Welcome to the Diemen Awards.
Celebrating Tasmania's best and brightest talent in commercial creativity.
One of Australia’s leading creative industry awards, the Diemen Awards evolved out of the Printing Industries Craftsmanship Awards (PICA) which showcased Tasmania's craft and print culture for over two decades. Since 2014 it’s been our goal to celebrate Tasmania’s talent in commercial creativity, including design, advertising, print and digital communications.
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JUDGES
Currently creative director at Procreate in Hobart, Andrew has had a long and diverse career in the creative industry. Founder of the Semi-Permanent creative events and the iconic design site, Design is Kinky (under new ownership), publisher of multiple magazines, creative lead at Canva and creative director at Foundry. With a focus on ideas and creative strategy, Andrew brings years of experience and a keen eye to any creative project.
Having worked in the creative industries nationally and internationally for 20 years, I champion creativity in all it’s weird and wonderful forms. Outside of my professional work as a Copy Writer, I continue to encourage and support local Tasmanian creative professionals through my volunteer work with AGDA and various award shows including The DIEMENs. Great work always deserves recognition, and it starts right here.
Todd is the co-founder of Story Engine, based in Vancouver, and part of the Brand Tasmania team, whose job is to inspire and encourage Tasmanians, and those who want to be Tasmanian – for a night, a week, four years, or the rest of their lives - to quietly pursue the extraordinary.
Caleb notched over a decade of working for design and digital studios in Melbourne before settling in Hobart to better balance the screens with wondrous scenes of nature and community. He runs a web studio named after Tasmania’s second computer, and encourages new and established digital professionals to celebrate the local industry through the Yeah Nice meetup.
Born in a small town outside of Barcelona on a Saturday in the 20th Century. Edu joined some of the most exciting and creative companies in advertising, innovation, and entertainment on three continents. Working at agencies like Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam, Crispin Porter + Bogusky in Colorado, and We Are Social in Sydney, he’s created famous stories and products for intelligent audiences on behalf of brave brands. Edu has been on the jury of the most prestigious advertising festivals and collectively won over 100 awards, including One Show, Clio, LIA, Spike Asia, Effie, and a Cannes Lions Grand Prix. Edu says his passion for mentoring has taken him to speak at top industry conferences worldwide, write regularly for industry-leading publications, and to collaborate with several reputed universities and schools, most recently as a lecturer of Multiplatform Storytelling at the University of Tasmania.
Tim Burrowes is the publisher and founder of Unmade, a marketing industry analysis newsletter. He authored Media Unmade, detailing Australia’s media from 2010 to 2020. With over 30 years in journalism, he started on UK newspapers, edited Hospital Doctor, and led Media Week. Tim edited Campaign in Dubai, winning Editor of the Year twice. He edited B&T Weekly in Australia before founding Mumbrella in 2008, leaving in 2021. Under Tim, Mumbrella won Website of the Year twice and he was named Business Journalist of the Year. He curated Mumbrella360, awarded Conference of the Year twice. In 2022, he was named Columnist of the Year and Unmade was Launch of the Year. Unmade hosts conferences like HumAIn and REmade. Tim also exists as an AI at timbot.AI
Lauren is a born and bread Tasmanian creative with a background working as a graphic designer and illustrator in lutruwita. Now as Head of Communications for Tasmanian software developers Procreate, she orchestrates a symphony of marketing strategies, educational resources, event management, and partnership endeavours, all aimed at amplifying Procreate's brand and community impact. At the core of her work lies a deep-seated belief in the power of human-centred design, accessibility and inclusivity. Lauren's tireless advocacy ensures that Procreate's mantra – that art belongs to everyone – permeates every aspect of her endeavours.
Karen is a senior designer from Hobart, Tasmania. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Visual Communication with Honours in 2009, she has freelanced in various design projects. Karen also lectured at the University of Tasmania from 2010–2013. She worked on the PepsiCo UK account at Oliver Marketing in 2014–2015 and at Redjelly Australia from 2011, becoming Senior Designer in 2016 and Junior Art Director in 2018. From 2020 to 2022, she was Brand Manager at the University of Tasmania. Currently, Karen is a Senior Creative at Before Creative, working with Tasmanian clients.
Alecia is a rare blend of creativity and pragmatism, generating high-quality and well-considered graphic design across a combination of traditional and new media. A graduate of the University of Tasmania School of Art, Alecia’s 20 years of professional experience spans the roles of senior designer, senior creative, mentor, design teacher and art director. Working independently and with many of Tasmania’s leading creative agencies, Alecia is always looking for ways to embed creative thinking, clear communication and compelling visuals into her designs. Alecia also enjoys exploring the ways ethics, technology and culture constantly shape and guide design practice, with a strong belief in staying curious and creating with legacy.
Alyssa Bermudez (she/her) is a born and bred New Yorker living down under in Tasmania, Australia! She studied illustration and animation at the Fashion Institute of Technology for Bachelors and Masters courses. Since 2015, Alyssa has also been the art director and creative designer at Keshet Design, where her love and interest in fashion and art shine through her work. Using watercolor and digital techniques, she brings a unique and vibrant quality to her illustrations. In her spare time, Alyssa loves to draw with ink. As an author, illustrator, and art teacher, her illustrations have graced the pages of over a dozen picture books, as well as fabrics and even the stage. In 2021, she debuted her middle-grade graphic novel, Big Apple Diaries, to readers worldwide. With a deep commitment to representing children from diverse backgrounds, Alyssa's work celebrates inclusivity and showcases her unique artistic style. She is obsessed with dogs, books, live sketching, travelling and keeping plants alive.
Chas is a Cannes gold winning advertising creative director who has worked for multiple agencies in the UK. Most recently he was UK CD for HSBC, Oxo and Ribena. His commercial for Blackcurrant Tango was voted one of the 100 best of all time, he has written a book on the internet aided by Sir Tim Berners-Lee and a TV show he created inspired the producers of Gogglebox. Chas is currently creative directing at The Whisky Club while also writing and producing the Wholly Buyable podcast, a secular tour through the world’s best-selling book. He has judged at national and international level and never gets tired of great ideas.
David started as a teenage racing cyclist needing cash and accidentally landed a job in advertising, lying about his age to work at Village Roadshow. He became Director of Theatre Operations before his real age was discovered. He then worked at Ogilvy and Mather as a Production Manager and then Art Director, winning awards with brands like Boags and Cascade. David was accepted into the O&M International Rising Stars Workshop and received the O&M Silver Nail. Headhunted by Armstrong’s Sydney, he became Art Director at Bosell after its acquisition by Bosell Ridge (US). Despite an offer as Creative Director, David moved back to Tasmania to work with small, honest clients. After serving as Communications Manager for Roberts for a few years, David returned to freelancing. He now dedicates his time to renovating three 1950s cabins into short-stay accommodations and occasionally works for an agency when they need something a bit odd.
Brendan started his Career in 1992 at The Works Printing Group. He later became an apprentice Offset Printer on a Single Colour Printing Machine. In 1998 he transferred to Mercury Walch. Brendan completed his qualifications and in 2008 became a Print Supervisor running on a Four and Six Colour Printing Machine producing many Quality Gold Awards over the years. In 2011 Brendan took the opportunity to start a new career at Bilton Graphics Pty. Ltd. a Tasmanian owned and operated Business since 1984, and now he is celebrating their 40 Year Anniversary. Brendans role at Bilton Graphics has evolved to General Manager, he continues to supply the Printing Industry with his expertise and practical knowledge for Print Media products and services.
Bob Baker worked in the printing industry his entire career. Recently retired, Bob is a highly trained print professional with a trained eye for detail. With over 35 years of print experience, he is regarded as one of the finest print production people in Tasmania. A trade qualified printer, Bob’s career has seen him work on major national and international projects for the Australian, Tasmanian and PNG Governments and many large Tasmanian companies. Known throughout the creative industries, Bob’s knowledge of the printing and finishing processes has seen him train many of the current industry print professionals in Tasmania. Working with the industry, Bob has been a leader in a number of trade initiatives around the environment and equal opportunity, working with Hurst chemicals on an environmentally friendly citrus-based solvent and as part of a program to employ indigenous Tasmanians into the print industry. The Diemen Awards are glad we could break Bob out of retirement — even if it’s just for a day of judging.
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