Spikes Asia announces 2026 jury presidents

Spikes Asia, APAC’s most distinguished award recognising creativity and marketing impact, has announced its 2026 jury presidents. The jury, which includes representation from India, Japan, Thailand, and more, will convene in Singapore in March 2026 to evaluate the region's most outstanding and effective work that sets the standard for excellence.

Atiya Zaidi, CEO and chief creative officer at BBDO Pakistan, is among the 2026 jury presidents and is the first to hail from Pakistan. She is the first Pakistani to win a Glass: The Lion for Change at Cannes Lions 2023 and was selected for the Cannes Lions See It Be It in 2017. She returned to the programme, which is designed to accelerate the careers of women and non-binary talent, for the 2025 cohort.

Zaidi said: “It is an honour to be the first jury president from Pakistan at Spikes Asia. A moment that reflects how far our creative industry has come, and how boundless its future can be. Here’s to more stories, ideas, and voices from Pakistan reaching the world. As jury president for Design and Industry Craft, I will be looking for work where execution amplifies the idea, where craft is not surface but substance, and design choices reflect clarity, intent, and a deep understanding of human experience."

Meanwhile, the inaugural Creative B2B Spikes jury will be chaired by Wendy Walker, VP and chief marketing officer at Salesforce, ASEAN. The new award spotlights groundbreaking creativity and effectiveness in campaigns for products and services marketed to businesses and professionals. With a 25-year track record of interdisciplinary marketing experience across multiple industries, Walker’s expertise will be instrumental in establishing the benchmark for the region's most innovative B2B work.

Walker said: "I’m honoured to serve as inaugural jury president for the Creative B2B Spikes. Having seen B2B creativity reach new heights at Cannes Lions this year, I’m thrilled to see the category come to APAC; a region defined by brave storytellers and visionary brands redefining how businesses connect, serve, and inspire. Together with the jury, we’ll seek work that’s brave in thought, grounded in real human insight, and demonstrates how creativity in B2B can drive both impact and progress. This is our moment to set a new benchmark for B2B creativity in Asia and help shape the future of the global conversation."

Melanie Speet, director of 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.”

The jury presidents include:

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 B2B

Wendy Walker, VP and Chief Marketing Officer, Salesforce, ASEAN

Creative Data, Innovation

Maurice Riley, Chief Data Officer, Publicis Groupe, Oceania (Australia and New Zealand)

Creative Effectiveness, Creative Strategy

Shilpa Sinha, Chief Strategy Officer, McCann Worldgroup, APAC

Design, Industry Craft

Atiya Zaidi, CEO and Chief Creative Officer, BBDO, Pakistan

Digital Craft, Social & Creator

Barbara Humphries, Chief Creative Officer, Droga5 ANZ, part of Accenture Song, ANZ

Direct, Outdoor

Anupama Ramaswamy, Managing Director and Chief Creative Officer, Havas Creative, India

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, Asia, Middle East, Africa and India

Media

Josh Gallagher, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, WPP Media, APMEA

PR

Tomoko Tagami, Founder and CEO, Synasia, Japan

Entries into Spikes Asia are being accepted until Thursday 29 January 2026. Further information on the Awards can be found at www.spikes.asia.