BBDO India’s Josy Paul to head Cannes Lions’ Roger Hatchuel Academy Selection Panel 2019

Nine experts from across the creative communications and marketing world will join forces to select the 40 students who will take part in the annual training course at Cannes Lions. Inclusion and diversity will be the key focus in the selection process. BBDO India’s Josy Paul has been appointed Head of the Selection Panel.

The Roger Hatchuel Academy, founded in 2003 and delivered in partnership with Google Creative Campus, is a student academy; a 6-day programme that takes place during the festival. It is designed to help students interested in pursuing a creative path in advertising launch their careers. In total, 40 students will be selected to come on the programme this year.

“To help shine a light on the importance of diversity and inclusion in the industry, we have appointed an incredible selection panel of nine experts to help pick the 40 students who will attend the Academy. Each of these individuals are passionate about helping young talent thrive and making the industry to be more diverse and inclusive. Because we know that diversity leads to enhanced creativity and creativity is a force for business for change and for good in the world,” says the Cannes Lions Website on the subject.

Paul will be joined by Nadja Bellan-White (Chief Client Officer, EMEA; Executive Partner, The Ogilvy Group), Derek Walker (Owner, Brown & Browner Advertising), Shannie Mears (Co-founder & Head of Talent, The Elephant Room), Noor Azhar Mohamed (Education Advisor, Singapore Polytechnic), Liz Levy (Executive Creative Director, Complex), Adrianne Smith (Founder, Cannes Can: Diversity Collective), Maksimilian Kallhed (Director, The Pop Up Agency) and Abraham Asefaw (Founder, The Pop Up Agency).

Regarding his role and focus for the academy, Paul (pictured above) said, “Diversity and inclusion is a mind-altering drug. It’s an out of body experience, like having new eyes. It opens the doors of perception and helps access a greater degree of awareness… leading to surprising new ideas and purpose for our work and industry.”