Comms Council’s Graduate Trainee Program widely supported by industry heavyweights
Industry heavyweights have joined this year’s Communications Council Graduate Trainee Program, fostering the next generation of agency people, in force. Over thirty speakers put their name to Summer AdSchool, due to commence in January 2012.
The 2012 line-up for Sydney includes Gual Barwell (Contagious); Marianne Bess (Droga5); Lauren Brown (Pulse Marketing); Rob Belgiovane (BWM – below left); Stefan Burford (Um) Al Crawford (Clemenger BBDO); Brett Howlett (Ogilvy); Gruen Panellist Dee Madigan (The Socket Agency), Dominique Hind (WiTH Collective); Melissa Harold (DDB); Karen Martin (Host); Carolyn Miller (Moon); Barry Mowszowski, (Starcom); David Thomason (ex Meat and Livestock Australia) and Nicole Velik (Ideas Bodega).
Melbourne speakers include Dion Appel (Lifelounge); Peter Biggs (Clemenger Melbourne – top right); Bec Brideson (Venus Advertising); Michael Collinson (AdSum); Sean Cummins (CumminsRoss); Adam Ferrier (Naked); Ted Horton (Big Red – top left); Gruen panellist Russel Howcroft, (GPY&R – above right); Melinda Geertz (Leo Burnett); Tara Lordsmith, (Simplot), former grad Nick Lewis, (Sputnik); Gavin MacMillan (DDB); Tim Evans, (OgilvyOne) Andrew Reeves (Zenith Optimedia) and Tom Ward (GPY&R).
Communications Council’s interim CEO Margaret Zabel said: “We’re really pleased to see a program so widely supported by the industry, with a selection of speakers that hail from all corners of the business. The program provides grads with a fantastic introduction to the industry with all the speakers recognising the importance of imparting some of their work experiences and life lessons.”
The selection process has now been completed with 55 grads placed, an increase in intake of 35% compared with last year. Applications included 41 double degrees, from a broad range of disciplines.
Launched through agency Host, the graduate program’s facebook recruitment campaign became a viral success driving applications from 37 universities.
A record 30 agencies are involved in this year’s program including: AJF, Amnesia Razorfish, BMF, Badjar Ogilvy, Bashful, Clemenger, DDB, Droga5, Freeform, GPY&R, Host, H+T, Iris Worldwide, JWT, Lavender, Loud, M&C Saatchi, McCann Healthcare/CMG, OBM, Oddfellows, Ogilvy, Saatchi & Saatchi, Saatchi Healthcare and Sputnik.
After the graduates complete their live-in Summer AdSchool course early next year, they will attend monthly meetings with talks from relevant industry leaders at participating agencies.
The program has become a widely recognised industry training program over its 31 years of existence, known for its long history of delivering bright young talent to the industry.
It has a seen over 380 graduates complete the program, including the successful alumni Michael Connaghan, CEO and Executive Director STW Group, Matthew Melhuish (left), Head Australian Agencies Photon Group and Steve Anastasiadis, General Manager, Saatchi & Saatchi.
More information about the program here or contact Communications Council’s Gawen Rudder on 02 8297 3807.
3 Comments
Well they are not exactly the best people in advertising now are they…
Oh yes its an advertising over claim.
I think they might be referring to there actual weight.
2.00PM: Any credibility in the mildly amusing insight of your comment is completely deflated by your illiteracy. What’s more, you could learn a thing or three from many of these people.