AWARD School has announced Mandie van der Merwe, executive creative director at M&C Saatchi Sydney, as the new National and NSW School Head for 2020.
Chris Ellis, creative director at Cummins&Partners, is the new Victoria School Head.
Van der Merwe joins Josie Burns, Host/Havas Sydney creative director, who took up the National and NSW School Head role last year.
She takes the reins from Karen Ferry, who has been National School Head since August 2017.
Ellis is the 2020 Victoria School Head, alongside Jess Wheeler, associate creative director and partner at Fenton Stephens, who was appointed last year.
He takes over from Sarah McGregor.
AWARD Chair Cam Blackley welcomed van der Merwe and Ellis into the fold of AWARD School Heads.
“Mandie’s breadth of experience and the recognition she enjoys in Australia and internationally are truly impressive. She is a huge talent in our industry and along with my fellow AWARD Committee members I’m thrilled to have her as the new AWARD School National Co-Head alongside the brilliant Josie,” Blackley says.
“Likewise we warmly welcome Chris as the new Victoria School Head. With his incredible enthusiasm he’ll undoubtedly make an enormous contribution to AWARD School."
They join AWARD School at what Blackley says is an exciting time, following the last year's launch of the AWARD School Indigenous Scholarship initiative and a regional program for students in Victoria and the Northern Territory which will be rolled out nationally.
The AWARD School State Heads for 2020 are:
NATIONAL / NSW SCHOOL HEADS
Josie Burns, Creative Director, Host/Havas Sydney
Mandie van der Merwe, Executive Creative Director, M&C Saatchi (newly appointed School Head)
VIC SCHOOL HEADS
Jess Wheeler, Associate Creative Director & Partner, Fenton Stephens
Chris Ellis, Creative Director, Cummins&Partners (newly appointed School Head)
WA SCHOOL HEAD
Rikki Burns, Creative Director, Meerkats
QLD SCHOOL HEAD
Benjamin Davis, Executive Creative Director, McCann Queensland
SA & NT SCHOOL HEAD
Nick Brz, Creative Director, NATION Creative
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