In a significant development for Australia’s media landscape, the Independent Media Agencies Australia (IMAA) has announced eight finalist teams for its esteemed Pitch-Chella program. This year’s selection comes from a record 24 entries, highlighting the increasing engagement among member agencies.
Entering its third year, Pitch-Chella offers a platform for emerging media professionals to hone their pitching skills through both written submissions and live presentations. The program serves as a vital incubator for fresh talent within the sector.
The finalists for 2026 include:
- Advertising Associates (Victoria)
- Bang Digital (Western Australia)
- Hatched (Victoria)
- Reload Media (Queensland and Victoria)
- Slingshot (New South Wales)
- The Noisy Beast (Victoria)
- Thinkerbell (Victoria)
- Yango (New South Wales)
The teams were tasked with developing a national campaign to support the anti-bullying organisation You Can Sit With Me, a peer-led initiative aimed at addressing exclusion and school refusal. The brief sought innovative methods to enhance brand awareness and community engagement.
Judged by a panel that included industry leaders such as Audience360 managing director Jenny Parkes and You Can Sit With Me founder Sophie Sparks, the entries showcased a high level of creativity and strategic insight. “All written pitches were well-researched and well-executed, demonstrating strategic thinking, smart creative, and innovative responses to the brief,” noted Parkes.
The eight finalist teams have impressed the judges with their bold ideas and comprehensive understanding of the organisation’s mission. The anticipation builds as the finalists prepare to deliver their live pitches on July 14, followed by the award announcements on July 30 at Sydney’s Beresford Hotel.
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