Spikes Asia announces 2025 jury presidents

Spikes Asia, APAC’s most prestigious and sought-after award for creativity and marketing effectiveness, has revealed its 2025 jury president line-up. In-person judging will be held in Vietnam in March 2025 and culminate in the live Awards Ceremony in Singapore next April to set the benchmark for creative excellence in APAC.

The 2025 jury president line-up includes representation from Australia, mainland China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and, for the first time, a Thailand-based agency.

Damisa Ongsiriwattana, CCO and founder, SOUR Bangkok, who will preside over the Entertainment, Gaming and Music jury, said: "I am honoured to serve as the Jury President for Entertainment, Gaming, and Music at Spikes Asia this year. In a region as dynamic and diverse as Asia, the power of storytelling through entertainment, gaming, and music continues to break new ground. I look forward to working with the Jury to celebrate the exceptional creativity that pushes boundaries and connects with audiences in meaningful ways."

Mandy Neo, director of Spikes Asia, said: “We are thrilled to announce the esteemed Jury Presidents for Spikes Asia 2025. These creative leaders represent the best of the best in their respective fields, bringing a wealth of experience, vision, and passion to the judging process. Their leadership will ensure that the work celebrated at Spikes Asia reflects the region's highest standards of creativity and innovation. As always, our goal is to showcase the incredible talent within Asia–Pacific and continue to inspire the next generation of creative thinkers and doers.”

Simon Cook, CEO of Lions, added: “We’re excited to announce the Jury Presidents for Spikes Asia 2025. Each of these extraordinary leaders has pushed the boundaries of creativity and innovation within their fields, and we thank them for their individual perspectives, expertise and experience - and the leadership they will bring to the very important task ahead of them. Their vision and passion will ensure that Spikes Asia continues to be a platform that celebrates the best work from across the region, inspiring and shaping the future of the creative industry in Asia–Pacific and beyond. We look forward to seeing them in action in Vietnam next year.”

The jury presidents include:

Audio & Radio, Film, Print & Publishing 
Ashish Chakravarty, Executive Director & India Head of Creative, McCann Worldgroup, India

Brand Experience & Activation, Creative Commerce 
Gary Steele, Chief Creative Officer, DDB New Zealand, Aotearoa, New Zealand

Creative Data, Innovation 
Julie Jihyun Kang, CEO and Managing Partner, Serviceplan Korea, South Korea

Creative Effectiveness, Creative Strategy 
Lindsey Evans, Global Partner and CEO Special Australia, Special Group, Global

Design, Industry Craft 
Kainaz Karmakar, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy, India

Digital Craft, Social & Influencer 
Kazuhiro Shimura, Group Creative Director, Dentsu Inc., Japan

Direct, Outdoor 
Ronnie Wu, Chief Creative Officer, TBWA\China, Mainland China

Entertainment, Gaming, Music 
Damisa Ongsiriwattana, Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder, SOUR Bangkok, Thailand

Film Craft 
Declan Cahill, Managing Director, Exit Films, Aotearoa, New Zealand

Healthcare 
Shunsuke Kakinami, CEO and Creative Director, FOUR FEET Inc., Japan

Media
Helen McRae, Chief Growth and Marketing Officer, GroupM Asia Pacific, APAC

PR 
Margaret Key, CEO, MSL APAC and Global Lead on Samsung, Publicis Groupe, Global

Entries into Spikes Asia are being accepted until 28 January 2025. Further information, including press accreditation and event registration, can be found at www.spikes.asia.