PADC names Perth expat creative leader Stephen de Wolf as 2026 Skulls Awards Chair of Judges

Internationally acclaimed creative leader Stephen de Wolf is to lead the jury at this year’s Perth Advertising and Design Club (PADC) Skulls Awards. de Wolf is a great choice to take on this role having twice chaired Campaign Brief WA’s Creative Awards, including earlier this year.

de Wolf began his career in Perth as an art director at Marketforce, followed by a 16-month stint at Campaign Brief, working across its Western Australian and Asia magazines, before building an international career in Melbourne, New Zealand, London and Sydney. He has held Chief Creative Officer roles at BBH London, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne and BMF Australia and has returned to Clemenger BBDO as National Chief Creative Officer.

Today, he is one of the industry’s leading creative figures. He was ranked the world’s number one Creative Director in the Cannes Lions Global Creative Index and has served on the juries for many of the industry’s highest-profile awards, including Cannes Lions and D&AD.

He has led creative work for brands including Mars, Airbnb, McDonald’s, Volkswagen, Coles and Porsche. Among his best-known campaigns is ‘Meet Graham’ – the world’s most awarded campaign in its year. Under his leadership, Clemenger BBDO became the first Australian agency to be named both Cannes Lions Global Agency of the Year and D&AD Global Agency of the Year.

Although his career has taken him around the world, de Wolf is a strong advocate for Australian creativity. He believes some of the best commercial creative work is made here, and sees enormous potential in Western Australia. The Skulls have long recognised work that earns its place in the national and international creative conversation – and for de Wolf, the awards are an important way to recognise that talent, encourage ambition and keep raising the bar.

As Chair of Judges, he will oversee the judging process across all award categories to ensure a consistent standard is applied across every room.

PADC co-presidents Leigh Wood and Dan Agostino say the club is honoured to welcome de Wolf as Chair of Judges: “It’s a reflection of the calibre of the Skulls and the growing strength of Western Australia’s reputation for commercial creativity.”

de Wolf will also headline this year’s pre-Skulls VIP breakfast event, co-presented by PADC and WAMA.

Entries are now open for the 2026 PADC Skulls Awards. Standard Entry closes at midnight on Friday 7 August.