LAS VEGAS, USA – The Creative LIAisons, fully funded by the London International Award (LIA), is one of the industry’s most comprehensive training grounds for rising talent. Since 2012, it has brought together more than 300 young creatives each year for onsite and virtual sessions led by some of the world’s most awarded industry leaders — a proven launchpad for the next generation.
Running alongside the annual LIA judging in Las Vegas, 125 emerging creatives join a five-day, all-access learning experience of jury room sessions, seminars, panels, and workshops. Funded entirely by festival entry fees, the program is free, with flights and accommodation covered.
From September 27 to October 1, panel discussions, mentorships, jury discussions, workshops, and masterclasses will be held at The Encore in Wynn, Las Vegas.
See the full schedule below:
Saturday, 27 September
9:00 AM: Registration – Creative LIAisons
9:30 AM: Moderator Introduction and Opening Remarks
9:30 AM – 10:45 AM: Panel – “Everything You Ever Wanted to Ask a CCO, but Were Afraid To” (Part One)
- Moderator: Liz Taylor, Global Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy
- Chaka Sobhani, President and Global Chief Creative Officer, DDB Worldwide
- Gabriel Schmitt, Global Chief Creative Officer, Grey
- Perry Fair, Head of Creative, Mattel, El Segundo
- Peter Khoury, Regional Chief Creative Officer, TBWA\Asia; Chief Creative Officer, TBWA\Singapore
10:50 AM – 11:50 AM: Suzanne & Andrea Unpack Creativity’s Secret Weapons of Strategy and Business
- Suzanne Powers, Founder / CEO, Powers Creativity and All&, New York
- Andrea Diquez, Global CEO, GUT
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Panel – Creativity in Media
- Linda Cronin, EVP, Global Media, Monks
- Jackie Lyons, Chief Planning Officer, Havas Media, North America
- Dino Myers-Lamptey, Founder, The Barber Shop, London
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Panel – Craft Is Now Critical
- Candice Dragonas, Executive Producer, PRETTYBIRD
- Dan Lucey, Chief Creative Officer and Co-CEO, Havas, New York
- Michael Ritchie, Managing Director / Co-Owner, Revolver, Sydney
- Umma Saini, Director – Creative & Content, PhonePe, Bengaluru
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Social-First Creativity – How to Think for a Social-First World
- Nicholas Spiro, Chief Commercial Officer, Viral Nation, New York
4:45 PM – 5:30 PM: LIA Legend Award Presentation
- Honoree: Doerte Spengler-Ahrens, Chairwoman, Jung von Matt Germany
Sunday, 28 September
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM: “Create for All of Us” Workshop
- Westfield X Disney in collaboration with AKQA
- Hands-on creative challenge: receive a brief, ideate, create, and pitch to a jury
Monday, 29 September
9:00 AM – 2:30 PM: Statue Discussions Observation
- Meeting point: Brahms Patio, ground level, Encore conference area
- Jury sessions:
- Ambient & Activation | Billboard | Poster | Print
- Evolution and Creative Use of Data
- Creative Strategy
- TV & Cinema and Online Film
- Branded Content and Branded Entertainment
- Attendees are pre-assigned to specific jury rooms and will be guided to their designated locations
8:30 PM – 12:30 AM: LIA Jury and Creative LIAisons Dinner & Networking Party
- Venue: Encore Beach Club, Encore Hotel
Tuesday, 30 September
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Creativity in Gaming
- Speaker: Rey Tiempo, Chief Creative Officer, Minotaur, Manila
- Topic: Channeling Your Competitive Drive Through Gamification in Advertising
11:00 AM – 11:50 AM: Chris Smith
- Principal and Chief Creative Officer, Plot Twist Creativity, Dallas
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Panel – What Is the Playbook for Next-Level “Non-Trad” Ideas?
- Matt Murphy, Global Chief Creative Officer, 72andSunny
- Courtney Richardson, Creative Director, Droga5 New York
- Marjorieth Sanmartin, Chief Creative Officer, Philipp und Keuntje, Hamburg
- Marco Venturelli, Global CEO/CCO Leo; CEO/CCO Publicis Conseil; CCO Publicis Groupe France
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Unleashing Creativity From Within
- Speaker: Matt Watson, Chief Creative Officer, Sips & Bites (PepsiCo’s in-house creative agency)
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Panel – Make Your Case: How to Create a Winning Award Entry Case Film
- Stephanie Berman, Global Chief Creative Officer, The Bloc
- Steve Martin, Creative Director – EMEA & Global, Syneos Health, London
- Lauren Naima, EVP, Managing Director, Executive Creative Director, Eversana Intouch, New York
Wednesday, 1 October
9:45 AM – 10:45 AM: Accenture Life Trends 2025
- Thomas Mueller, Global Head of Design / Chief Design Officer, EMEA, Accenture Song, Munich
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM: Horror Stories & Industry Failures
- Alexandra Taylor, Creative Consultant / Founder, Art Of Art Direction Masterclasses
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Creativity in PR Panel
- Anthony Chelvanathan, Global Creative Partner / Chief Creative Officer, Edelman Canada
- Dwayna A. Haley, Executive Vice President, Consumer Brands, MSL, Atlanta
- Tetsuya Honda, CEO, Honda Office, Tokyo
- Daniela Varela, Group Creative Director, Weber Shandwick, New York
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: The State of Creative – Pantone
- R. John Fidelino, Head of Innovation & Impact, The Development, New York
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: “Please, Don’t Make Sabine Cry”
- Susan Credle, Global Creative Advisor, IPG; Former Global Chair & CCO, FCB, Interpublic, New York
4:45 PM – 5:45 PM: Panel – “Everything You Ever Wanted to Ask a CCO, but Were Afraid To” (Part Two)
- Moderator: Samira Ansari, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy, New York
- Rob Doubal, Global Chief Creative Officer, M&C Saatchi
- Samira Ansari, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy, New York
- Shayne Millington, Chief Creative Officer, Independent, New York
- Gavin Chimes, Chief Creative Officer, Howatson+Company, Sydney
- Fura Johannesdottir, Chief Creative Officer, Interbrand, London
For more information about the London International Awards 2025, click here.
adobo magazine is an official media partner of LIA 2025.
