BWM, Dubai Lynx partnership stronger than ever

Belgiovane Williams Mackay (BWM) in Dubai has been chosen for the third consecutive year to develop the communications campaign to promote Dubai Lynx - Dubai International Advertising Festival.

Established in 2007 by the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival organisers, Dubai Lynx is now the premier creative advertising event and awards in the Middle East and North African region.

Initially launched as an awards ceremony, Dubai Lynx now offers a full festival program of seminars and workshops to mirror the successful Cannes format.

The 3rd Dubai International Advertising Festival, incorporating the Dubai Lynx awards, will be held 15-17 March 2009 at The Palladium, located in Dubai Media City.

BWM Dubai’s Managing Director Anthony Dalton said it was an honour to be recognized as the agency of choice by the world’s leading advertising awards organisation.

‘Dubai Lynx has become the region’s most respected festival and awards ceremony for the communications industry, so it is a tribute to BWM’s global standard of work that we’ve been chosen to promote the event for three years running.’ he said.

‘In 2009 our founding partner and Executive Creative Director from BWM in Sydney, Rob Belgiovane, will speak about the incredible changes in mobile content communications. Rob was also a judge at the inaugural Dubai Lynx in 2007.’

BWM’s work with Dubai Lynx has included strategic development of annual campaigns that have evolved from messages of ‘career enhancement’ and ‘recognition’ in 2007, to a ‘learn to win’ message in 2008.

The soon-to-launch 2009 festival campaign will focus on the strong networking opportunities and inspirational ‘connections’ that the event provides delegates.

Dubai Lynx Festival Director Steve Lane commented on the successful and longestablished relationship with BWM, ‘BWM have worked with us since the launch of Lynx.As with any good Client-Agency relationship, when you keep working together with someone for this long it ensures they really understand your business. Most importantly, of course, they are still with us because they have consistently delivered high quality work.’

First Dubai Lynx 2009 Jury Presidents announced

Richard Beaven, Worldwide CEO of Initiative, and Dylan Taylor, the Direct Creative Director of BMF, have been appointed Media Jury President and Direct, Sales Promotion & Interactive Jury President respectively for the 3rd Dubai Lynx Awards, the leading creative advertising and communications awards for the Middle East and North Africa.

Richard Beaven, an international marketing, advertising and media expert is responsible for leading Initiative’s worldwide strategy and operations. Working with a host of top clients, he is attributed to bringing innovative approaches to the position. ‘Media is now taking centre stage in communications in MENA. I’m looking forward to seeing the outstanding media ideas and results coming from one of the world’s most vibrant regions,’ said Richard on his appointment as Media Jury President.

An experienced judge of many awards, Dylan Taylor, now based in Australia, has also worked in the UK, Dubai and Bahrain, and has picked up many awards himself along the way. Commenting on his role as Direct, Sales Promotion & Interactive jury president, Dylan said, ‘I’m really excited to come back to the Middle East, it’s such a vibrant place. It will be great to see how the work has progressed, and I’m looking for some standout pieces that cement the region’s place on the creative map.’

Both Richard and Dylan will each lead international jury panels, professionals in their fields.

Philip Thomas, CEO of Cannes Lions, organisers of Dubai Lynx said, ‘We are truly delighted to have Richard and Dylan on board to chair these two juries and I’m sure that their leadership skills, international experiences and knowledge will add to the burgeoning reputation of the Dubai Lynx as the foremost creative awards in the region.’

Entries for the 3rd Dubai Lynx Awards open on 2 December 2008. The 2nd Dubai International Advertising Festival will take place from 15-17 March 2009 at The Palladium, located in Dubai Media City.