Biography

One half · Art Director

Chris Andrawes

Chris began his career as a Civil Engineer, before seeing the error of his ways, throwing away the analytical engineering career for one in creativity.

He studied graphic design & animation along with web design before finding the world of advertising through AWARD School, where he placed.

Since then Chris has worked in the industry for just shy of 10 years as an Art Director. He's worked at agencies that operate in Perth and Sydney, as well as remotely for an agency in London and directly for clients in San Francisco.

Throughout his career he has worked on some big brands including Netflix, Woolworths, Commonwealth Bank, Optus, Hyundai, Kellogg's, Greenpeace, Everyday Rewards, Amnesty International, EA Games, Ben & Jerry's, HBF, WA Tourism and St John Ambulance.

Chris has won awards at Cannes, The One Show, Clio, AWARD, PADC's, Ad Stars and many more throughout his career so far.

The other half · Senior Writer

Claire Kirby

Deep-thinking Strategic Copywriter x Obnoxious Karaoke Rap Battler.

Currently a Senior Writer at M+C Saatchi Australia, where she's worked on some of the biggest campaigns for iconic brands like Lifeblood, Socceroos, Woolworths, Big W, BWS, TAB, Lilydale and CommBank — as well as plenty of their smallest MRECs.

Before M+C, Claire was a Commercial Lawyer working in Mergers and Acquisitions at a couple of big Sydney law firms. Sounds random, but it's where she learnt how to take really complex, boring ideas and make them sound simple and exciting. It's also where she learnt she hated being a lawyer and applied for AWARD School.

Before that brief affair with the left side of her brain, she was studying a double degree in Communications/Law — working at the university radio station and freelancing for the local newspaper.

Before that, she worked in hospitality from the age of 13. The PTSD of someone catching her 'not being useful' remains a cornerstone of her work ethic to this day.

Before that, she was a child in Fairfield, Connecticut. Before that, she doesn't remember.

Career history · Chris

Where he's been

• Senior Art Director
  M+C Saatchi
  July 2022 — now
• Senior Art Director
  Clemenger BBDO Sydney
  Jan 2022 — July 2022
• Senior Art Director
  Marketforce (Clemenger BBDO)
  Feb 2019 — July 2022
• Digital Art Director
  Marketforce (Clemenger BBDO)
  Feb 2017 — Feb 2019
• Art Director
  Longtail (Full service digital agency)
  Aug 2015 — Jan 2017
• Junior Art Director
  Longtail (Full service digital agency)
  Oct 2013 — Aug 2015

Career history · Claire

Where she's been

• Senior Writer
  M+C Saatchi
  Now
• Commercial Lawyer
  Mergers & Acquisitions — Sydney law firms
  Before M+C
• Student & freelancer
  University radio + local newspaper
  Communications / Law double degree
• Hospitality
  Various — from age 13
  The cornerstone of a deeply held work ethic

Education

School of hard learnings

Industry involvement

Giving back

• NSW AWARD School tutor 2023 & 2024
• AWARD School tutor 2025 (Claire)
• Perth Do_Action WordPress Hackathon for NFPs
• Facebook F8 attendee (San Francisco)
• Slack, World Bot Meetup attendee
• Lecturer — Ad School, Experience Design
• Clemenger Mentorship Program
• NASA Space Apps Mentor
• Youngbloods WA Chairman (2016)
• PADC committee member
• Marketforce Diversity and Inclusivity committee
• M+C Femme+C Committee member (2021–2024)
• M+C U Later social committee co-ordinator (2021–2023)