Gavin Chimes’ LIA Diary #1: Bread rolls, bold ideas and brilliant conversations

Gavin Chimes, Chief Creative Officer, Howatson+Company, this year’s Campaign Brief Agency of the Year, is representing Australia as Jury President for the Creativity In B2B and Transformative Business Impact competition at LIA in Vegas. Here, Chimes, along with most of the other Australian and New Zealand jurors, reports exclusively for CB.

Day 1 of judging Creativity in B2B and Transformative Business Impact. The jury is made up of brilliant creative leaders from around the world including UK, Brasil, Korea, Canada and the US. Glimpsed some phenomenal work so far. Had great discussions. Ate too many bread rolls at lunch.

Some early observations:

This is an excellent category to judge. The potential for impact is enormous. We’ve seen ideas that transform companies from the inside, reshape how entire industries behave and protect vulnerable lives.

The range also keeps things exciting. While some juries spend the week immersed in one discipline, we move across the full spectrum: film, print, radio, design, digital, activation, packaging and more. Each entry brings a shift in energy and a fresh lens on what creativity can be.

I closed the day with Creative LIAisons, sitting on a panel entitled ‘Everything you ever wanted to ask a CCO, but were afraid to’. The questions were thoughtful and a bit curly but they led to interesting, candid conversation. Was lovely feeling the energy from the next generation of creatives ready to make their mark.

Tomorrow, things heat up as our jury finalises shortlists. Then we move onto the trophy stage. I’m not going to slow down on the bread. There are little raisins in it.