The Comms Council announces leaders to speak at IPA Client Service: Agency Leadership Course

The Communications Council, peak industry body for Australian advertising and PR agencies, has today announced four of the industry’s most respected thought leaders to speak at the internationally-recognised 2016 IPA Client Service: Agency Leadership Residential Course, which runs in Sydney 10-12 July and Melbourne 17-19 July.

Whybin\TBWA’s chief executive officer Australia & NZ, Paul Bradbury (top, left), and Sydney managing director Nitsa Lotus (top, right) take the reins as co-chairs in Sydney, while Clemenger BBDO Melbourne’s chief executive officer, Nick Garrett (bottom, left) and managing director, Paul McMillan (bottom, right) are leading the program as co-chairs in Melbourne.

The first two speakers to join Bradbury and Lotus’ lineup in Sydney are: Justus Hammer, entrepreneur and Spreets founder and Shaun James, chief executive officer of Presto.

Says Bradbury on the program in Sydney: “This IPA Client Service course in fact will be about distancing ourselves from that very term. We need to get rid of the term client ‘service’. To lead an effective creative agency, we need to reframe the client/agency relationship. We must be partners and producers. If content is the king, then knowledge is the prince.”

Says Lotus: “It’s time we disrupted the notion of client ‘service’ and a disproportionate emphasis on the client relationship. Strong client-agency relationships are a byproduct of providing visible value and ideas that help clients leapfrog their competition to transform the category they’re in.”

The first speakers announced for Melbourne’s lineup by Garrett and McMillan are: Melinda Geertz, chief executive officer of Leo Burnett Melbourne and Anthony Hourigan, chief executive officer of Hourigan International. Hourigan will also be speaking in Sydney.

Says McMillan on Melbourne’s agenda: “The journey from account management to agency management can be a tricky one, often without much practical advice or guidance along the way. Being great at getting things done is different to being great at leading a team, a client or an agency. “

The full list of speakers will be revealed over the coming week.

IPA Client Service: Agency Leadership Course is one of three globally-recognised IPA Residentials which run once a year in Australia, providing a unique opportunity for account management professionals at a senior level to gain close exposure to and coaching from the industry’s best, learn how to transition from a management to leadership role and embrace the complexities of agency life.

Says Tony Hale, CEO, The Communications Council: “We’re delighted to have two of Australia’s leading agencies developing this year’s IPA Client Service: Agency Leadership agenda. Each year the course content is adapted to ensure it evolves with industry needs, and welcomes thinkers at the forefront of their field. For anyone looking for an edge to take them further in their career, IPA offers a truly unique and quality learning experience.”

The Communications Council is the peak industry body representing advertising and PR agencies in Australia.

For more information, visit www.communicationscouncil.org.au.