Mumbai: Spikes Asia, APAC’s most prestigious and sought-after award for creativity and marketing effectiveness, has announced the line-up of Jury Presidents who will oversee the 2026 Awards, to be held in Singapore next March. These industry leaders will guide their Juries in benchmarking excellence across the region’s most creative and effective work.
In a historic first, Atiya Zaidi, CEO and Chief Creative Officer of BBDO Pakistan, has been appointed as Jury President for Design and Industry Craft, marking Pakistan’s debut representation at Spikes Asia. Zaidi, who led Pakistan to its first-ever Glass: The Lion for Change win at Cannes Lions 2023, was also the first Pakistani to be selected for the Cannes Lions See It Be It programme in 2017 and later returned as a mentor for the 2025 cohort.
On her appointment, 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.”
Adding to the milestone announcements, Wendy Walker, VP and Chief Marketing Officer, Salesforce ASEAN, has been named the inaugural Jury President for the Creative B2B Spikes. The category will spotlight breakthrough creativity and effectiveness in business-to-business marketing — celebrating work for products and services purchased by professionals on behalf of organizations.
Walker commented, “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.”
The full list of Spikes Asia 2026 Jury Presidents includes:
- 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
Commenting on the announcement, 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, 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.”
Entries for Spikes Asia 2026 are open until Thursday, 29 January 2026. For more details, visit www.spikes.asia.
