2024 Creative LIAisons Coaches
Jake Barrow
Group ECD, Sydney & MelbourneVML
Melbourne
Jake grew up in Red Cliffs, Victoria – population 2600. It was here, when voted “Funniest Kid in High School”, he believes his advertising career was born. After placing second in Australia’s prestigious AWARD School, he found himself working at some of Australia’s top advertising agencies.
Jake’s innovative approach to creativity has seen him become one of Australia’s most awarded advertising creatives, within excess of 500 industry awards he’s twice been ranked in the Top 20 creatives in the world and won 25 Cannes Lions – 7 Gold. In 2017 he was promoted to Executive Creative Director of iconic Australian advertising agency George Patterson Y&R (now VML) and in 2021 also been given the responsibility of the Sydney office, as Group ECD. Currently VML Australia is ranked #1 most creative agency in the Asia Pacific by Campaign Brief’s The Work, is ranked 6th Regional Agency of the Decade by Cannes Lions and is the 2023 Global Agency of the Year at London International Awards.
Other career highlights have included creating a global dog adoption movement, having a TVC on display in an art gallery, launching a feature film, strapping Fit Bits to chickens 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 recently delivered 2 panel talks at SXSW Sydney.
Outside of advertising he spends way too much time trying to beat his current Galaga score and makes the best homemade salami in Melbourne – quite possibly the world.
Jake’s innovative approach to creativity has seen him become one of Australia’s most awarded advertising creatives, within excess of 500 industry awards he’s twice been ranked in the Top 20 creatives in the world and won 25 Cannes Lions – 7 Gold. In 2017 he was promoted to Executive Creative Director of iconic Australian advertising agency George Patterson Y&R (now VML) and in 2021 also been given the responsibility of the Sydney office, as Group ECD. Currently VML Australia is ranked #1 most creative agency in the Asia Pacific by Campaign Brief’s The Work, is ranked 6th Regional Agency of the Decade by Cannes Lions and is the 2023 Global Agency of the Year at London International Awards.
Other career highlights have included creating a global dog adoption movement, having a TVC on display in an art gallery, launching a feature film, strapping Fit Bits to chickens 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 recently delivered 2 panel talks at SXSW Sydney.
Outside of advertising he spends way too much time trying to beat his current Galaga score and makes the best homemade salami in Melbourne – quite possibly the world.
It was our first session of the 2024 LIA - London International Awards mentoring program.
Clearly a creative person, Fran also had the extra, important piece of the puzzle that will make her go very far in this industry – drive. That’s probably the best piece of advice I could give to a young person trying to make an impact in the creative industry. Creativity is one thing, attitude is everything.
Thanks for making the call fun, Fran! You are a credit to your network, don’t forget about me when you’re running it."