Katelyn Testa and Anais Read.
Independent creative agency HERO has hired creative team Katelyn Testa and Anais Read.
The pair, after stints at Ogilvy, VML and Publicis, joined HERO following an initial period as freelancers.
"We've had a busy few months of pitches and first brought on KT and Anais as freelancers in August to help out," said HERO creative chairman Ben Lilley.
"They were so brilliant, we didn't want to let them go. We just kept on extending their contracts week after week until we started to convert some of the pitches. We're just so happy to bring them on permanently. Anais and KT are a true dream team."
The pair first met at Publicis Worldwide in Brisbane before linking up as a creative team at Ogilvy Melbourne.
Their resume includes a combined 20-plus years of experience at networks and independents across Australia and New Zealand, including Grand Prix wins from Cannes Lions to 30 Under 30 and an appetite for humour in their work.
"The culture at HERO is unlike other agencies," Read said.
"You walk through the doors and are hit in the face with a blast of tangerine. By day two, it's grown on you. And by week two, you're completely under its spell. Ben, Shane and the HERO team have created an environment bursting with energy, momentum, creativity and empathy. We're ready to rip in."
Read, hailing from Aotearoa, has won national and international awards, spoken on industry panels and judged shows.
She spends her time outside the nine-to-five as national creative lead for Assisterhood, Australia and Aotearoa's leading industry mentorship program for underrepresented people in communications.
Testa, with than 11 years of experience in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, also brings strong award form and an innovative, digital-first approach to her work.
Originally from regional Victoria, Testa's passion sees her lecturing and mentoring students from disadvantaged backgrounds at a secondary school and university level across the state.
"As a gamer who was once told that girls don't play video games, to seeing Maybelline's Through Their Eyes campaign standing up for female gamers in the industry press, I knew HERO challenged stereotypes and took creativity seriously," Testa said.
"I feel immediately at home among Anais and Kean, as well as some familiar faces from my Leo Burnett days."
Read and Testa are passionate about giving back to the industry and mentoring young creatives, having tutored AWARD School, spent time on Youngbloods committees and guest lectured at universities across several states.
HERO recently appointed Susan Young as creative director and senior art director Kean Szczur.
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