APG launches 2017 Planning Idol competition; deadline for submissions Wednesday, 18 Oct
The Account Planning Group (APG) is today launching the APG Planning Idol competition to find Australia’s next top planner. The competition targets young professionals 30 years or under with an interest in strategic thinking and a passion for communications, to apply their talent to a good cause.
Entrants to the competition will tackle a brief on behalf of The Australian Red Cross and addresses the issue of deep social exclusion. Almost one million Australians are currently suffering from deep social exclusion, which is a form of entrenched loneliness that prevents people from fully participating in society.
Competition details:
Brief: DOWNLOAD
Entries Close: Wednesday 18th October 2017
Award presentation: Thursday 16th November 2017
Entry fees:
Members: Free
Non-members: $55
Students: $45
To raise the awareness and scale of this problem, the goal of the Red Cross is to connect and support half a million lonely Australians and to recruit more volunteers to help connect people.
The brief is a collaboration between agency The Republic of Everyone and the APG and according to Angela Morris, APG chair and executive planning director at J. Walter Thompson, it’s a unique opportunity for rising stars in planning to showcase their original thinking.
Says Morris: “Entrants will present in front of a panel of senior planners from across the industry. It’s a great forum for young planners to stretch and challenge their thinking outside their agency.”
Entrants who demonstrate clear understanding and original, strategic thinking will be shortlisted for the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of a panel of industry leaders prior to the awards ceremony in Sydney on 16th November 2017.
The award which runs every other year, accelerated the career of Sam Geer, national strategy director UM who identifies the competition as one of the most rewarding of his career.
Says Geer: “Getting exposure to some of the industry’s brightest minds and having the opportunity to demonstrate my strategic nous in front of them is something I’ll never forget.
“Winning Planning Idol has given me a platform for career growth both internally and in the wider industry and I’m grateful for all the opportunity it has bought.”
The competition is open to both members and non-members and entrants must be aged 30 or under as of 1st October 2017.
The APG represents the discipline of planning and strategic thinking. The group is led by a committee of leading planning directors from creative and media agencies under the auspices of The Communications Council.