My grandmother had me audition as a choirboy for St.Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey in London when I was eight. Failing adequately, and growing up reasonably unscarred, I pinballed my way through careers in banking, travel and tourism, music, retail management and journalism. Then someone in a pub suggested being a 'creative'.
Since then I've had the good fortune to create work that's connected people and brands across nearly every business segment. And I've done it with some amazing people, clients and agencies across New Zealand, Singapore and Australia.
My work's been recognised at Cannes, D&AD, One Show, Clio, LIAs, Effies and AWARD. I’ve also won Australia's coveted national Siren radio award (twice), and picked up Western Australia's first ever Digital Lion.
Having felt the benefits of working with people way more talented than me, I’m a fan of supporting others to create their best work - from instilling confidence in clients to try something ‘different’, working with and inspiring the thinking of creative teams and internal departments, to teaching and mentoring the next generation of creatives.
I’ve judged at a few award shows, including AWARD, AdFest and the 2023 London International Awards in Vegas. I've held lecturing positions in Australia and Singapore, and headed up Australia’s national AWARD School program. I also helped reboot AdSchool’s Copywriting course over a three year period, taking it from discontinued to an over-enrolled industry staple.
When I’m not working, I’m trying to not get hit in the sensitives by my loud and energetic 6yr old son. And when I’m not playing with LEGO, I’m playing with Midhourney, Runway and Elevenlabs.
All in all, I love what I do. From the people I meet, to the work I create, to the skills and mindset I've been able to develop and craft along the way.
And I feel pretty grateful for meeting that bloke in the pub.
EXPERIENCE
Freelance CD / Senior Copywriter
2023 (Oct) - Present
Special Group, DDB, VML, M&C Saatchi, HERO, It’s Friday, Joy
Creative Director - Eardrum, Sydney
2023 (Feb-Oct)
Creative Director - Wunderman Thompson, Perth & Sydney
2018 (Jul)- 2023 (Feb)
Creative Group Head - Clemenger Marketforce, Perth
2017 - 2018
Head of Copy - 303MullenLowe, Perth
2014 - 2017
Senior Copywriter - Saatchi & Saatchi, Sydney
2013 - 2014
ACD to Creative Director - McCann, Sydney
2012 - 2013
Head of Copy - R/GA, Singapore
2011 - 2012
Snr Copywriter to Creative Group Head - DDB, Aotearoa (NZ)
2007 - 2011
Copywriter - Gatecrasher, Perth
2003 – 2007
JUDGING
LIAs, Radio & Audio Jury 2023 (Read my jury wrap-up here)
AdFest, Outdoor Jury 2010
AWARD, Radio & Audio Jury 2014, 2018
PADC, Festival of Ideas Speaker & Final Jury 2014
Siren Radio Awards, Creative Council & Final Judge 2016-24
AWARD School, Entry & Final Folio Judge, 2016, 17, 20, 21
AWARD RECOGNITION
Cannes
D&AD
One Show
Clio
New York Festivals
LIA
Spikes
Caples
AWARD
Effies
Axis (New Zealand)
Siren Radio Awards
PADC (Western Australia)
WA Screen Awards
