Get to know the C-suite members, founders, presidents and department leaders who’ll nominate the next generation of creative talent at the Festival this June. We’re delighted to announce the LIONS Scholarship Jury for Cannes Lions 2026 – creative and marketing leaders from around the globe, committed to helping a diverse group of young talent from underrepresented backgrounds into the creative marketing industries.
The LIONS Scholarship gives young creatives and marketers the opportunity of a lifetime. Offering 10 winners from 10 different countries a place in either the Creative Academy or Brand Marketers Academy at Cannes Lions 2026 – where they’ll join a cohort of learners aged 30 and under, for an unmatched learning and networking experience at the heart of the global creative community.
The Scholarship aims to level the playing field for creative excellence the world over, so successful applicants’ passes, travel and accommodation are fully funded by LIONS.
Applications are open now, and close on 5 December. Find out more about the LIONS Scholarship, and start your application, here.
To ensure fairness in the judging process, we’ve selected a global Jury of experts – representing all markets, and every creative discipline. Meet them here:
Andrea Quaye, Marketing Director, Heineken, South Africa
Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh, CEO/Founder BrainWave AfricaTech, Ghana
Brigid Alkema, Chief Creative Officer, Clemenger BBDO, New Zealand
Chandu Rajapreyar, Group Executive Creative Director, Hakuhodo, Vietnam
Colin Selikow, Chief Creative Officer, DDB Chicago, United States
Emir Shafri, Chief Creative Officer, Publicis Groupe, Malaysia
Eugene Park, Integrated Marketing Experience (IMX), CJ CheilJedang, South Korea
Felipe Simi, CEO & Creative Chairperson, Droga5 Sao Paulo, Brazil
Françoise Nottrelet, Global Head of Content Partnerships and Licensing, StarNews Mobile and Head of Business and Content, House of Podcasts, Starnews Mobile and House of Podcasts, France
Gabriel Barrio, Commercial Manager, UNACEM Peru, Peru
Gabriel Suárez Ortega, Latin America Marketing Director, Edgewell Personal Care, Colombia
Gaurav Virkar, Global AI and Media Leader, P&G (Beauty Care), Singapore
Genevieve Hoey, Global Creative Director – Masterbrand, Our LEGO Agency (OLA), The LEGO Group, Denmark
George Bryant, Global Chief Creative Officer, Golin, United Kingdom
Helena Bertho, Global Director of D&I, Nubank, Brazil
Jacquie Mullany, Executive Creative Director, FCB Africa, South Africa
Jayesh Nair, EMEA Creative and Integrated Media Lead, Bayer Consumer Health, Switzerland
Jess Greenwood, Strategy, Marcom, Apple, United States
Josafat Padilla, Regional Chief Creative Officer, Havas Costa Rica, Costa Rica
Kenya Hunt, Editor-in-Chief, ELLE UK, United Kingdom
Khaled AlShehhi, Executive Director of Marketing and Communication, UAE Government Media Office, UAE
Kimberly Evans Paige, Executive VP and Chief Brand Officer, BET Media Group, United States
Klaartje Galle, Chief Creative Officer, VML Belgium
Leila Katrib, Global Executive Creative Director, Incubeta, UAE
Mariko Fukuoka, Creative Director, Dentsu Inc., Japan
Mary Njoku, Founder, Managing Director/CEO, ROK studios(A Canal Plus Subsidiary), Nigeria
Maurice Wangalachi, Creative Director, Ogilvy Africa, Kenya
Michael Duffy, Brand and Innovation Head, AMEA Region, Opella Consumer Healthcare, Australia
Mohammed Jifri, CMO, Hunger Station, UAE
Nada Abisaleh, Head of Leo Beirut, Leo Beirut, Lebanon
Robert Thompson, Head of Marketing and Communication, Sanlam Investments, South Africa
Rodney Williams, Managing Director, Trestle Glen Group, Canada
Sadira E. Furlow, Global Chief Brand and Comms Officer, Tony’s Chocolonely, Netherlands
Sidick Bakayoko, Founder and CEO, Paradise Game, Ivory Coast
Xavier Blais, Partner, Executive Creative Director, Rethink, Canada
Yaa Boateng, Chief Creative Officer and Managing Director, The Storytellers, Ghana