2023 Creative LIAisons Coaches
Jake Barrow
Group Executive Creative Director Sydney & MelbourneVMLY&R
Melbourne
Jake grew up in Red Cliffs, Victoria – population 2600. It was here, when voted “Funniest Kid in High School”, he considers his advertising career born.
After placing second in Australia’s prestigious AWARD School, he found himself working at some of Australia’s top advertising agencies. He started to look at advertising in a new way and created some of the world’s most innovative work on some of the biggest brands in Australia.
This approach has seen Jake become one of Australia’s most awarded advertising creatives, within excess of 500 industry awards, including 20 Cannes Lions – 6 Gold. He has twice been ranked in the Top 20 Advertising creatives in the world and was recently included in the Top 100 Global Creative Influencers by Creative Pool. During his 12 year tenure at VMLY&R, his leadership has seen it ranked 6th Pacific Agency of the Decade by Cannes Lions and 3rd Australian Agency of the Decade by Campaign Brief. His agency is currently ranked 2nd most-creative in Australia by Campaign Brief’s The Work. He has also tripled the size of the business, most notably winning the prestigious Defence Force Recruiting account in 2019.
Other career highlights have included creating a global dog adoption movement, having a TVC on display in an art gallery, being a judge at multiple international award shows and having work featured in the book “100 Ideas that Changed Advertising”. He is a regular guest lecturer at AWARD School, has spoken at the Australian Film Television and Radio School and places great importance in mentoring young creatives.
Jake is currently pursuing the world’s best ideas as Executive Creative Director of VMLY&R Melbourne. Outside of advertising he spends way too much time in his garden and is owner of the best-looking cat in Melbourne, quite possibly the world.
After placing second in Australia’s prestigious AWARD School, he found himself working at some of Australia’s top advertising agencies. He started to look at advertising in a new way and created some of the world’s most innovative work on some of the biggest brands in Australia.
This approach has seen Jake become one of Australia’s most awarded advertising creatives, within excess of 500 industry awards, including 20 Cannes Lions – 6 Gold. He has twice been ranked in the Top 20 Advertising creatives in the world and was recently included in the Top 100 Global Creative Influencers by Creative Pool. During his 12 year tenure at VMLY&R, his leadership has seen it ranked 6th Pacific Agency of the Decade by Cannes Lions and 3rd Australian Agency of the Decade by Campaign Brief. His agency is currently ranked 2nd most-creative in Australia by Campaign Brief’s The Work. He has also tripled the size of the business, most notably winning the prestigious Defence Force Recruiting account in 2019.
Other career highlights have included creating a global dog adoption movement, having a TVC on display in an art gallery, being a judge at multiple international award shows and having work featured in the book “100 Ideas that Changed Advertising”. He is a regular guest lecturer at AWARD School, has spoken at the Australian Film Television and Radio School and places great importance in mentoring young creatives.
Jake is currently pursuing the world’s best ideas as Executive Creative Director of VMLY&R Melbourne. Outside of advertising he spends way too much time in his garden and is owner of the best-looking cat in Melbourne, quite possibly the world.