Independent Australian business The Misfits has won gold as the Representative of the Year for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

From a field of 92 competing countries, The Misfits took out the gold for Andrea Suez Representative of the Year Award 2019 for demonstrating best-in-class activity – captivating, engaging and influencing a national industry’s behaviour.

The award was handed out overnight at the Representatives Meeting in London.

Cannes Lions connects a global community of people who believe in the power of creativity – as a force for business, for change and for good. And thanks to its 92 Representatives, the Cannes Lions mission is shared at a local level across the world.

The Representative of the year awards are judged against four criteria:

1. Brand Ambassadors
2. Creative Marketing Activity
3. Engagement with Young Lions
4. Business Results

Even more remarkable was the fact that The Misfits was only appointed the new representative for Australia in February 2019. The creatively led events and content agency were up against the clock to launch a new website, secure sponsors and organise the local Young Lions Competition to fulfil the three categories that the previous representative, APN Outdoor, had committed to.

The Misfits general manager Catriona Hay said: “Becoming part of the Cannes Lions Representatives Network has been key to this growth phase of positioning The Misfits as a leading events and content business.

“Although the publications we own and operate (B&T, Travel Weekly & The Nibbler) are very well established with a long history, our parent company, The Misfits, is just five years old while our creative-led events agency has seen significant growth in the last three years.

“Being associated with the leading international festival of creativity lends credibility and helps establish The Misfits in the Australian market as an exciting, young creative business who works with major brands.”

The Misfits Media Company is an integrated team of nearly 30 creative, digital, content and event producers that delivers creatively led events and experiential activations, with recent clients including the Asian Development Bank; Central Coast Tourism; Facebook; Amazing Thailand; The X Games; Singapore Tourism; Adobe; Seven West Media and more.