurturing future talent.
“This year, AWARD School broadened its program reach, expanding beyond major cities to the Northern Territory, and to regional and rural Victoria. In 2019, half a dozen Indigenous Program Scholarships were also made available to encourage more Indigenous people into the advertising industry.
“I want to thank the fantastic committee for their unwavering support and generosity during my Chairmanship. I’d also like to congratulate Cam Blackley on his appointment as AWARD Chair. Cam is an incredible creative leader and an inspirational industry mentor who will, no doubt, lead the AWARD Committee to greatness.”
Comms Council CEO Tony Hale said he is delighted to welcome Cam as the new AWARD chair, and thanked Mike for his valuable contribution.
“Cam is widely respected and a natural leader. I have no doubt that he will continue to drive the AWARD brand and community to champion creativity as the powerful force we know it all to be.
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Mike for his tireless contribution. He provided a very positive outlook and was extremely generous in devoting time to AWARD, most recently by being a co-chair at the AWARD Creative Leadership course.”
Blackley has over 20 years’ experience at leading international creative shops including Droga5 NYC, AMV BBDO and Publicis London, and has worked on a wide variety of global brands spanning Aldi, Carlton United Breweries, British Telecom, Cadbury, ING Bank, Tiger Beer and Sportsbet.com.au
He has received the highest honours at every international award show, including a coveted D&AD Black Pencil and Cannes titanium.
Latest News

What It Takes To Help Build Brand Trust Online In 2021
By Suzanne Mitchell, Senior Director of Marketing at GoDaddy Australia As 2021 dawns in Australia, it does so with greater stability and hope for businesses and individuals than since the pandemic intensified locally last March. The Covid-induced digital transformation boom has created, in its wake, a hyper-individualised world whereby audiences have more control over what, […]

Mumpower Launches Inaugural ‘Vote On Purpose’ Australian Business Awards 2021
To celebrate brands going “above and beyond to act with purpose”, Mumpower has announced its first-ever consumer choice awards. The ‘Vote on Purpose’ Australian Business Award 2021 aims to crown Australia’s favourite purpose-driven company, with Mumpower now calling on both corporations and Mum shoppers to nominate a value-led company or a specific brand campaign that […]

BREAKING: Justin Drape Departs The Monkeys
B&T delivers a breaking news industry scoop. And, trust us, this time we're 79.98% certain it's even correct.

Outbrain Signs Three-Year Deal With Australian Community Media
Outbrain signs deal with Australian Community Media. Discover the brains behind the deal in this insightful synopsis.

Stan Sport Subscription Price Revealed
Sports fans will have to pay $10 a month to sign up for Stan Sport when it launches later this year, according to reports. The Nine-owned Sydney Morning Herald, is today reporting that Stan (also owned by Nine) will offer Stan Sport as a supplementary service, meaning fans must also have a subscription to Stan’s […]

Guardian UK Honours Kamala Harris Inauguration With Full-Page Ad, Via Uncommon
Once again the power of print is on show here. It's also on show for those who enjoy craft using papier-mâché.

Sitecore Secures US$1.2B In Funding
Sitecore has secured $US1.2 billion in funding. Said to be prioritising internal chocolate river and flying elevator.

Mintel Announces Global Consumer Trends For 2021
It's the latest global consumer trends report that, as you'd expect, continues to be bad news for airport duty frees.

2021 Data Predictions: What To Expect In The Year Ahead
Once again, data set to join omnichannel and full-service as the advertising industry's most ubiquitous words.

Sarah Wilson Launches New PodcastOne Australia Series
You have to hand it to Sarah Wilson, doesn't eat sugar AND has so far refrained from murdering anyone.

David Beckham Leads Star-Studded Adidas Football Promo, Using WhatsApp
David Beckham - women want him, men want to be him. Despite his wife constantly taking all the wardrobe space.

Morse Micro Appoints Milk & Honey PR To Enhance Brand Identity
Have absolutely no idea what Morse Micro even do? Discover the power of PR by reading this submitted press release.

Metro Commercial Radio Ad Revenues Down 10.4% In December Quarter
Kyle forced to eat beans from a tin in fingerless mittens as the great plague continues to savage ad revenues.

Endemol Shine Announces Leadership Shakeup
Endemol Shine announces management shakeup. Still no news on the enduring appeal of the actual edamame, however.

Stan Inks Exclusive Content Deal With Walter Presents
Stan inks latest content deal that unfortunately doesn't include Best Of Red Faces or Ask The Leyland Brothers.

Bohemia Appoints Chloe Schneider As Head Of Content
Chloe Schneider joins the Bohemia team and provides DIY press pic thanks to local passport photo booth.

News Media Bargaining Code Remains “Unworkable” For Facebook
Sure, you may not be reading any of B&T's News Media Bargaining Code coverage, but you have to admire our persistence.

Oz Premiers, PM Share Lamb Chops In Berlin Wall Art Parody, Via The Monkeys
Look, it's the second instalment of the lamb ad. And it's even better than the first, like Radiohead's second album.

UnLtd Board Welcomes Verizon Media MD Paul Sigaloff
Verizon's Paul Sigaloff joins the UnLtd board. Forced to sit on milk crates until arrival of leatherette swivel chair.

Sorrell Grabs Another One As MediaMonks Merges With German Auto Agency Staud Studios
Sir Martin invests in new set of lederhosen and felt alpine hat after snaring latest German agency.

Shutterstock Reveals Visual Trends 2021
Global creative platform Shutterstock has launched the 10th anniversary edition of its annual Creative Trends Report, highlighting the trends that will inspire creative expression and ingenuity in 2021. Announcing the report, Shutterstock creative director Flo Lau said that, after the year that was, the company was encouraged by the “positivity, originality, and resilience displayed by […]

Ogilvy Australia CEO David Fox To Head Middle East & North Africa Office
David Fox hurriedly learning where Tunis and Marrakesh even are after landing North Africa-Middle East role.

Vic Gov Chooses QMS For Its Holidaymaker Fire Warnings
It wouldn't be a B&T newsletter without the latest outdoor news. Well, save for the past four that is.

Jobs On The Rise: 2021’s Looking Good For Marketers, Digi Pros, Podcasters & Bloggers
It's the latest hot jobs report! Get set for that unsettling, stomach churning nausea feeling if yours ain't on it.

Have We Entered Peak Podcasting? 2021 Predictions
This columnist asks have we reached peak podcasting? We've definitely reached peak cavoodles, Aperol Spritz & man buns.

Lenovo Turns Aussie Tech Review Into A Death Metal Song
By playing this death metal song backwards you may conjure Satan himself, or really annoy the shit out of colleagues.

Are Media’s BEAUTY/Crew Unveils Seasonal Digital Issues
Look, here's the latest industry beauty news that'll have your sagging epidermis glowing by the end of the third paragraph.

Bastion Collective Launches New Interactive Experience Agency Bastion Interactive
Bastion Collective launches new arm, Bastion Interactive, which is a specialist interactive experience agency headed up by ex DDB Tribal Managing Director.

Major US Networks ‘Boycott’ Trump Farewell Address
Outgoing and twice impeached President Donald Trump released a pre-recorded farewell as he departed Washington. But many of the US’ major networks didn’t show it. Trump was banned from Facebook and Twitter in the wake of his supporters’ attack on the US Capitol on 6 January. His personal account on YouTube has also been suspended […]

Facebook Journalism Program Helps News Publishers Find New Subscribers
New data from Facebook shows that an initiative aimed at supporting local news publishers is showing early signs of success. Australian and New Zealand publishers participating in the Facebook Journalism Project’s Reader Revenue Accelerator in 2019 and through 2020 secured more than 24,000 new paying subscribers and more than 160,000 new loyal readers (whether through […]