30 from 30. The people who have helped shape the industry and Campaign Brief: John Ilian

For Campaign Brief WA’s 30th anniversary, over the thirty days of June we’re looking back on 30 people who have helped shape the industry and us.

John Ilian has been part of the WA advertising industry for as long as Campaign Brief has existed. The majority of that time has been in his own shop, The Sharper Pencil, but he is most synonymous with FCB Shorter, at which he was Creative Director for almost 7 years from 1986.

He was at the creative helm when that agency produced some of its best work and employed a who’s who of Perth creative talent including Matt Eastwood, Wayne Vinten, Malcolm MacLean, Ric Cairns, Craig Buchanan and Simon McQuoid, to name just a few.

He was President of the PADC when its first awards were presented in 1989, and has been a stalwart of the Club ever since.

When the PADC wobbled last year, Ilian stepped into the breach to ensure the Awards didn’t fall over. His efforts helped make them the success they ultimately were but he was still embarrassed to be acknowledged on the night (as he will be at this tribute).

Ilian has also been a dedicated educator of aspiring creatives. He set up AWARD School in this state and has given his time generously to creative courses at both Curtin and CIT.

For our 10th anniversary special edition, we asked him to write a foreword for us. He did – listing all the the things he hated about Campaign Brief, including this: “I hate it when its editor asks you to do his job and write something.”

Well, we can’t fault his honesty. And he’s never let us down. Whenever we’ve asked, his response has been relevant, interesting and thought-provoking.

All of this is because Ilian cares about the industry – its history, its present and its future. Still practising his craft at The Sharper Pencil, he is a great servant of the WA advertising industry and a great friend of Campaign Brief.