Professor Megan Davis to Open This Way Up

Indigenous Australian scholar and international human rights lawyer prof. Megan Davis - a key architect in the national push to make this year’s Voice Referendum a reality - will open This Way Up: Australia’s Advertising Festival of Creativity next week, AWARD has announced today.

With the theme ‘Creativity’s Breeding Ground for Worthwhile Opinions’ driving the agenda, the anticipated festival will celebrate the best in creative thinking via interactive talks, panel sessions, award announcements, workshops, industry events and more at the Museum of Contemporary Art from August 15-17.

As pro vice-chancellor of Society at UNSW Sydney, Megan is a respected figure whose expertise in constitutional law and tireless advocacy for the rights of First Nations people has garnered international recognition and support in recent years.

ACA CEO Tony Hale said, “We're honoured Megan has agreed to open This Way Up, shedding light on the Voice to Parliament and Uluru Statement of the Heart, and inspiring audiences with her unique perspective on the most important cultural issues facing Australia today.

“The ACA board formally supported the Voice to Parliament early this year and we have proudly used this opportunity to generate further support for the referendum among the wider advertising community,” he said.

Megan joins acclaimed international creatives Jeff Goodby (Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Fran), Kim Pick (VMLY&R NZ), David Kolbusz (Orchard, New York), Nick Law (Accenture Song, New York), and Mirrah Foulkes (award-winning director and screenwriter, LA), in headlining the three-day festival, which will also host some of the most prestigious industry events of the year.

They include the live stream of the 44th AWARD Awards Bronze Winners and Silver/Gold Showcase, an exclusive AWARD School 40th Gala Dinner, and the Gold Pencil AWARD Party - the festival wrap celebration where AWARD will announce the Gold and Special Award winners of the 44th AWARD Awards and AWARD School’s national top student.

Individual day passes are on sale now. Check out the schedule, highlights and get your tickets at thiswayup.com.au.