Commercial Communications Council

Representation and visibility in our industry will remain a point of discussion as long as the talent makeup across our agencies continues to be out of step with New Zealand as a whole. Recent debate around women in leadership positions in creative departments has shone a light, again, on one of the many areas where progress is still required. Our last industry Census reported that across our membership, we are now approximately 67% female or non-binary. However, the C-suite across our industry is currently the opposite, roughly 2 to 1 male-dominated. The balance is shifting steadily. Comms Council’s board, made up of agency CEOs, is 55% female, and this has occurred organically as the makeup of our industry leadership has rotated. It is undeniable that the balance differs within different disciplines within our industry. The creative department remains male-dominant. However, there are an abundance of women in creative leadership roles across New Zealand that we can look up to; CCOs in both network and leading independent agencies, ECDs, creative business owners, and senior creatives who are influencing the work that we produce and the way in which we do so. Between 2018 and 2025, 50% of Axis Convenor of Judges have been women, not by design but by right. All of which we consider progress in the right direction, rather than denial of a persistent issue. Wherever there is imbalance, there is work to do; to increase inclusion, remove invisible barriers, eradicate bias, and to change our definition and understanding of Ad Culture to one that attracts and remains attractive to all talent in Aotearoa. Our own efforts at Comms Council to contribute to the momentum of such change remain a core strategic priority. We will be conducting our next industry Census in early 2025, unearthing more specific data on representation across all historically under-represented groups, in all areas of our industry, and building a platform for collective action. There is no place for discrimination, conscious or otherwise, within our industry. Building inclusivity, representation and an equal sense of belonging for everyone is a forever project.

Yesterday marked the exciting kickoff of The MAChINE: Selling Ideas with Dr. Wayne Lotherington! We can’t wait to see participants hit it out of the ballpark with their presentations today. For more info on courses visit: https://hubs.la/Q02TWcQ10

🚀 Exciting News! 🚀 We’re thrilled to announce that applications for our 2025 Annual Recruitment Programme are now OPEN! If you’re ready to kickstart your career in the vibrant and dynamic world of advertising, we want to hear from you! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to discover your dream career in advertising. Apply now! 🔗https://lnkd.in/gPu-AFmu

Swing, drive and putt for good at the UnLtd: Open golf tournament in Auckland! Join our friends at UnLtd on Thursday 7 November at the beautiful Akarana Golf Club in Auckland for a fantastic day out on the golf course - and all for a great cause! There will be plenty of surprises in store with special sponsor activations and competitions along the course. Played in Ambrose format, the game is open to all levels of golfers. Get in touch with sheryl@unltd.org.nz today to book your team in!

Are you a senior advertising professional facing complex negotiations? Or are you looking to sharpen your skills for high-stakes situations? Our Senior Negotiation Course is designed for you. This course is ideal for senior agency personnel handling pitches, proposals, and contracts. You’ll gain practical negotiation techniques, develop strategic insights, and build the confidence needed to excel in challenging environments. 👨🏫 Led by Scotwork’s expert coaches, with years of real-world experience, you’ll walk away equipped to drive successful outcomes—even in the most complex scenarios. 📌 Booking Deadline: Wednesday 22 January 2025 📅 Course Date: 5–7 March 2025 Find out more and register now! https://hubs.la/Q02R9vVz0

Join us on the 23rd of October to unlock the secrets of award-winning effectiveness at the Effectiveness Breakfast hosted at TVNZ. 🥐 To coincide with the upcoming Effie Awards Aotearoa Gala Dinner, join us for a morning of insights and inspiration Our keynote speaker, James Hurman —advertising effectiveness expert and founder of Previously Unavailable —will be sharing initial findings from the Comms Council Aotearoa Effectiveness Database. We'll also hear first-hand from the teams behind some of 2023's Effie Gold-winning campaigns. Discover the collaboration, thinking, and strategy that made these campaigns stand out amongst the best in the industry: Fire and Emergency New Zealand and Motion Sickness for their work "Amazingly Fast Behavioural Change - You're Cooked. Recipes to Avoid Disaster" Kiwibank New Zealand and Special New Zealand for their work "Reigniting NZ's Relationship with Kiwibank" ➡️ To learn more or purchase tickets, head to https://hubs.ly/Q02R9-0b0

Last chance to sharpen your creative pitching skills with Wayne Lotherington at The MAChINE – Selling Ideas workshop! This course is designed to help you overcome the toughest client challenges and get them saying "yes" to your bold ideas. 🗓️ Course date: 17-18 October 2024 Registration closes today - Thursday 26 September 2024. Don't miss out on this opportunity to master the art of selling creativity. ⏳ 👉 Secure your spot now: https://hubs.la/Q02R974c0

Announcing the 2024 Effie Awards Aotearoa Finalists! 🎉 We’re excited to reveal the outstanding finalists for this year’s Effie Awards Aotearoa in association with TVNZ. These finalists have demonstrated exceptional creativity and effectiveness in marketing, showcasing the best of our industry. 👉 Check out the full list of finalists on our website and celebrate the innovative solutions leading the way. https://hubs.la/Q02QyF880 🗓️ Don’t forget: The winners will be announced at our ceremony on Thursday 31 October at Auckland Town Hall.

The Pressie Awards are here, and we’re searching for the stars of tomorrow. Could that be someone from your team? Or maybe it's you! 👀 We're looking for young professionals under 30, with less than five years’ industry experience, who are already making waves in PR, Experiential, and Social Campaigns. 🏆 📢 Nominate yourself or a co-worker today! Head to https://hubs.la/Q02PD2410 and download the entry form now. Let’s celebrate the future of our industry! #PressieAwards #YoungPractitioner #PRLeaders #FutureofPR #CampaignStars

Congratulations to the Foundations 2024 cohort! 🎉 You stunned us with your presentations last night. Your hard work and creativity were truly impressive. Amazing job, everyone! ⭐️