JURY CHAIR
Global Media Lead, Heineken, Global

Joost is an accomplished Media and Marketing Strategist with a decade of experience. He has driven transformational projects for globally recognized brands like Heineken and Netflix, specializing in optimizing media operations and steering global digital transformations. His leadership in programmatic marketing and innovative campaigns has earned him a reputation for delivering significant results. With a track record of strategic excellence, Joost is poised to continue shaping the future of media and marketing.

Cofounder CEO, 16x9 Media, United Kingdom

Elizabeth is the founder CEO of ad agency 16x9 Media and the president of women’s network Bloom United Kingdom. An award-winning senior media leader with 20+ years driving multi-million-pound revenue growth for blue-chip broadcasters before launching her agency. With both client-side and entrepreneurial advertising expertise her creative leadership draws energy from uniting teams behind solutions that push boundaries. Recognised by the IPA iList Awards, Elizabeth champions equity by authoring Bloom’s Allyship Code, mentoring women across career levels, co-founding inclusion groups Bloom in Colour and Join Our Table. She is an advisor for the Conscious Advertising Network and Mediacat Magazine. Find Elizabeth on Instagram: @16x9media, on X: @16x9media and on LinkedIn.

CEO, Havas Media Group, Portugal

Fernanda has been CEO of Havas Media Network in Portugal since May 2013 and is responsible for the entire Group operation, strategy, and vision. Her professional career started in 1987 at J.Walter Thompson. She is currently the President of both IAB Portugal General Assembly and APAME. She has served on the jury for several prestigious advertising events, including: Cannes Lions International Festival; Sapo Digital Awards (Portugal); Effie Awards - “Prémios Eficácia – Portugal”; “Blogs do Ano” Awards; and CCP Festival (Portuguese Creative Club). Find Fernanda on Instagram: @mariafernandamarantes and on LinkedIn.

Head of Strategy & Insight, Dentsu, Finland

Juha Halmesvaara has over 15 years of experience in marketing and media. He has specialised in marketing strategy & effectiveness for years. Halmesvaara helps clients understand how marketing actually works, and is a sought-after keynote speaker. Juha is inspired by the great thinking behind the executions – how a small piece of insight or data can change everything from okay to excellent. Juha has been awarded locally and globally of his work. His achievements spread from Effie and WARC Award wins into being awarded multiple times at Cannes and Eurobest. Find Juha on LinkedIn.

Strategy Director, Global Business, PHD, Global

Krisz is a Strategy Director in PHD’s Global Business unit that oversees the network’s blue-chip clientele. He started in the budding PHD Budapest office in 2007, has served as a Strategy Director of PHD Australia, and since 2015 is in a global strategy role back in central Europe. He has brought local nuance and insights into global strategies across automotive, fizzy (and less fizzy) drinks, tech, pharma and confectionery. He is a passionately creative media planner in the body of a marketing science nerd. Find Krisztian on LinkedIn.

Head of Creative Strategy, EssenceMediacom, United Kingdom

Lindsey is Head of Creative Strategy at EssenceMediacom United Kingdom. She has worked in strategy for fifteen years and is now focused on creativity and amazing ideas that drive growth for clients and really connect with culture. Recently her work on eBay has won over 20 awards in the United Kingdom in 2023 alone. Find Lindsey on Instagram: @mumzinthehood.

CEO, IPG Mediabrands, The Netherlands

Saskia Wagenmakers, CEO of IPG Mediabrands Netherlands, brings over two decades of expertise in digital media and e-commerce. Her impactful roles at KINESSO NL and iProspect (Dentsu) showcased her strategic leadership and client relationship expertise. With a robust network of C-level connections, Saskia is renowned for leading digital transformation, building strong client relations and driving innovation and growth. She loves digital, customers, people, data and tech, and especially when this all comes together. Saskia is a dynamic and influential figure in the Dutch digital media and marketing world. Find Saskia on LinkedIn.

Marketing Director Direct-to-Consumer, Zoetis, Ireland

Shane is Marketing Director Direct-to-Consumer for the world's largest animal health company Zoetis. Within this role, Shane leads a team with remit for media, CRM, content, creative and measurement functions. Previously, Shane was Head Of Marketing Performance for Accenture Song, a role that saw him develop a bespoke consulting offering to maximise large client's media investment. Shane has worked extensively across creative and media agency roles for brands like JWT, Mindshare, Wavemaker and Droga 5 on clients including Tesco, Jameson, Vodafone and Domino's Pizza. Shane has also written for publications, including WARC, Marketing Week and Mumbrella. Find Shane on LinkedIn.

JURY CHAIR
Director, Brand Strategy, Expedia Group, United Kingdom

Kevin currently leads brand strategy across the Hotels.com and Vrbo brands at Expedia Group. He brings over a decade of experience of developing award-winning creative campaigns and brand positionings for brands ranging from Nestlé and LEGO to small start-ups. At the heart of all his work is a laser-like focus on creative effectiveness. Prior to joining Expedia, Kevin led Brand Strategy at LEGO, where he led their inaugural Creative Effectiveness programme, and secured the brand’s first ever effectiveness award.

Chief Strategy Officer, Havas Lynx, United Kingdom

Andrew is the Chief Strategy Officer of Havas Lynx, the largest agency group in the Havas Health & You network. He brings over two decades of specialist healthcare experience across pharmaceutical, consumer healthcare, charities, and medical devices. During his career he has also held strategy leadership positions at McCann Health and VCCP Health. Andrew has helped some of the world's largest healthcare brands find both creative and effectiveness award success. He believes in great insight-driven work, not just work that is ‘good for healthcare’. Find Andrew on Instagram: @andyrjgardner, on X: @andyrjgardner and on LinkedIn.

Chief Strategy Officer, LePub, Global

Béla started his career working for Springer & Jacoby and Scholz & Friends before moving to London to join Simons Palmer. In the past 12 years, Béla has helped Publicis Italy become the world’s most awarded agency, leading strategy for global accounts, including Diesel, Heineken, Barilla, Toblerone, Mercedes and Netflix, and winning numerous creative and effectiveness awards, including APGs and IPAs. In his current role, Béla is shaping LePub: a new breed of boutique agency network that helps brands get a seat at the table of culture. LePub has been named Contagious Pioneer and Adweek creative agency to watch. Find Béla on Instagram: @Romatripper, on X: @Romatripper and on LinkedIn.

Chief Marketing & Digital Officer, DANONE, Netherlands

Christine is the Chief Marketing & Digital Officer for DANONE, leading the Marketing & Digital transformation, as well as the strategic Innovation pipeline for DANONE worldwide. In her 25 years at Danone, mostly in marketing, sales and general management of local and global roles, she has been successfully building and growing winning brands such as Volvic, evian, Aptamil, alpro, Actimel and Activia, combining business success and sustainable impact and bringing health through food to as many people as possible. Find Christine on LinkedIn.

CEO, Nord DDB Oslo, Norway

Eddie is CEO of Nord DDB Oslo, awarded as the country’s most creative agency in 2023, and simultaneously as the leading agency in driving effect. Prior to his current gig, Eddie played with tech startups, co-founded Naked Communications in the Nordics, and has lived and worked in several countries in Europe and Asia. Eddie has worked as a creative strategist on several large global brands and has been awarded equally for creativity, strategy and for effect. His favourite thing about the business is the diversity, smartness and inspiration he finds in its people, nowhere more so than amongst his colleagues. Find Eddie on Instagram: @eddiedsa, on X: @EddieDSa and on LinkedIn.

Strategy Director, McCann, Germany

Georgina has 12 years experience within Strategic Planning and is currently the Strategy Director for McCann Germany. She has worked across multiple sectors ranging from FMCG, aviation, finance and pharma to automotive and telco, working on some of the most illustrious brands such Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray, British Airways and Opel. She was recently awarded a Silver Effie for her work on #Optink which also won five awards at Cannes. She takes her inspiration from extensive travels and experiencing new cultures and nuances. Find Georgina on LinkedIn.

Global Marketing Director, Yassir, Global

As a Global Marketing Director at Yassir, Sara implements brand and performance marketing strategies for Yassir's various verticals in France and in five African countries (South Africa, Magreb and Senegal). With 14 years' experience both in agencies and multinationals such as Match.com and Just Eat, she is now contributing to the development of one of Africa's most valued start-ups, based in Palo-Alto. Find Sara on LinkedIn.

Group Brand Director, AKQA, Sweden

A storyteller at heart, Talya has worked at the convergence of brand and digital for nearly 20 years. She specialises in brand vision, story and experience, and is most passionate about helping great companies do more good in the world through the power of narrative by unlocking new customer behaviours and mindsets through better storytelling. In 2021 she helped shape and drive H&M Looop, which won the Cannes Lion Design Grand Prix, Fast Companys World Changing Idea Award, two D&AD awards, three One Show awards, and others. Find Talya on LinkedIn.