Media agency Initiative is continuing to build its strategy capabilities with the appointment of one of the media industry’s brightest stars John Dawson as communications design director, Sydney.

Dawson is one of Australia’s most awarded young strategists having won the Australian Cannes Young Lions competition, the NGEN Award at the MFA Awards twice, an Emerald Media Cristal from the Cristal Festival, a silver for media strategy at the Asia Marketing Effectiveness Awards and two Media Federation of Australia awards, including the Grand Prix in 2015.

His appointment follows news that Tristan Burrell has joined Initiative as national chief strategy officer. He is formerly global head of strategy and ideas at UM’s J3 agency. Originally with UM in Sydney, Burrell won the global Cannes Young Lions Award in 2009.

Dawson’s role is a new position at Initiative. He will work with strategy and creative leads to develop ideas that shape the experience people have with brands across owned, earned, shared and paid encounters.

“John is a brilliant strategist and a very valuable addition to the Initiative team,” said newly installed Initiative Australia CEO Melissa Fein.

“The role we have for him is a runway to develop new levels of connectivity for people with brands and we are looking forward to his thinking and leadership for clients and our Sydney team.”