Talented duo from Ashraff Associates to attend Spikes Asia Training Academy

Friday, 29 August 2014 01:12 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Spikes Asia which takes place from 23 to 26 September at Suntec, Singapore’s International Convention & Exhibition Centre, is one of the most anticipated events in the regional advertising fraternity calendar, serving as a landmark opportunity for Asia Pacific’s creative community to come together for a spectacular four-day celebration of creativity in communications. Representing local trail blazer Ashraff Associates at the event will be one of the firm’s creative stars – Chulangi Hettiarachchi, and Brands Executive Huzaik Ismeth, who have been chosen to attend the Young Craft Academy and Young Account Executive Academy at Spikes Asia 2014 respectively. Attended by over 1,800 delegates from 30 countries in 2013, Spikes Asia is the ideal platform for the region’s growing creative and advertising industry to network and exchange ideas, bringing together some of the finest creative minds from across the region and around the world. An integral facet of the event is the much respected academy sessions, which are customised for various groups in the creative community including academies for media, digital, creative and more. These academies cater to a select few with only 20 places available per academy, gaining a place within these sessions is highly competitive and reserved only for the best. Therefore it was a cause for celebration when Ashraff Associates saw two of its brightest stars accepted into the Young Craft Academy and the Young Account Executive Academy. Ashraff Associates Chief Creative Officer Aman Ashraff had this to say: “It’s an honour, and an indication of their excellent credentials and capabilities that both Chulangi and Huzaik have gained entry into these hotly contested academies. Spikes Asia offers an incredible opportunity for young creative people to be exposed to the region’s best thinkers and innovators, and I believe that all local agencies should invest in their employees, and make a point of ensuring they are exposed to the Spikes experience.” Chulangi will attend the Young Craft Academy, a three day program that focuses on the art of execution, with each day spotlighting a different discipline: copywriting, art direction and digital craft. Every session is led by a specialist tutor who has crafted an agenda focused entirely on the craft they’re most passionate about. Chulangi, who has a Bachelor of Information Technology (Multimedia Design) from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia, had this to say: “I am so excited and grateful for this opportunity. Young creative people across the entire region compete for a chance to attend these sessions, and I believe that this will be an amazing opportunity for me to learn and grow and add something invaluable to my professional development.” The Young Account Executive Academy is a three day intensive program designed to equip young agency account executives with the tools, knowledge and inspiration they need to lead groundbreaking creativity. Holder of an Msc in Strategic Marketing from the University of Malaya, Malaysia, Huzaik Ismeth shared his point of view: “I am very grateful to Ashraff Associates for having put my name forward for the Young Account Executive Academy. I feel privileged to have this opportunity and will do my utmost to represent the agency and Sri Lanka to the best of my ability, and to bring back a wealth of inspiration and knowledge.”