Our Young Gun profile takes a look at some of the young talent across the advertising, adtech, marketing and media sector in Australia. It aims to shed light on the varying roles, people and companies across the buzzing industry.
Today we speak to Havas Blvd experiential event producer Hannah Wicks.
Time in current role/time at the company:
A touch over three years.
How long have you been in the industry?
Three years in agency land, with four prior years in events.
How did you get here? Was this always the plan?
Plan A was primary school teacher, however I quickly learnt that I don’t have the patience for tiny humans but have just enough patience for adults at events.
A gap year in the UK and years of bartending, then planning and managing 1st and 21st Birthdays at my local, was also the school of hard knocks training when it comes to event management in my young years. I added to this a year of study in Event Management before moving into large-scale corporate event catering for a few more years. And then onto my incredible job with Havas Blvd, creating experiential brand activations and PR events.
Who is your right hand person?
My boss and group brand experience director Michael Ozard, an incredible operator and literally my right-hand person (as his desk is on my right).
His cool, calm and collected nature is infectious and our complementary personalities – I’m a little more extroverted and very ‘passionate’ … okay, fiery – together is a pretty unique duo. Michael has an unbelievable wealth of knowledge and has taught me a huge amount in three short years. Hats off to you!
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
One week I worked with builders to produce the world’s largest LEGO Star Wars box inside a shopping centre, the next creating a succulent filled, drought tolerant garden in Sydney CBD, then onto launching luxury sportscars soon after that. Every day is different, challenging, entertaining, fast paced and a whole lot of fun.
Most days my family is unconvinced as to what I actually do for a living.
And the biggest challenge?
COVID. That was the by far the biggest challenge for our industry last year.
How many times can you say ‘pivot’ in a week? A lot, I can tell you that much.
But also, COVID taught us to find new ways to innovate, to cut through in the event space, to leverage the virtual beyond a Zoom call and combine the best of virtual with the best of physical events.
As a result of 2020, there’s come an increased drive for innovation and there’s greater focus from clients wanting more. Bigger, louder, bolder, more unique ideas to cut through all the consumer noise, they want it all and they’re challenging us harder than ever.
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
Hard one to answer, at this point in time, I love what I do. The people who I get to work next to day to day, and the quality of work I get to produce, I count myself extremely lucky.
Oh also, probably Catriona Rowntree from Getaway, she really does have it all.
Where do you turn for inspiration?
Pinterest, every time.
My favourite advert is:
At the moment, it’s the BBC Tokyo Olympics ad.
Complete sensory overload, exactly how Japan is.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
There’s probably not much left to tell, I won’t lie, I am an over sharer.
In five years' time I'll be:
Hopefully never having to use the word ‘pivot’.
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