The 2026 Spikes Asia Awards are set to break new ground, marking a series of firsts for the region’s most influential celebration of creativity. Among the highlights is the appointment of Anupama Ramaswamy, Managing Director and Chief Creative Officer at Havas Creative India, as Jury President for the Direct and Outdoor categories.
This year’s edition is notable for its expanded representation and the inclusion of new disciplines. Atiya Zaidi, CEO and Chief Creative Officer of BBDO Pakistan, becomes the festival’s first-ever Jury President from Pakistan, a milestone for the country’s creative community.
Spikes Asia 2026 also introduces the Creative B2B Spikes, recognizing excellence in business-to-business creativity for the first time. The inaugural jury will be led by Wendy Walker, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Salesforce ASEAN.
Spikes Asia 2026 Jury Presidents
- Audio & Radio, Film, Print & Publishing: Reed Collins, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy APAC
- Brand Experience & Activation, Creative Commerce: Lisa Fedyszyn, Chief Creative Officer, Special, Aotearoa New Zealand
- Creative Data, Innovation: Maurice Riley, Chief Data Officer, Publicis Groupe Oceania
- Creative Effectiveness, Creative Strategy: Shilpa Sinha, Chief Strategy Officer, McCann Worldgroup APAC
- Digital Craft, Social & Creator: Barbara Humphries, Chief Creative Officer, Droga5 ANZ (Accenture Song)
- Entertainment, Gaming, Music: Britney Pai, Head of Entertainment, dentsu Greater North Asia
- Film Craft: Wuthisak Anarnkaporn, Film Director and Founder, Factory01 Thailand
- Healthcare: Rohini Miglani, Former VP at P&G across Asia, Middle East, Africa and India
- Media: Josh Gallagher, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, WPP Media APMEA
- PR: Tomoko Tagami, Founder and CEO, Synasia Japan
Leadership on the 2026 Vision
Commenting on the roster, Melanie Speet, Director, Spikes Asia, said:
“Every year, the Jury Presidents set the tone for the Awards, and this line-up truly reflects the breadth, depth and diversity of creative leadership across APAC. From first-time representation for Pakistan to the introduction of the Creative B2B Spikes, 2026 marks an important moment of evolution for the Awards. We’re proud to welcome such an accomplished group of industry visionaries who will help define what world-class creative excellence looks like in the year ahead.”
Simon Cook, CEO of LIONS, added:
“Spikes Asia has always been a barometer for the region’s creative progress, and this year’s Jury Presidents embody the bold thinking and innovative spirit driving the industry forward. Their collective expertise across emerging disciplines, established craft and data-driven creativity will ensure that the work awarded in 2026 continues to set the benchmark for creative effectiveness across APAC.”
