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.
JUDGES
Simon Crerar is the managing director of Impactable, a sustainable impact advisory firm. He was editor-in-chief of SmartCompany from 2022-24, and before that the founding editor and then GM of BuzzFeed Australia. As a consultant, Simon has worked with clients including the Digital Publishers Alliance, Google News Initiative and Walkley Foundation on various audience, impact, growth and stakeholder strategies. Simon began his career in London at The Times, and has also worked for the SMH and News Corp Australia.
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.
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
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.
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.
Alyssa Bermudez (she/her) is an artistic director, author, and illustrator based in Hobart. At Keshet Design, she helps create bold, colourful textile designs and leads marketing campaigns that celebrate vibrant style and self-expression. With a passion for storytelling and creativity, Alyssa’s career spans diverse fields, including animation, magazine illustration, and teaching art to students of all ages. She has illustrated over a dozen children’s books and toured in a live illustrated theatre performance in China. Alyssa has also created lifescape illustrations for hospital patients, through Inscape Tasmania. In 2021, she released Big Apple Diaries, a heartfelt graphic novel memoir about growing up in New York City before and after 9/11. Her forthcoming graphic novel, Run Home, will be released in early 2026. Alyssa’s creative practice also includes live sketching at weddings and events, where she captures the energy of special moments with ink and watercolour. She is passionate about creating art that celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and the power of storytelling.
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.
Mark started his career with a bang in Adelaide by winning the National Radio Copywriters Workshop, two Caxtons and gold at the New York Festivals all in 1991. Leaving Adelaide for Sydney was the first step in a career that has seen him lead agencies as Executive Creative Director in Hong Kong, London and Singapore, working on brands such as adidas, Huawei, Mastercard, Volkswagen, Honda and Shangri-La and Langham Hotel groups.
You’ll find his work in Cannes Lions, D&AD, the One Show, AWARD, The Spikes, Archive, Graphis, the Effies and perhaps most importantly, the Diemen Awards. Mark is a past President of the Melbourne Advertising and Design Club, Vice Chair of the Hong Kong 4As Creative Committee, and board member of AGDA. Periodically, you’ll hear him on ABC Radio Hobart discussing advertising or design issues. Mark works at Advocacy Tasmania as their lead on Brand Strategy & Engagement as they push for individual rights and systemic change. In 2023 they won the national Community award at the Human Rights Commission Awards. When the occasion presents, Mark is inclined to wear a cravat.
Dr Jose Garcia Cesar is an international graphic designer, illustrator, and visual artist with over two decades of experience in the creative industry. Originally from Spain, he has collaborated with world-renowned advertising agencies —among them McCann, BBDO, and Leo Burnett—leading campaigns for clients such as Asahi, L’Oréal, Energizer International, Discovery Channel China, and Carlsberg. Now based in Hobart, José works as an independent creative, taking on commissions from both local and international clients. In addition to his practice, he has spent the past eight years teaching Design, Art, and Media at the University of Tasmania, sharing his passion for innovation and storytelling with the next generation of creatives. His diverse background, spanning roles from director to motion designer, showcases his dedication to art and design across various stages.
Chontelle has been the Creative Director at Gloo for over a decade and recently became a partner. With a diverse background, she’s owned a creative agency, run a fashion store in Hobart and online, and worked as an in-house designer for a printing company. Chontelle graduated from UTAS with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Information Systems. Passionate about brand strategy and development, she has extensive experience working on branding, campaigns, and digital projects. Chontelle loves working with clients from Tasmania, interstate, and overseas to help them grow, stand out, and make an impact.
I’m terrified of two things: LinkedIn and specialisation. As a result of an aversion to the latter, my career—spanning the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Mona, University of Tasmania, Procreate, and the long wriggly tail of other institutional stints—is less Frankenstein, more monster. It’s a dubious ice cream with a kaleidoscope of toppings: writing, legal and governance, events and ticketing, digital transformation, social media marketing data analysis, and E-commerce. Is this axis of employment leading anywhere? Does it offer substantive value to society, or even this judging committee? Who bloody knows…But if you’re looking for me, you’ll find me at Moonah Pizza Hut’s all-you-can-eat dessert bar slopping together a top-up. My approach is to scoff it all down and let the gut figure it out.
Annie is a UX designer and creative solutionist passionate about crafting vibrant, intuitive, user-centred experiences. With over a decade in the tech industry, she has played a key role in taking SaaS products from start-up to global scale. Validation and solution-building are at the core of her methodology, ensuring every product she works on meets real-world needs. With a strong focus on design and illustration, Annie creates vibrant and memorable products that engage users. As a neuro-diverse thinker, she thrives on innovation and problem-solving, bringing fresh perspectives to complex challenges.
Jay has cut his teeth in the printing industry as an apprentice in Graphic Pre-Press with Mercury Walch. Made the leap to agency life in 2007, and since has worked on local, national and international clients across a wide range of industries and channels.
Jay has been involved with the AGDA Tasmania committee including Vice President in 2013, and also a student and tutor of the national AWARD school. He is excited to see the very best in what Tasmania has to offer in the industry and its emerging young talent.
Cathy McAuliffe is an award winning graphic designer, artist and illustrator who has had vast experience in creating artworks that connect with communities and tell a story.
Her illustrations and design have been featured in coffee table books, fabric, tattoos, greeting cards, a homewares range, websites, billboards, brochures, magazines and many published books. Specialty areas of design include children’s and youth publications, historically focused communication, hand drawn illustration, public art and mural commissions. Her murals and artwork can be seen at Guilford Young College, Salty Dog Hotel, The Lantern Centre Kingston and Sandy Bay Sailing Club.
Kirsten joined the industry 18 years ago when she teamed up with her husband James at Taylor’d Press. As her love grew for the industry, so did her interest in printing which lead her to complete her Certificate III in Printing in 2017. The past 5 years have seen her in wider industry roles as Patron for Victoria for Women in Print and board members for PrintEx/PacPrint and Visual Industries Events. She has been nominated and awarded in the ProPrint Power 50 and was the winner of the Inaugural Women in Print Award at the 37th National Print Awards in 2020. She has passion for the industry and feels empowered by helping to create change by honest and open conversations and working in collaboration with others. Constantly looking to be challenged, she has completed leadership training with Women in Leadership Australia, engaged with a personal coach for further development and is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Psychology.
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