Celebrating AWARD School 2025’s WA finalists

Tuesday night, Perth’s Moana Hall was buzzing with energy as Advertising Council Australia hosted over 80 industry leaders and guests for AWARD School WA’s 2025 Graduation.

The evening was a celebration of fresh thinking, creativity, and hard work, shining a spotlight on the standout ideas and future stars of WA’s creative industry.

“AWARD School’s Graduation Nights are always a lot of fun, but more importantly, they offer a glimpse into the fantastic work produced by our students and unite the creative community to support WA’s emerging talent,” said ACA WA State Manager, Melissa Vella.

Top honours went to Brendan Marshall, who was named the 2025 WA State Winner and Gold Pencil recipient. Robert Nowland earned second place, with Aisha Runowanda taking third.

A huge congratulations to the entire class of 2025, whose exceptional work raised the bar once again:
● Aisha Runowanda
● Brendan Marshall
● Cody Bell
● Corey Battersby
● Isaac Lo
● Kate Manson
● Kiara McIlroy
● Kody Mason
● Maizie Thornton
● Pam Tanchez-Hewton
● Robbie Moore
● Robert Nowland
● Vignesh Ravichandran

This year, AWARD School has introduced its first collaborative brief in over 40 years, inviting students to pair up for a two-week challenge focused on cultural relevance. WA Winning Team: Brendan Marshall and Aisha Runowanda.

WA AWARD School Head and St John WA Creative Director Tim Newton, said: “Every year, we see so much incredible talent come through the program. I’m so bloody impressed with the maturity and dedication that I see. It’s inspiring to know the future of our industry is in the hands of good humans who know they have value to add to the world.

“That’s the value of AWARD School, helping people who think in unique ways find their voice. Our industry needs those voices,” he said.

The success of AWARD School in WA continues to be made possible thanks to the generosity and passion of the local creative community and ACA WA members, including: Rikki Burns (Marketforce), Paula Keamy (VML), Adam Barker and Henry Billington (Gatecrasher), James Gillespie and Ryan Vergone (Trilogy Advertising and Marketing), Liz Hammond, Rob Mead and Simon Mullins (Rare), Bryan Dennis and Zosia Kilpatrick (KWP+Partners), Sara Oteri, Danielle White and Ellysia Burton (303 MullenLowe), Leigh Wood and Kevin Wilson (Nani Creative), Matt Nankivell and Paul Michael Liam Donnelly (Moonsail), Hannah Muirhead and Dean Hunt (Chapter Brand Leadership), Richard Berney (Berlin), Dav Tabeshfar, with special mention to Tim Newton – WA AWARD School Head.

AWARD School 2025 national top student and winning team will be announced at the 46th AWARD Awards in Sydney on Thursday 14 August during This Way Up, AWARD’s annual festival of creativity.

Visit the online folio gallery to see this year’s winning work. Click here to view the state by state winners.

Photo Credit: Lauren Brewer Photography

More photo’s will be added in the coming days.