Cannes Download 2025 reveal industry heavyweights heading up panel

Nils Leonard (Founder, Uncommon Creative Studio), Mim Haysom (CMO, Suncorp), and Dave Bowman (CCO, Publicis Groupe ANZ) will headline a panel at Cannes Download 2025, a national roadshow highlighting work from this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Cannes Download, presented by Advertising Council Australia and Val Morgan, will begin in Sydney on August 13 at HOYTS EQ as part of AWARD’s This Way Up festival of creativity, before hitting the road with events in Melbourne (Aug 19), Brisbane (Aug 20), Adelaide (Aug 27), and Perth (Sept 2).

The sessions will showcase the most awarded and talked-about campaigns from this year's festival, followed by a panel packed with intel and insihts from the jury rooms and festival.

Cannes jurors Esther Clerehan (Founder, Clerehan), Pip Smart (EP and Partner, Revolver), and Ali Tilling (CSO, VML ANZ) will join the roadshow in select cities, with more guests, including the 2025 Young Lions, to be announced.

“This year’s Cannes Lions work offers a powerful lens into what creativity can achieve, from commercial impact to cultural influence,” said Bowman. “With Cannes Download, we’re making that global inspiration accessible and relevant to creatives, clients and strategists across the country.”

Val Morgan, presenting partner of Cannes Download, also supported the Young Lions Film Competition, recognising and celebrating the next generation of storytellers.

“Val Morgan is proud to present Cannes Download as part of our commitment to creativity that moves audiences,” said Guy Burbidge, Managing Director, Val Morgan.

“At its core, cinema is the most powerful storytelling platform, giving brands full attention, visibility and scale to deliver cut-through in a fragmented and confused ecosystem.

“The core message from Cannes was that creativity is one of the key elements that can drive brand growth, and when combined with cinema’s visibility superpowers, it becomes a potent partnership.”
LinkedIn is also the B2B supporter of the Cannes Download 2025 national tour.

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