Tara Ford, Seamus Higgins, Aimee Buchanan among Australian judges at Cannes Lions 2025

Tara Ford, Seamus Higgins and Aimee Buchanan are among the nine Australian creative leaders who have been selected to join the international jury for this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity - celebrating creative excellence in advertising and marketing.

The Australian jurors have been chosen for their world-class expertise and work and will sit alongside a global line-up of industry trailblazers to assess the year’s most groundbreaking ideas, awarding the Lions that set the global standard for creative effectiveness.

Tony Hale, CEO of Advertising Council Australia, said: "Cannes Lions continues to set the global benchmark for creativity, and it's an honour to see Australian talent shaping that standard.

"Our jurors are not only influencing the future of creativity on a world stage — they’re showcasing the innovation, bold thinking, and cultural leadership that make Australia one of the most exciting creative markets globally."

Australian Jury members of Cannes Lions 2025:

• Tara Ford, Chief Creative Officer, Droga5 ANZ & Accenture Song, APAC: President Brand Experience & Activation • Seamus Higgins, Chief Creative Officer, R/GA: Creative Business Transformation • Mim Haysom, Executive General Manager, Brand & Customer Experience, Suncorp Group: Creative Data • Alison Tilling, Chief Strategy Officer, VML ANZ: Creative Strategy • Pip Smart, Executive Producer/Partner, Revolver: Film Craft • Esther Clerehan, Founder, Clerehan: Glass: The Lion for Change • Tara McKenty, Chief Innovation Officer and Co-ECD, AKQA: Innovation • Aimee Buchanan, Chief Executive Officer, GroupM: Media • Dave Bowman, Chief Creative Officer, Publicis Groupe ANZ: Social & Creator

"The Cannes Lions Awarding Jury plays a vital role in setting the global benchmark for creative excellence," Simon Cook, CEO of LIONS, said.

"This year’s line-up brings together some of the most highly respected and accomplished industry talent from around the world. Their expertise will help define the creative standards that continue to drive our industry forward and spotlight the power of creativity as a catalyst for meaningful business growth and transformation."

Last year, Australia ranked 11th globally at the 2024 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, securing a total of 18 Lions: 2 Grand Prix, 5 Silver, and 12 Bronze.

View the full line-up of global jurors here.

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