Heading to Cannes: DDB’s Kara Gouws, Daylight’s Conal Wilson + Lassoo Media’s Lucy Anderson + Gabriella Smith Win Gold at Aotearoa Young Lions

The winners of the 2025 Aotearoa Young Lions Competition, proudly supported by Google, were unveiled at AXIS Speaks 2025 last Thursday, marking another successful year of celebrating creativity and innovation in advertising and communications.

Kara Gouws, Creative Copywriter at DDB Aotearoa and Conal Wilson, Art Director at Daylight won Gold in the Film category, whilst Lucy Anderson, PR and Social Senior Account Manager and Gabriella Smith, Senior Account Manager at Lassoo Media won Gold in the Media category.

The four winners will head to Cannes Lions on an all-expenses paid trip in June to compete against country winners from across the world. In addition to participating in the Global competition, Gouws, Wilson, Anderson and Smith have also won a Festival Pass, enabling them to hear from creative leaders from across the world on the Festival stages.

The competition saw entrants receive a brief on February 12, and have 48 hours to deliver their response. Film category entrants were required to produce a 60 second film, while Media category entrants needed to deliver a 10-slide strategy, built around a core creative media idea.

View the full list of winners below:

FILM

Gold Winners:
Kara Gouws (DDB) and Conal Wilson (Daylight)

Silver Winners:
Harry Pfiszter and George Taptiklis (Colenso BBDO)

Bronze Winners:
Reece O’Gorman and James Sandham (Special)

MEDIA:

Gold Winners:
Lucy Anderson and Gabriella Smith (Lassoo Media)

Silver Winners:
Zola Prendeville and Olivia Chan (MBM)

Bronze Winners:
Fikri Razak and Will Wallis (OMD)

The Aotearoa Young Lions Competition serves as the official Cannes Lions Representative for New Zealand, offering young creatives the opportunity to showcase their skills on a global stage.

The Young Lions Competition, part of the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, brings together over 60 countries from around the world to compete in local competitions, culminating in a global showdown in Cannes each June.

Pictured (L-R): Conal Wilson, Kara Gouws, Lucy Anderson, Gabriella Smith