The Advertising Council Australia WA Graduate Program “JumpStart” comes to a stellar end

Advertising Council Australia’s WA Graduate Program “JumpStart” concluded last Friday, with final presentations held at Wunderman Thompson – bringing 2021 – the program’s eighth year – to a close.

The aim of JumpStart is to provide university and tafe graduates with a unique opportunity to see the inner workings of some of Perth’s top advertising agencies while getting a better understanding of the various roles that exist within agency structures.

Students can decide which agencies are a better fit for them while participating agencies can connect with students and identify those who they would like to have work within their business.

This year, the 9-week course was facilitated by Advertising Council Australia (ACA) member agencies Creative.adm, Trilogy, 303 Mullen Lowe, Rare, Wunderman Thompson, and Gatecrasher – with specialist agencies Initiative and Bonfire rounding out the program.

For the final pitch day, ACA was delighted to have Glenn Donaldson, Senior Manager, Marketing and Sales, LotteryWest play the role of the client for the four groups to do their first pitch presentations to.

Donaldson joined a panel of industry-leading judges to determine the winning group, including Todd Baker, Joint Managing Director, 303 Mullen Lowe, Jez Reilly, GM Customer Insights and Marketing, Rare, David Burger, Managing Director, Initiative, and guest judges Warren Campbell, Associate Director, Creative.adm, Jo Bulline, Director, Trilogy Advertising and Marketing, Hayley Boneham, Marketing Manager, Bonfire, and Marty Shearwood, Director, Creative.adm.

ACA would like to congratulate the winning group of students – Atle Edgar, Garreth Bennett, Macushla Quicke, Kate Fogarty and Stefan D’Angelo, who were mentored by long-standing supporter of the program, Jo Bulline, from Trilogy Advertising and Marketing.

“Trilogy has been involved with the Jumpstart Program since its inception and over the years we have offered 12 students work experience or employment. One of them, who joined us seven years ago, is a key member of our management team,” said Bulline.

“For us, Jumpstart is an extremely valuable program as it helps to transition students from advertising theory to practice, providing meaningful advanced qualifications. It also provides students with insights into both agencies and our multifaceted industry, helping them to refine their career preferences while giving agencies the opportunity to employ, support and nurture emerging innovators and leaders.”

Tony Scampoli, Managing Director, Gatecrasher, was one of the agency mentors and said: “We’ve been a long-time supporter of ACA’s JumpStart Program. The quality of the graduates moves to another level each year, with this group of students is no exception. Their passion and enthusiasm is refreshing and infectious and I look forward to watching their careers flourish in the local communications industry.”

Donaldson said: “I am impressed by the calibre of the students coming through this program and am thankful to those who volunteer their time to support their professional and personal development, and to all those who were involved this year,” he said.

JumpStart also recognises individual achievement. This year, first place went to Cameron Patterson (pictured first photo below left). Christian Di Viglio (pictured second photo below left) was awarded the first JumpStart Consistent Achiever award, for being an outstanding participant throughout the program.