ADFEST is pleased to announce that Ogilvy Asia Pacific will host the 2023 Young Lotus Workshop, a two-and-a-half-day workshop for ambitious young creative teams from the Asia Pacific and Middle East. This year it will be run under the theme, Ogilvy X Borderless Creativity.

The world has never been more connected. Billions of us are woven together creating a collection of experiences, ideas, values and dreams. But it is where those things intersect that real, world-changing, business-changing impact is created - driven by big, multi-faceted ideas across platforms, disciplines, cultures and geographies. At Ogilvy, this is called Borderless Creativity.

Borderless Creativity will explore the mindset that has never been more important, where innovating across capabilities is essential to transform big ideas into work that excites every person, upends the status quo, and generates long-lasting impact for brands.

The first half of the program consists of talks, mentoring and workshops led by this year’s Young Lotus Co-Chairman, Reed Collins, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy Asia-Pacific and Alvin Chin, Regional Head of Creative Excellence and Services, Ogilvy Asia Pacific. Supporting the Young Lotus attendees will be a team of mentors from Ogilvy offices across the region.

"I can't wait to spend time with all the talented Young Loti attending ADFEST this year. We have some great speakers and workshops planned along with a real live brief for them to attack. It's gonna be awesome," says Reed.

Very few Chief Creative Officers have had the opportunity or experience of having worked across five continents. Originally from Australia, Reed has been based in Hong Kong for the last nine years and is responsible for the creative output of all Ogilvy offices in APAC. Under his leadership, Ogilvy has earned Regional Network of the Year titles at both Effies and Cannes Lions the last five years and the first ever Cannes Lions Grand Prix for the nation of Pakistan. He was named Creative Person of the year in 2017 by Campaign Magazine Asia.

Joining Reed Collins, Chief Creative Officer of Ogilvy Asia-Pacific, Co-Chairman of the Workshop, as speakers of the workshop mentoring the young creatives are:

·       Andrew Chu: Executive Creative Director, Ogilvy Bangkok,

·       Nicholas Courant: Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy Singapore & Malaysia

·       Sarah Leith Izzard: Regional Executive Creative Director, Ogilvy Asia Pacific

·       Paul Matheson: Global Planning Partner, Ogilvy

·       Damisa Ongsiriwattana: Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, SOUR Bangkok

After responding to a 24-hour brief from Ogilvy Asia Pacific, the top Young Lotus finalist teams will present their work on stage during ADFEST 2023 on Saturday 25 March at 11.50-13.00 at the “Ogilvy Asia Pacific Presents Young Lotus Workshop 2023: Ogilvy X Borderless Creativity” session hosted by Kent Wertime, Co-CEO of Ogilvy Asia-Pacific, and Co-Chairman of the Young Lotus Workshop 2023. Kent is a seasoned international executive with over 35 years of experience working in integrated communications and digital marketing. He has lived and worked in the U.S., Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, and Japan. In 2016, Kent was named CEO of Ogilvy Asia – the region’s leading integrated communications agency.  Kent is an experienced writer, public speaker and lecturer. Kent’s first book, Building Brands and Believers, was published in 2002 (John Wiley & Sons). In 2007, Kent co-authored DigiMarketing: The Essential Guide to New Media and Digital Marketing (John Wiley & Sons).

The winners of both the Young Lotus and the Popular Vote will be revealed at the ADFEST Lotus Awards on Saturday 24 March at 18.00.

ADFEST 2023 “RISE” runs from Thursday 23 to Saturday 25 March.