A premier awards platform requires a premier line-up of minds. The 14th Annual WesBank New Generation Awards are proud to reveal the official judging panel, a powerhouse collective of 31 South African agency leaders, corporate visionaries, and tech innovators, all ready to evaluate and honour the country’s best work. Modern Marketing is a proud media partner of the awards.

From creative brilliance and technical prowess to performance-based marketing and strategic ROI, the judges are looking for the campaigns that set a new standard for the industry. 

‘Our sincere thanks to the judging panel for dedicating their expertise, time, and passion to driving the definitive benchmark of digital excellence in South Africa,’ said Stephen Paxton, Founder of the Awards.

The prestigious judging panel includes:

– Astrid Ascar, Chief Growth Officer at VML South Africa – Head Judge.
– Mondrē Bremner, Senior Manager: Digital Channels Strategy | Integrated Marketing and Experience at Nedbank.
– Thato Soato, Senior Specialist: Digital Marketing at Vodacom.
– Tristan Vogt, Head of Innovation at Ogilvy.
– Dashni Vilakazi, Managing Director at The MediaShop.
– Dani Morley, Executive Head, Growth: Shyft and Global Markets Retail at Standard Bank.
– Xolisa Koyana, Creative Director at Penquin.
– Barry Louzada, Founder and Managing Director at Mettlestate.
– Nicolas van Zyl-Smith, Founder and CEO at Naritive.
– Jacques Bezuidenhout, Equity Manager: Chocolate South and East Africa at Mondelēz International.
– Celia Collins, Commercial Officer and Digital Transformation at Omnicom Media.
– Yvette Gengan, Managing Director at Lucid Performance.
– Darren Morris, CEO at Lucky Hustle Agency.
– Courtney Chapple, Director of AI and New Business at Forge by Brave/Brave Group.
– Katie (Lu) Alomia, Fractional CMO.
– Lee Smith, Digital and AI Marketing Executive at RCL FOODS.
– Jeremy Crowder, Managing Partner at Dialogue.
– Zanele Zwane, Managing Director at HaveYouHeard Marketing Agency.
– Justine Nienaber, CEO at PUNKYSTARFISH.
– Jamie-Leigh Barnett, Director of Growth and Development at Algorithm.
– Merissa Himraj, Independent Media and Marketing Strategist.
– Kyle Oosthuizen, CEO at Blue Robot Group.
– Kathryn McKay, Executive Creative Partner at Black&White (The Up&Up Group South Africa).
– Tara Turkington, CEO at Flow Communications.
– Darren Leishman, Co-Founder and CEO at Spitfire Inbound.
– Ciarán McKivergan, Chief Creative Strategist | Visionary Founder | Cultural and Tech Trend Analyst, at 8909 Digital.
– Roxana Ravjee, CEO of dentsu South Africa.
– Lauren Dixon-Paver, Senior Social Art Director at BOUNDLESS.
– Duduzile Ngomane, Creative Director at CREACHA.
– Jenna Chisnall, Co-Founder and Director at Fenix Marketing.
– Rob Garden, Creative and Communications Director at Mscsports.

This is the final week to lock in the standard entry fee rate. Submit your work before the window closes on 3 July, midnight.

Need a little extra time to perfect your entries? No problem. The late entry fee phase runs from 6 July to 17 July, midnight (a 10% surcharge applies).