Judges

Emily Bain
Partner/director of strategic planning, John St.

At John St., Bain has created proprietary methods of understanding consumer behaviour and creative problem solving including the John St. segmentation study, a planning model, a new product development process called Invent and innovative research techniques. Bain moved from a career in account service with agencies like Young and Rubicam, Leo Burnett and Ammirati Puris. While at Ammirati, she learned planning on accounts such as Labatt, Sears, President’s Choice, CBC and Fujifilm.

Andrew Barrett
VP of global marketing properties, LG Electronics, South Korea

Barrett’s responsibilities include managing LG’s global sponsorships such as Formula One Auto Racing, FIS Snowboarding, and partnerships with Prada. Prior to taking on this global role in 2009, he spent two years as VP marketing for LG Canada, during which time he was named strategy’s Marketer of the Year. Barrett’s career began at P&G, followed by Pillsbury, and then Molson, where he was VP marketing. On the agency side, he spent four years with JWT in new business development and planning.

Ann Nurock
President and CEO, Grey Canada

Hailing from South Africa, Nurock embraced a new challenge as president and CEO of Grey Canada in June 2008. As CEO, she is responsible for both the Toronto and Vancouver offices, and manages the overall strategic direction of the firm. Nurock joined Grey Africa in 1991 as a client service director, and became managing director in 2000. She was CEO of Grey Africa since 2004.

Joe Mimran
Founder/president, Joseph Mimran & Associates

Mimran has contributed to Canadian fashion and design for more than 25 years. His most recent project is Joe Fresh Style – an exclusive line of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel for Loblaw Companies Limited. His career began in 1977 with a family dress design and manufacturing business, which led to the development of several luxury sportswear brands including Alfred Sung. Shortly thereafter, he founded Club Monaco, and later launched Caban, as well as contributing to his wife’s clothing line, Pink Tartan.

Peg Hunter
VP marketing and communications, The Home Depot Canada

Hunter oversees marketing, advertising, e-commerce and communications. She joined The Home Depot Canada in 2006, following previous executive marketing and merchandising appointments with Canadian retail companies including Grand & Toy, Canadian Tire and Consumers Distributing. She is a member of the board of directors of the Canadian Marketing Association, The Home Depot Canada Foundation, Women in the Lead, and Memorial University of Newfoundland’s business advisory board.

Don Watt
Chairman, DW+Partners

Watt heads strategic retail services group DW+Partners. Watt founded and, until June 2003, led Watt International, one of the largest strategic planning design firms in North America. He developed of the No Name and President’s Choice product programs for Loblaws and designed the Wal-Mart brand and the Super Center retail model, as well as the Home Depot brand and prototype store concept. His design was chosen as the basis of the Canadian flag and he contributed to the design of the Canadian Pavilion at Expo 67.

Prasad Rao
Business director and partner, Rao Barrett and Welsh

During his time at consultancy Rao Barrett and Welsh, Rao has worked on a variety of brands like CBC, J&J, EMD Serono, Government of Ontario, Johnnie Walker, Rogers Cable and Unilever. He has over 23 years as a successful advertising and marketing professional, with broad strategic and operational exposure across three continents. Prior to co-founding RBW, he was SVP/GM at Maclaren McCann responsible for the packaged goods and financial divisions, leading brands such as Royal Bank, McNeil/J&J, Coca Cola, and Nestle.