#WomensMonth: Fiona O'Connor; "Keep the flag flying"

Fiona O'Connor, ECD at Havas Johannesburg

The Gerety Awards, founded by Joe Brooks and Lucia Ongay is relatively new, having launched in 2019. It brings together all-female juries from across the globe to shortlist the best in advertising – all advertising, not just advertising made for women – through the female lens.

The Awards was named after Frances Gerety, the copywriter who coined the slogan ‘a diamond is forever’. So, instead of categories, the Awards are judged by cuts (as in diamond cuts), of which there are 10.

This year, there are a total of 180 new jury members from 30 different countries. Pre-Covid-19, judging sessions were hosted in each host city and the shortlists submitted to the international grand jury of creative experts for final evaluation, but of course this year’s judging sessions are having to take a different format. Joe Brooks explains that “the judging would have taken place at the VMLY&R offices, with Jacquie as the ambassador. The date had been set for Monday, 1 June and we would have judged and discussed a number of categories of entries from around the world. The same week judging sessions would have taken place in London, New York, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Melbourne, Milan, Istanbul, Helsinki and Berlin. Due to the ‘Corona’, all judging is taking place remotely and online over a four-week period with group calls in the middle of the judging to discuss favorite pieces.”

This year’s South African executive jury includes: Jacquie Mullany, ECD, VMLY&R; Mpume Ngobese, MD, Joe Public; Sanche Jansen van Rensburg, ECD, Avatar; Simone Bosman, founder and creative, Osu & Kumalo; Neo Segola, ECD, FCB Africa; Sarah Dexter, CEO, Mullen Lowe; Nadia Mohamed, marketing director, McCain; Emma Strydom, head of design, Network BBDO; Juliet Honey, creative, Freelance; Suhana Gordhan, ECD, FCB; Linda Notelovitz, director/producer and founder, Life Design; Liezel Bygate, marketing director, Bliss Brands; Monalisa Zwambila, CEO, Riverbed; Loli Bishop, producer, Freelance; and Fiona O'Connor, creative director, Havas. Look out for our online panel discussion featuring some of these remarkable women in advertising in September after the shortlists have been announced.

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21 Jun 2019

Here, Fiona O'Connor, ECD at Havas Johannesburg, says women ought to stay true to themselves and do what they feel is right, to trust their instincts and judgement and keep the flag flying…

The Awards recognise the best advertising (not just advertising made for women) through the female lens. Comment on the significance of this given the current state of feminism / gender equality / women’s empowerment.

O'Connor: This is a huge deal for not just women, but everyone. Women often see things from a different angle to men, so it is really important to get a better balance in opinion across the board. Women empowerment is also a very top-of-mind and topical issue at the moment (as it should be), and so this couldn’t be more relevant.

As part of its call for entries campaign, the Awards sent purple moustaches to prominent female leaders in the advertising industry, and asked them to pose for a picture with the question: What does a woman have to do to get onto an advertising jury? How would you answer that question – what does a woman have to do to get onto an advertising jury?

O'Connor: Be the best you can be, in your own way, and you will be rewarded.

What did you think of the campaign?

O'Connor: The campaign was fun but also poignant. It talks to the issue but in a way that makes you actually think about it, as it posed a valid question.

What are you most looking forward to or excited about with regards to taking part in this year’s Gerety Awards judging?

O'Connor: I always love to see great work. It is completely inspiring.

What is your hope for the next or future generations of women in advertising / the advertising industry?

O'Connor: That they carry on being true to themselves and doing what they feel is right, and to trust their instincts and judgement.

And what is your key message to fellow women in advertising this Women’s Month?

O'Connor: Keep the flag flying.

For more info, visit the Gerety Awards’ website and follow them on Twitter, Facebook and/or Instagram, and follow O'Connor on Facebook and/or Instagram or visit Havas Joburg.