2011 Judges

Steve Granland
CEO, Recruitment and Consulting Services Association (RCSA)

Steve has close to 20 years executive management experience working with professional/industry associations in the finance, insurance, human resources and recruitment sectors. Steve’s responsibility across professional associations has primarily been membership management, corporate business development/sales, marketing and the development of continuous professional development systems.

Prior to entering the world of professional association management Steve worked with a major bank for 10 years across a number of departments including Marketing, International and Human Resources. Steve has a Banking and Finance degree and a post graduate qualification in International Marketing. In June, 2010 Steve joined the Recruitment & Consulting Services Association as CEO.

Michael Specht
Founder, Inspecht

Michael Specht, founder of Inspecht, HR technology consultancy, has been involved in the technology industry for over 20 years specialising in the impact that technology has on management practices and organisation. He currently leads a HR technology consultancy business looking at how social media can be used by organisations to not just enhance their business but actually attract the best people to work for them and also deliver on shareholder value.

Previously, Michael has worked in a multitude of roles ranging from software development to project management both in Australia and overseas. He is a regular speaker on HR technology for the Australian Human Resource Institute (AHRI) and has been convener in their HR Technology Special Interest Group. His blog which discusses HR and recruitment is regularly recognised as one of the top blogs in the world covering HR and Recruitment.

Nicholas Ricciuti
Founder & Managing Director, Reinvent Your Career

Nic has been operating in high level business positions in events, media, publishing, telecommunications and retail circles for over 25 years. For the past 9 years, he has worked in the ‘Employer Branding’ space and is one of Australia’s Employer Branding Pioneers.

In 2006, Nic identified a totally neglected adult market, and in 2007 he initiated the ‘Reinvent Your Career’ concept. He now focuses on assisting employers by creating employer branding communication platforms targeting the primary 25 to 54 year old demographic.

To date, the success of Reinvent Your Career has seen it recently named as Australia’s 22nd ‘Fastest Growing Start-Up’ at the Smart Start-Up Awards on March 30th 2011.

Belinda Lodge
Executive Search Agent, iPopulate

Belinda Lodge is the principal of iPopulate, a specialist recruitment agency focused on the advertising and marketing sectors in Australia and the Asia Pacific area. After a highly successful career with Aquent and Morgan Consulting, during the GFC she founded her own business, and is one of Melbourne’s most formidable search and selection agents. She now represents some of the hottest talent and employers in advertising, communications and marketing, and has the ear of the biggest agencies in Australia.

Bob Talbot
CEO, Samuelson, Talbot & Partners

Bob Talbot is the CEO of one of Australia’s longest established independent marketing communications firms. In this position he has launched and relaunched many of Australia’s most famous brands.

Currently, his firm ST&P is working with the Fairfax brand ‘MyCareer’ to differentiate it in the market as the preferred destination for professionals.

He has done a significant amount of work in the employment sector.

Anita Ryley
Creative Director, Seesaw Designs

Anita Ryley has been a practising designer for 10 years. In 2005, Anita co-founded Seesaw Design with her business partner, Matthew McKenzie. From the studio's humble beginnings as a graphic design provider, Seesaw Design has grown into a full service creative agency. Over the past six years, Anita has been the creative intelligence behind the branding of local, national and international organisations across multiple industries, including the arts, hospitality, architecture, entertainment, fashion, film and television, finance, not for profit and recruitment.

Seesaw's design solutions have featured across several local and international industry publications for their unique design elements and execution. Inspired by a love of vintage graphic design, typography, illustration and fashion, Anita continues to push the boundaries of creativity by designing beautiful things for passionate people.

David Klein
Creative Director, BMF

David Klein is the Melbourne Creative Director of leading Australian advertising agency BMF and is the current President of MADC.

David has over 15 years experience in agencies in both Melbourne and London. After completing an honours degree in graphic design from Swinburne University, he started his career at WCJ as a Junior Art director before moving to Grey Melbourne. He then spent three years in London at DLKW and Grey London. He returned to Australia to work at Publicis Mojo and Leo Burnett.

During that time he has worked on some of Australia’s biggest brands, Tourism Victoria, Transport Accident Commission Nike, Nestle, National Foods, Schweppes, Toyota AFL, SEEK and Cricket Australia. He has judged AWARD and Melbourne Art Director Club (MADC). His work has been recognized at all the major award show in Australia and abroad. Campaign Brief voted his work on Nestle Drumstick in the top 10 ads of last decade.