Advertising Jury 1
2023 ICAD Awards
Karl Waters — Folk Wunderman Thompson
Jury Chairperson
As the head of the creative team at Folk Wunderman Thompson, Karl drives creative standards in the agency across the entire client list. Karl is also a member of the leadership who launched the agency in 2018 as a result of a merger between two of Ireland’s most recognised agencies. Since then he’s led the agency to be recognised at some of the world’s biggest creative award shows, including Cannes, Clio, One Show, D&AD and The Effies. He currently oversees the creative output of Folk Wunderman Thompson’s clients that include Vodafone, Lidl, An Post, Bord Gáis Energy, Irish Life and Brennans Bread. Karl has been invited to judge at many of the world’s biggest advertising festivals including Cannes, One Show, Eurobest and Adfest.
Connor Cunniffe — AKQA Amsterdam
International Judge
Born in England, raised in Leitrim, Conor is now plying his trade as a Senior Copywriter at AKQA Amsterdam. Before this, he spent 6 years in Dublin split between Rothco and DDFH&B. Along the way, Conor has created work for a wide range of clients, such as Guinness, Gucci, Nike, and Warner Music. This work has been recognised both at home and abroad, picking up a number of bells, pencils, and lions, as well as a grand prix. Conor likes to create work that offers real value to those that experience it, be it a tool they can use or a feeling they can hold on to.
Nadia Karim — Core
Judge
Nadia has been a Senior Art Director at Core for three years, where she has utilized her creative thinking deeply rooted in insights and strategic thinking to work on multiple internationally awarded campaigns throughout her career. She has gained experience working for international clients across various markets and in different sectors such as FMCG, Automotive, Governmental bodies, charities, and publishing. Some of the prestigious brands she has worked with include Nestle (KitKat, Nescafe, Maggi), Reckitt Benckiser, National Geographic, and Peugeot, as well as on the Irish market for National Lottery, Trocaire, KFC, and Energia. Nadia’s work has been recognized with multiple international awards, and she has an encyclopedia of awarded pieces in the back of her head. Her passion for advertising and her track record of success make her a valuable asset to the Core team.
Eoin Welsh — Connelly Partners
Judge
Born in Dublin, Eoin Welsh swapped the green fields of Ireland for the South African savannah at the tender age of 6. Now he’s come full circle, returning to Dublin as Creative Director at Connelly Partners Dublin. Welsh has been a Creative Director at several top international agencies in South Africa, including Havas, FCB, Ogilvy and King James Accenture Song. So why the return to his birthplace? “It’s a great new adventure” says Welsh. “The Irish industry in Ireland is buzzing, and the chance to become part of it proved irresistible”. Welsh has won multiple international and local awards, and has sat on juries at Cannes, The New York Festivals and South Africa’s premium Loerie Awards among others. Outside of advertising his passions are his family, guitars and Arsenal FC. Quoting Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta when asked to sum up his role in just a few words, Welsh describes it as “a beautiful challenge”. And the main difference between South Africa and Ireland? “Oh, that’s easy,” says Welsh. “Over here, everyone can pronounce my name.”
Peter Dobbyn— Publicis
Judge
Peter Dobbyn is Creative Director at the most awarded Irish agency at Cannes Lions 2022 – Publicis Dublin. He began his copywriting career in Ogilvy Dublin in 2013. Here, he honed his copywriting craft, getting the opportunity to work on accounts such as: Ford, Smithwick’s, Heinz and ISPCC. He holds a degree in Journalism and Visual Media and a Postgraduate Diploma in Advertising and Digital Communications. Since moving to Publicis in 2016, Peter has managed to carve out a number of famous and highly successful campaigns for nearly all of the agency’s major accounts: Virgin Media, Heineken, Island’s Edge, Tayto, SPAR, permanent tsb, Standard Life and Iarnród Éireann, to name a few. His work has been recognised by Cannes, Eurobest, Effies, One Show and D&AD.
