Top business and social experts join Circus line-up for annual APG Battle of Big Thinking

The Account Planning Group (APG), part of The Communications Council, has announced the line-up for the Battle of Big Thinking 2011.

The Battle of Big Thinking, part of the inaugural Communications Council ‘Circus’ Festival of Commercial Creativity, is set for February 24 and will welcome fifteen ‘Thinkers’ from marketing through to government, in battling it out for the ‘biggest idea’.

Mieke Buchan- Triple M Melbourne, Jon Casimir – Producer, Gruen Transfer, Dr Rachael Dunlop – Australian Skeptics (left), Catherine Keenan – Arts Writer, Sydney Morning Herald and Rangan Srikhanta  – CEO One Laptop per Child and Margie Seale – CEO, Random House Publishing, will be amongst the speakers sharing their provocative insights.  

Fast, furious and fun, ideas in five categories: Marketing/Advertising, Business, Media, Storytelling and Government/Social, will be judged and voted on by the audience, with five finalists vying to take home the title of ‘Biggest Thinker’ at the end of the day.

Further speakers include:

Justin Baird – Innovationist Google Australia

Professor Jane Burns – Director of Research, Inspire Foundation

Rogan Jacobson – Teacher of the Year

John Johnston – JJ Projects (far left)

Joel Gibson – Opinions Editor, Sydney Morning Herald

Remo Giuffre – REMO General Store

Richard Sauerman – The Brand Guy & 2010 Battle of Big Thinking Winner (above right)

Prof. Byron Sharp – Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science

Professor Simon Tormey – School of Social and Political Sciences (SSPS), University of Sydney

Says Jeremy Nicholas, chairman of the APG: “Back for the second year running, the Battle is about big ideas, diversity and compelling arguments. It’s an afternoon that will leave you and your clients inspired to think big and bold.”

The Chasers’ Julian Morrow will be Battle MC and ring leader, and The Conscious Pilots are set to entertain the voters with their unique aviational jazz pop.

For more details and ticketing information, visit www.communicationscouncil.org.au

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The Communications Council’s ‘Circus’ festival takes place in Sydney’s CarriageWorks from February 22-25. Tickets are on sale now <http://www.communicationscouncil.org.au/public/content/ViewCategory.aspx?id=920> .

All Proceeds of the Battle will go to the Inspire Foundation.

Interested in last year’s contestants? View here.