‘Creative Conversations’ educational forum launches during LIA judging in Las Vegas – NZ represented by DDB’s Rory McKechnie

LIA has announced the launch of its ‘Creative Conversations’ program targeted to young creatives from around the globe. As a way to give back to the very industry that has made LIA a trailblazer across the awards landscape, LIA has decided to bring young creatives together with seasoned creatives to encourage stimulating and rewarding dialogue.

The event will take place at the Encore/Wynn Resort in Las Vegas during the week of the September 2012 LIA judging
 sessions. The entire initiative, including travel and hotel expenses, is being funded by LIA.

Only seventy attendees from around the globe will be participating in this intimate, invitation-only event. LIA has communicated word of the event to various global agency networks, independent agencies, associations and media outlets, including Campaign Brief and Campaign Brief Asia. The managers of these companies and associations chose individuals for the exclusive opportunity to experience LIA’s educational initiative.

Rory McKechnie (top), a copywriter from CB NZ Agency of the Year DDB Goup, is representing New Zealand.

Australia is represented by five young creatives: Dan Jones, a young art director at Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne, CB Agency of the Year for the last four years; James Orr and Elle Bullen from Leo Burnett Melbourne; and Jake Barrow and Matt Lawson from George Patterson Y&R Melbourne.

Campaign Brief Asia has selected three hot young creatives to represented Asia, namely Xu Meng Lu from JWT Shanghai, Gary Lim from DDB Singapore and CK Tan from Ogilvy Malaysia.

The goal of ‘Creative Conversations’ is to provide the next generation of bright minds unprecedented access to a
 unique and diverse group of industry luminaries for one-on-one conversations, as well as, several seminars. Fueled by those eager to both impart and ingest, the program’s potential outcome is unlimited.

The speakers of the ‘Creative Conversations’ include world creative legends Ted Royer, Susan  Credle, Israel Diaz, Tony 
Calcao, Faris Yakob, Paul Lavoie, Neil French, Mark D’Arcy, Phil Growick, Bob Garfield, Doerte
 Spengler-Aherns, Sonal Dabral, Jeremy Craigen (left), Jonathon Ker and Scott Elias, as well as a few surprise speakers.

Says Barbara Levy, LIA founder & president: “Our industry encourages thinking outside the box. There’s no telling what breakthroughs and dialogue will transpire within this eclectic melting pot of creatives.”