LIA and Campaign Brief announce four emerging stars for 2026 Creative LIAisons program

The London International Awards’ Creative LIAisons program in Las Vegas has made a profound impact on the global creative industry by nurturing and accelerating the careers of emerging talent. Launched in 2012 as a way for LIA to give back to the industry, the initiative stands out for its comprehensive approach to professional development – offering young creatives unparalleled access to top-tier mentorship, hands-on learning, and invaluable networking opportunities.

Each year, Campaign Brief selects one or two young creatives from the CB New Zealand and Australian Agencies of the Year to attend the all-expenses-paid, once-in-a-lifetime Creative LIAisons onsite program, alongside 130+ rising stars from around the world.

This year Leilani Horthy Banks, Junior Art Director, Clemenger BBDO, Sydney (formerly DDB Australia) ~ current CB Australian 2025 Agency of the Year and Georgia Henare, Intermediate Art Director at McCann New Zealand (formerly DDB New Zealand) ~ current CB New Zealand 2025 Agency of the Year, will be making their way to Las Vegas in September for the Creative LIAisons Global Coaching Academy.

Creative LIAisons runs concurrently with LIA judging in Las Vegas. The program features seminars, panel discussions, workshops and the rare and invaluable opportunity to observe statue discussions in the jury rooms.

Nicholas Warrand, Junior Copywriter, Clemenger BBDO, Sydney (formerly DDB Australia) and Faith Waraki, Junior Copywriter, McCann New Zealand (formerly DDB New Zealand) will be joining the highly sought-after Creative LIAisons Virtual Coaching Program featuring one-to-one coaching sessions with some of the best ‘Creative Coaches’ from around the world.

Other on-site participants from Australia and New Zealand include:
Darcy Keely, Art Director, AKQA, Melbourne
Ella Liddell, Integrated Media Manager, Motion Sickness
Baxter Atkins, Senior Copywriter, Leo
Madeleine Batkin-Walkerden, Senior Art Director, Leo

To learn more about LIA’s Creative LIAisons, click here.

To see the legacy of talent that has come through the Creative LIAisons program via Campaign Brief since 2012, click here.

Pictured (L-R): Leilani Horthy Banks, Junior Art Director, Clemenger BBDO, Sydney; Georgia Henare, Intermediate Art Director at McCann New Zealand; Nicholas Warrand, Junior Copywriter, Clemenger BBDO, Sydney; Faith Waraki, Junior Copywriter, McCann New Zealand.

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