Clemenger BBDO Melbourne Group welcomes five new ‘Unique Characters’

Clemenger BBDO Melbourne Group has welcomed five new starters to the agency as part of its 2022 Unique Characters program and has employed many other entry roles as part of the program.

The program was established six years ago, replacing the traditional graduate program structure, with the aim of attracting the best and brightest unique characters to the agency through non-traditional pathways.

This year’s program received over 200 applications, with the five successful applicants coming from a diverse range of backgrounds including psychology, law, and product design.

Says Jim Gall, CEO, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne: “Investing in our people and future talent is the most important thing we can do as a business and an industry.”

“It is so rewarding that we are able to create a pathway for talent from a myriad of diverse backgrounds, and am looking forward to seeing their careers progress with us over the coming years.”

The 2022 unique characters include:

Fi Wilson – A benevolent witch once dropped a sack of baleen and half a gluten-free loaf into a sputtering cauldron and revealed to Fi Wilson that she would complete a law degree, work on ‘The Batman’ film, then must pursue a career in the ad world.

Daniel Hills: Daniel Hills is not your ordinary Daniel. Unless your version of an ordinary Daniel is a guy who studied marketing and advertising and worked his way through a bunch of wacky jobs to end up at Clemenger. Then yes, Daniel Hills is your ordinary Daniel.

Jasmine Nguyen: A recent communications grad, who joins the program with a knack for words and a passion for all things media. Growing from a love of film and TV, Jasmine’s creativity now takes a turn down the advertising road.

Jules Rountree: Jules is an artist and maker at heart. Having made everything from zines to vending machines, robots and furniture. She now turns her penchant for creation to the world of media and marketing.

Jack Maclean: Jack has always found people fascinating and believes strongly in the power of human narratives. Having studied psychology, he has now joined Clemenger BBDO Melbourne to start a creative career where he can help bring stories to life.

The unique characters will take part in a rotating program where they’ll gain experience in account management, planning, production, creative, digital, shopper, activation, and experiential.

Says Helena Duniec, who joined Clemenger BBDO Melbourne as a unique character in 2021 and now holds the role of junior planner: “Graduate programs tend to favour students from traditional backgrounds, but the unique characters program gave me exposure and opportunity to apply my skills in ways I may never have considered.

“Now, just over a year into my career in advertising, I’m working alongside some of the best in the business.”