Gerety Awards Reveals Auckland Executive Jury for 2026 Global Judging
The Gerety Awards reveals the full Global Executive Jury for its 2026 edition, bringing together an international collective of creative leaders who will define this year’s shortlist.
Following the announcement of Jury Presidents and global judging locations, the awards now confirm the professionals who will sit across 15 in-person jury sessions worldwide, evaluating the work that will shape the benchmark for creativity in 2026.
From creatives and strategists to producers, filmmakers, brand leaders and social specialists, the jury represents the full breadth of the communications industry — reflecting the diverse perspectives that the Gerety Awards was founded to champion.
Executive judging sessions will take place in Auckland, London, Toronto, New York, Paris, Stockholm, Hong Kong, Dubai, Madrid, Milan, Mexico City, Bangkok, Los Angeles, Berlin and São Paulo. Each session brings together influential regional voices who understand how work resonates locally, while collectively contributing to a global creative standard.
The members of the executive jury for Auckland are:
Isobel Kerr-Newell, CEO, Artemis Communications
Leisa Wall, Co-Chief Creative Officer, McCann
Kristal Knight, Creative Consultant
Arnya Karaitiana, Creative Director, Kaiārahi Māori, Special Group Aotearoa
Storm Day, CEO, Droga5 / NZ Lead Accenture Song
Edwina Neilson, General Manager, Marketing Green Cross Health – Unichem and Life Pharmacy
Cece Chu, Associate Creative Director, Saatchi & Saatchi
Melina Fiolitakis, Creative Director, Motion Sickness
Jane Sweeney, Executive Chair & Co-Founder, Anthem
Laura Cibilich, Founder & Design Director, Run Aotearoa
Michaela Chilton, Brand Strategy & Experience Manager, Mercury
Rebekah ‘Bex’ Kelly, Executive Producer, FINCH company
Penelope Brown, Managing Director, Together
Says Leisa Wall, Co-Chief Creative Officer, McCann and Jury Co-president for the New Zealand jury: “Having the Gerety Awards land in New Zealand feels like a big moment for our industry. There’s an incredible community of female talent here – smart, brave and culturally sharp – creating work that stands up anywhere in the world. This is a chance to shine a light on that strength and celebrate the perspectives that make our region unique.”
Says Isobel Kerr-Newell, CEO, Artemis Communications and Jury Co-president: “In assembling this jury – and being the first time New Zealand has hosted – we felt it was important to bring together all the different facets that make our industry here in Aotearoa so special. We are truly honoured to be leading such a strong group of creative leaders, changemakers and challengers. We look forward to the opportunity to both celebrate the work and strengthen the connections between women in our industry, here and across the global Gerety community.”
More than 260 judges from 50 countries will join the 2026 Gerety Awards.
The Gerety Awards are recognised within leading global industry rankings, such as The Drum World Creative Rankings, and from 2026, Gerety winners will also be included in the Campaign Brief Asia Rankings, ensuring that awarded work contributes directly to the international performance tables that shape agency and creative reputations worldwide.
Alongside the judging sessions, Gerety will host a series of industry events and talks in several of the host cities like London, Bangkok, New York, Berlin, Melbourne and Paris — creating space for conversation, connection and shared thinking around the ideas shaping creativity today. More information: www.geretyawards.com/events
The Early Bird deadline is March 13th.
Gerety welcomes submissions across all categories, including the newly introduced Moments Cut — celebrating work that captures the cultural moments shaping our world right now.
Eligible entries must have been broadcast, published or released in a commercial environment with client approval between January 1st, 2025 and the final entry deadline.
Work is judged on two core principles: the originality of the creative idea and the quality of its execution.
Submit your work now at GeretyAwards.com.
Meet the 2026 Jury and explore categories and deadlines at GeretyAwards.com
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