Seven Interns Join M&C Saatchi's 2025 Open House Programme

M&C Saatchi Group is thrilled to announce the successful completion of its 2024 Open House recruitment programme, marking a milestone in its mission to break down barriers to entry into the creative communications industry. The programme culminated with the selection of seven talented individuals for paid internships across the Sydney and Melbourne offices.

The Open House programme, now in its third year, attracted an impressive 1,276 registrants for its series of free, live webinars—our highest reach to date. This eight-week modular training programme, designed to be accessible to all, offered participants invaluable insights into disciplines such as creativity, strategy, design, CX, media, data, and innovation, with guidance from industry leaders across M&C Saatchi Group.

Jen Hegarty, director of people & culture at M&C Saatchi Group, said, "In a time when fostering diverse and equitable talent pipelines has never been more critical, we are proud to see the Open House programme flourishing. The overwhelming response and extraordinary calibre of applicants reinforce our commitment to opening doors and driving meaningful change within our industry."

The quality of this year’s applications reached unprecedented levels, resulting in 18 candidates being shortlisted for final interviews. Ultimately, seven outstanding participants secured coveted internship positions, joining teams in early 2025 to launch their careers in the creative industry.

Julien Ortiz: A design intern at Re (M&C Saatchi Consulting), Julien graduated from the University of Technology Sydney in 2023 with a Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication (Honours). Julien is passionate about “all things creative and striking.”

Jess Saunders: A recent graduate with a Bachelor of Design in Visual Communications from the University of Technology Sydney, Jess is eager to “combine my design background with my passion for brand strategy and storytelling.”

Chloe Hinchliff: A new creative intern at M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, Chloe said: “I love the idea of one day becoming a Creative Director, as it’s the perfect blend of strategic thinking and creativity. Over the next six weeks, I’m excited to learn from the talented people around me and soak up their expertise.”

Anton Johansen: A recent AWARD School graduate and creative intern. Anton previously worked in warehousing and is excited to “reach for the top shelf” in creativity and copywriting. His passions include indie music, TV (Mad Men!), and studying languages.

Caroline Presbury: With a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a background as a creative director and photographer in the fashion and luxury sectors, Caroline has also pursued law studies while working on commercial branding and advertising projects. She describes her love of “art meeting commerce” and is also an artist specialising in clay sculpture, drawing, and painting.

Shannon Kruss: A writer and Melbourne native, Shannon explained: “I take silliness very seriously. I got into advertising because I love coming up with innovative ideas and also because I want to convince my mum that all those years spent in front of the TV were warranted.”

Priscilla Cooper: A recent graduate from RMIT with a Professional Communications degree, Priscilla describes herself as “a creative by trade who plays with words like a kid with crayons.” After a stint putting on musicals at a summer camp in America, she’s ready to make a splash as a creative intern.

These hires come as the agency repositions itself with a new focus under its global “Cultural Power” proposition, ushering in a new era of building famous and meaningful brands by creating and curating cultural power.