(L-R): Leo/Publicis Groupe’s Marco Venturelli, Leo’s Andy Fergusson, Suncorp’s Mim Hayson, Leo’s Clare Pickens, Titanium president Chaka Sobhani.
Australia has made headlines yet again at the prestigious 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity with its second Grand Prix victory this week. Leo Australia has been awarded the Dan Wieden Titanium Grand Prix for its campaign Haven for Suncorp Insurance, creatively developed in partnership with Hogarth, The Polish Bureau, and OMD.
The Titanium award is noteworthy, being one of only five handed out globally from a competitive pool of 138 entries, further solidifying the significance of Leo’s approach in transforming insurance into a proactive public service initiative aimed at equipping Australians for extreme weather. This marks the fourth Lion achieved by the Haven campaign, highlighting its robust impact.
This win follows another Grand Prix awarded to Special Australia and Special US for their innovative campaign titled “Build Your Own Super Bowl Commercial” for Uber Eats. Haven’s recognition aligns it with Suncorp’s broader agenda, which takes shape through previous initiatives such as ‘One House’, a Grand Prix for Innovation winner at Cannes in 2022, and ‘Resilience Road.’ This strategic focus on building resilience culminated in the overarching campaign theme of “Building a More Resilient Australia,” which also garnered a Silver award at Cannes last year for Creative Business Transformation.
Suncorp’s Chief Marketing Officer and Executive General Manager of Brand and Customer Experience, Mim Haysom, expressed her excitement: “We are so thrilled to have our resilience work for Suncorp globally recognised with a Titanium. It’s been a long-term commitment for us, transforming the idea of resilience into actionable initiatives available to all Australians.” She further emphasised the collective effort that brought Haven to life, thanking the exceptional team behind the project.
Andy Fergusson, Chief Creative Officer at Leo Australia, echoed Haysom’s sentiments, sharing that the project spanned two years of dedicated work and preparation. “Everyone involved in Haven worked tirelessly to create something unique, that we believed could change behaviour,” he stated. The synergy among Leo’s creatives, business leads, and production partners was pivotal in overcoming the challenges faced during the project, leading to this well-deserved recognition.
The festival’s jury president, Chaka Sobhani, highlighted the essence of the Titanium Lion, stating, “This is about celebrating ideas that are genuinely game-changing, inspiring us to reimagine what is possible.” The sentiment encapsulates the creative spirit driving the Cannes Lions and showcases the evolving landscape of advertising.
Additionally, Ogilvy was named Network of the Year and Rethink claimed the title of Independent Network of the Year. In a competitive Film category, Revolver and Droga5 London secured Bronze for Amazon Books’ “Bring a Book to Life.” With a total of 11 Lions awarded to Australia—including two Grand Prix and various other accolades—the week has proven to be a triumphant showcase of Australian creativity and innovation.
As the industry reflects on these achievements, it presents an opportunity for all stakeholders to engage in discussions about the future of creativity in advertising. For further details, visit AdNews for comprehensive coverage.
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