Brett Mitchell to head Cyber Jury at AdFest

Brett Mitchell, Digital Director at Droga5 in Sydney, has been named Jury President of Cyber at AdFest 2010. Mitchell is one of the most respected Digital experts in Australia, with an impressive track record in using digital media channels to launch cutting-edge advertising campaigns.

“AdFest showcases a great diversity of work, which is created in dramatically different cultures from Australia to Japan to India and back to New Zealand. This in itself is interesting. I’m really looking forward to seeing what’s new in the region, and discovering work that hasn’t been seen elsewhere in other global awards shows, while meeting likeminded people who are truly taking a different angle with their work,” says Mitchell.

“I think there will be a very high quality of work at AdFest 2010, aswell as many great people to meet. I’m really looking forward to it,”he says.

Mitchell began his career not in advertising, but in music. He was amember of the pioneering Australian electronic music act Boxcar, whichproduced 3 albums, scored 3 Top 10 hits in the US Dance Charts, andtoured with famous bands like Depeche Mode, New Order and the Pet ShopBoys. He set up an independent record label Thunk Recordings, whichbecame one of Australia’s most respected electronic music labels,before moving to New York as an online developer at OVEN Digital.

In New York, Mitchell finally realized his talent for Cyberadvertising. He developed a Hip-Hop portal called Hookt.com and awebsite called the Digital Club Network (dcn.com), which both won atOneShow, while Hookt also won a Cannes Lion and Nettie. Mitchell thenmoved back to Australia to join Spin Communications as ExecutiveProducer for Activision, Coca-Cola, Disney, Lee Jeans and MicrosoftXbox.

In October 2008, Mitchell joined Droga5 as Digital Director. Sincethen, he has played a pivotal role in building the agency’s Cyberreputation by launching award-winning campaigns for Virgin Mobile,Victoria Bitter and V Australia. In December 2009, Droga5 wonAustralian Agency of the Year at the prestigious Australian B&TAwards less than two years since opening its doors in Sydney.

“Brett is one of the most exciting digital executives in the AsiaPacific today, which is why he was snapped up to work at one of theworld’s most respected agencies, Droga5. At Droga5, he is producingmany groundbreaking digital ideas, and we look forward to hearing himshare these concepts with the region,” says Jimmy Lam, President ofAdFest.

AdFest takes place in Pattaya, Thailand from 18-20 March 2010.