Off the back of the conversation led by Cindy Gallop, Esther Clerehan and Jet Swain I wanted to share our thoughts on the industry and our issue with the lack of senior female creatives. I’m committed to finding solutions to this - not just immediately but for the long term too.? ________ There is an industry wide gender imbalance issue in the creative department and we have been aware of this at Thinkerbell for some time. In the latest edition of the Campaign Brief magazine and the ongoing BestAds ranking system, there is a gender imbalance represented by our Tinkers in the recent Creative Director and Executive Creative Director rankings, and the ongoing BestAds ranking system. We understand the frustration of what has come to light over the past few days and we are actively contributing to the change required to create better diversity in our workplace and the Australian advertising industry as a whole. We are consciously and fairly doing the following to address this industry wide issue: - Developing, identifying and creating opportunities for the 34% of women (16 women in total) we have in the creative and design area of our business.? - Thinkerbell has pay parity in every role across the agency, outside of management, where females over index over males.? - We are actively hiring for several female Tinkers in both the North (Sydney) and South (Melbourne). - Due to the nature of the way the data is collated and calculated for the BestAds ranking system list, it has resulted in Thinkerbell appearing more than other agencies across the various lists. This is partially due to our unique Thinker x Tinker model and the prolific nature of our creative output. - It is worth noting that the majority of our creative campaigns are uploaded to BestAds, including all work created and developed by our female Tinkers. This ranking system is regularly updated and we’ve had female Tinkers appear regularly on these lists.? - Thinkerbell has not paid, created or had any part to play in the list that appeared in the latest edition of the Campaign Brief magazine or the BestAds ranking list. Nor were we contacted when the list was published. We appreciate the issues raised here about Thinkerbell and the industry at large. We are doing our best to actively address them. Regards, Margie
Jasmin Bedir
1 个月
Love your statement Margie, but a slight correction required: Campaign brief is pay to play. You guys appear on there because you pay a subscription fee. Hence you may find no trace of the existence of INNOCEAN Australia on CB or best ads on tv. I’d encourage you to consider to cancel your “subscription” or support of CB, just like we did last year. Aside from the fact that I’ve always struggled with the complete lack of female representation on CB, the toxicity of that “blog” also doesn’t help our industry discourse More info here https://www.loveour.work
Jane Caro AM
1 个月
Well, hey, at least its slightly better than it was when I kept raising the issue of invisible women in the industry 20 plus years ago. At least now Agencies have to defend their practices. Back then it was the handful of women who raised it who had to defend themselves against ridicule & attack. But, holy shit, advertising moves wondrous slow despite all its self declared ‘edginess’.
Jet Swain
1 个月
Thanks, Margie, for weighing in on this. I agree with Esther that women can’t solve this alone. We need the men in the industry to speak up, stand up, and take action. Their silence on this has been noted. Men recognising, acknowledging, and addressing change is the only way we will see a shift in this generation. These lists compiled by Campaign Brief are dangerously sexist, misogynistic and biased, and regardless of the data, mechanics, ranking system, dollars, automation, or jury that produces them, someone thought it ok to publish. And when that fails, as a community, we must step in. The “ranked” agencies must step in and stand up for what they believe to be right in gender equality and diversity. Accepting it because it’s “just how it is” is no longer valid. I look forward to working with you to create better diversity in the Australian advertising industry.
Rene Huey-Lipton
1 个月
So why not pull your creatives out off the list?
Susannah Fogarty
1 个月
Did you... realize that your (multiple) submissions for the award were exclusively white and male?
Ben Hill
1 个月
Well said Margie and well done staring the issue in the face rather than shying away from it. Being a client my whole career it has always surprised me to see so few women in creative roles when we often see a gender disparity the other way in the client marketing teams. I want to recognise you for the women in leadership workshop you ran for one of my teams several years ago - creating a safe space for all to talk openly about creating careers and pathways for women and sharing your own experiences so authentically. You weren’t being paid to do it, you weren’t posting on your LI profile about it - you did it as a favour because you care. Always willing to support this agenda with you any and every day of the week.
Poppie Johnson
1 个月
Good on you for confronting it head on and for being a part of the solution. I think it needs everyone standing up to make a real difference, and examples like this help others to do the same.
Paul Chappell
1 个月
Great response to a real issue in the industry Margie. Looking forward to seeing much more diversity in future lists from such action happening behind the scenes.
Dena Vassallo
1 个月
Thanks for sharing Margie Reid. It’s a tough road we have been on far too long. The power of the female economy alone suggests women should index much more highly on these lists. Keep pushing for progress ????
Creative. Talent.
1 个月Well said Margie. There does seem to be a majority of women speaking up on this issue and too few men. Would love to see a few more men in this industry hold CB accountable. We need more women platformed and made visible. That goes for the Black T-Shirts Podcast too. Not enough women there either.