The Interactive Advertising Bureau of New Zealand has revealed the executive judging panel for the 2025 IAB NZ Digital Advertising Awards.
Now in its 9th year, the awards showcase the digital advertising industry’s most innovative organisations and practitioners, recognising excellence across a dynamic and fast-growing sector, which recorded over $ 2.42 billion in revenue in 2024, up 10.8% year-on-year[1].
This year, more than 125 digital advertising experts will serve as judges, with the executive judging panel of eight senior industry leaders chaired by MediaWorks general manager of technology, product and data and IAB New Zealand board director Gareth Codd as convenor.
New categories for 2025
Judges will assess entries across a broad range of categories, from Sales and Ad Operations to Channel Excellence and Campaign Effectiveness, along with the prestigious Grand Awards for Media Publisher of the Year, Media Agency of the Year and Creative Agency of the Year.
New for 2025 is the Best Use of Generative AI category, celebrating campaigns and strategies that harness emerging AI tools to drive creativity, efficiency and measurable impact. This addition underscores the fast-paced evolution of digital advertising and the pivotal role technology plays in shaping its future.
“Each year the IAB NZ Digital Advertising Awards highlight the incredible talent and innovation within our industry,” says Codd. “It’s a privilege to chair such a diverse and experienced executive judging panel, and I look forward to recognising the work that is not only driving business results today but also shaping the future of digital advertising in Aotearoa.”
2025 Executive Judges include:
- Spencer Bailey – Head of New Zealand, Meta
- Iris Benedikt – Chapter lead, head of digital performance marketing, Air New Zealand
- John Buckley – Director of digital revenue & strategy, Stuff
- Gareth Codd – General manager of product, technology & data, MediaWorks (Convener)
- Craig Delany – General manager commercial, MetService
- Katie Macdiarmid – Chief information officer, NZME
- Valerie Walshe – Chief revenue officer, TVNZ
- Vanessa Williams – General manager marketing & media, realestate.co.nz
The 2025 IAB NZ Digital Advertising Awards will be celebrated at Shed 10/Level 1 on Thursday 20 November. Awards Show tickets go on sale 5 September.
2025 IAB NZ Digital Advertising Awards sponsors include Blis, Hype & Dexter, LUMO, Market Media, Meta, MediaWorks Rova, NZME, Perion, Sky NZ, Stuff, The Trade Desk, Trade Me, TVNZ, Vistar Media, Warner Bros. Discovery.
[1] IAB New Zealand FY 2024 Digital Advertising Revenue Report
The post IAB New Zealand announces judges for 2025 annual awards appeared first on stoppress.co.nz.
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