Change for the better

Nigel was a founding member of DIA in the UK and has over twenty years experience of
working in Asia across everything from consumer to industrial, retail and destination brands.
He is a strong advocate of design and has been advisor to many leading companies and
institutions across the region, as well as President of Design Business Chamber Singapore
(formerly DAS), advisor to the Singapore Design Awards (SDA) and Singapore Design
Class.

He is an artist, a former gallery and restaurant owner, a sailor, committed food lover and
divides his time between Singapore and Australia.

Purpose-driven Strategy

Pooja’s passion for branding is driven by a love for people and how her work can impact
their lives in big or small ways. She has nearly 20 years of work experience in Asia. Her rich
experience in sales, marketing and branding has been achieved by working with a vast
spectrum of global and local clients alike.

Pooja is a certified PMC (Practising Management Consultant, recognised by Enterprise
Singapore and SBACC. She is also a recognised lead consultant on Design Thinking
projects, recognised by Design Singapore. When away from work, she loves travelling,
spending time with her children and supports all causes associated with underprivileged
children and animal welfare.

Sutapa is an award-winning Brand Specialist, and marketing and communication veteran.
She has more than 25 years of experience in marketing research, media, strategic
communication, advertising, and branding across Asia for local, multinational, and regional
clients – TATA Steel, BAT, Petronas, Maybank, P&G, McDonald’s, Taylors, ISKL, Maxis,
AIA, and Sunway among many others.

She has worked on both sides of the table – consultant and business. Her single-minded
focus is to develop strong branding strategies based on business goals and/or problems,
that lead to effective and impactful branding and communication solutions and the building of
meaningful relationships with stakeholders. Because brand strategy and business strategy
work hand in hand to meet business objectives.

This purpose has led to the accumulation of multiple industry awards – Effies, Appies,
Dragons, A&M, Campaign Asia – Planner for SE Asia, etc.

Her previous stints include Nielsen, JWT, Grey, Leo Burnett, and Tenaga Nasional. At Leo
Burnett, she began the Brand Consulting division which consecutively won the A&M Gold
award for 3 years.

Sutapa’s ambition is to make a difference to brands, business and people.

As part of her mission to enhance the stature of Branding and Marketing, she conducts
regular Brand Planning workshops for the marketing industry and is an adjunct professor
with noted universities.

John, currently the Creative Director at DIA Brands, is an art-based copywriter with over 25
years of experience in the advertising industry. He began his career very early at local
agencies, and made the transition to international networks with tours as a Senior Writer,
Creative Group Head, Creative Director, Executive Creative Director and most recently,
Head of Creative at Entropia – part of Accenture Song, respectively.

John has worked on a wide variety of brands and has been awarded at local, regional and
international award shows, including several Kancil Awards, Silver and Bronze Effies and
DDB’s first Regional Pinnacle Award. Other accolades include Gold, Silver, and Bronze
Adfest Awards, Silver and Bronze Cannes Lions as well as D&AD and New York Festival
honours. John is also invited annually to be a jury member at the Kancil Awards and is a
senior representative in the Kancil Awards Creative Council.

In 2017, John and his teams succeeded in elevating Hakuhodo Malaysia to the No. 5
position at the Malaysia’s Kancil Awards (previously unranked in the industry). This was
followed by the agency being awarded Malaysia’s Agency of the Year in 2018 – an historic
and remarkable achievement for Hakuhodo Malaysia.

John’s extensive experience in the ever-evolving creative arena coupled with intuitive
management skills allow him to constantly develop a new breed of award-winning talent.
This is further strengthened with exceptional creative insights across all mediums along with
strategic thinking for all brand partners.

YK began his career in Naga DDB as a graphic designer after graduating with a BA (Arts) in
Multimedia (Distinction) from RMIT University, Melbourne. He has handled key accounts
from Coke, DiGi, Proton, Panasonic, KFC, Nestle, Carlsberg, Hong Leong Bank and
Tourism Malaysia, just to name a few. Over the years, he has won numerous creative
accolades. At the Malaysian Kancil Awards, including Young Creative of The Year in 2003.

He was also accepted into Clio Future Gold 2006 and ranked No.5 in Campaign Brief Asia
2006. Other creative accolades include international awards such as the first D&AD Yellow
Pencil awarded to Malaysia, as well as Cannes Lions, One Show, Clio International, Young
Guns, AWARD Australia, London International, Asian Media Awards, AdFest Asia and
AdStars Korea. When he’s not working, he likes to work out. Because when there is no
concept, there better be biceps.

Some of the accounts he has worked on include, Nestle, Diageo, Kimberley Clark, Perodua,
Jordan, Sharp, Hong Leong Bank, Mach by HLB, GemFive, Munchy’s, Dijaya (Tropicana),
Wyeth, Astro Kids, Proton, Coca Cola, Nespray,KFC, Al Rajhi Bank, Carlsberg, Mamee,
Bata, Stabilo, Neutrogena, Ministry Of Health, Hard Rock Cafe & Planet Hollywood, Kotra,
Uob Bank, High 5 Bread, Nippon Paint, Johnsons & Johnsons, Digi, Panasonic, F.A.C.T
(Fashion Academy Of Creative Technology), and more.

A multi-disciplinary creative encompasses design, graphics and identity, products and packaging, advertising and communications, installations, digital and retail experiences, sound and motion, bringing knowledge of creative solutions and brand management for local and global brands.

A self-taught individual driven by the love, passion and curiosity towards a wide range of creativity and with an in-depth knowledge built over the years within the advertising – design industry. A strong advocate that expresses appreciation towards ideas, copy-writing, an eye for finer details, functionality, practicality, simplicity, experimentations, innovations and fair share of marketing.

My work in the industry has been recognised in prestigious accolades such as D&AD, Cannes Lion, One Show, Communication Arts, Spikes Asia, Adfest, ANDY Awards and local shows. Not all reward comes from shows. The acceptance of Awani Jam packaging design and concept was well received by UK high-end retailers such as Selfridges & Co., Harvey Nichols and consumers are incomparable and irreplaceable. Or a logo that captured the essence of a country to represent a worldwide forum. Or a design system that has the ability to control chaos. Breaking barriers through a thinking process for brands and consumers are equally important and a rewarding distinction

With years of experience in the industry it has taught me to be an inspiring leader with a people-first culture, keen judgement, integrity, resourcefulness and a strong believer of internal development. Currently refocusing design thinking and principles to create relationships. Foster a culture of collaborations and innovation – experiences, knowledge and passion as the main drive to contribute for solutions, values and growths.

Method to the madness

An experienced account servicing lead, Raudha brings a demonstrated history of managing and consulting on projects across the world of advertising and branding, and across various industries, from healthcare, the public service sector, education, publishers, FMCG to telcos, technology and hospitality, both locally and globally.

She thrives on unravelling complex situations and in helping businesses and brands work towards effecting change that will impact the market as we know it through effective verbal and visual communication – the outcome of a rigorous brand building process.

Outside of work, she enjoys the great outdoors – a source of inspiration and relaxation – and soaking up as much of the sun with her family.