REFERENCES:

“I’ve seen Creative Directors literally fight to have Swinny on their briefs. I know this because I was one of them. Michael’s one of the best young writers I’ve ever worked with. He was known for showing up with the idea you asked for, and then the idea you didn’t know you really wanted. Then there’s his contagious optimism, his deadly sense of humour and his psychotic work ethic. I’ve got to go back to work. I think this the longest reference I’ve ever written, and I’m happy that it’s for him.”
– Max McKeon, Group Creative Director at Special Group Australia.


“Michael is a rare creative. He's a throwback to 'proper' writers. Not afraid to put pen to paper and write great copy/scripts/anything that celebrates words basically. I worked with him as a young and ambitious creative at Saatchi & Saatchi. Even then, he stood out for being mature beyond his years. Relentlessly trying to turn every brief into an opportunity, he reminds me of his current boss at Colenso when he too worked for me as an upstart young writer blessed with similar gifts and the same insatiable hunger to succeed. Michael was always calm under pressure and as I recall, highly allergic to safe ideas. It’s this special combination of craft, composure and creative courage that makes me think he’ll go far. So my advice is simple: hire this man. He's not only unusually gifted as a writer, he's charmingly down to earth and ego free. He'd be a wonderful addition to any creative department. So long as the agency is as ambitious as he is, that is".
– Toby Talbot, Chief Creative Officer at Ogilvy Australia & New Zealand.

“There is no industry better at talking shit behind peoples’ backs than advertising. From Auckland to Ankara, awards shows to anonymous comments sections, there has never been a group more witty, bitter, or vindictive than ad people. But in 4 years of working with Michael, not once have I ever heard a single word against him. That’s because, despite dressing like a camp counsellor on a blind date, Michael is brilliant. He is everything a great employee should be - inventive, funny, friendly, collaborative, driven, flexible with feedback, calm under pressure, and fun to be around. Everything he touches becomes better; because he sweats the right stuff and doesn’t let the wrong stuff get to him. He understands what clients need and brings the whole team along with him throughout the journey. But that’s just what I’d say behind his back. To his face, I’d be a lot nicer.”
– Tom Darlow, Creative Director at Deloitte Creative New Zealand.

“Don't let Michael's straight polite clean-cut camouflage fool you. Underneath lies a combination of talent, humility, sensitivity, smarts, with just enough random stupidity (including a tattoo) to be an asset for any creative team. I'd hire him. Again.”
– Steve Cochran, Chief Creative Officer at Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand.

”I’ve known Michael for 5 years, so it makes sense to share the top 5 things I love about working with him. 1. He has an optimistic outlook and infectious positive energy. That’s two things but together they make him unstoppable. He approaches every creative challenge with enough optimism to believe anything is possible and enough energy to never give up trying to make impossible things happen. 2. He listens carefully to clients and everyone else around him. Because he listens before he talks, he learns, understands and absorbs more information than anyone else. 3. He’s a very talented writer. 4. He’s excited by creativity and genuinely loves the creative process. Michael is my favourite person to go to with a creative challenge because we inevitably get overly excited and start firing ideas back and forth before landing on something that has us both beaming with excitement. 5. He’s contentious and hardworking. He knows that the harder you work, the luckier you get.” 
– Maria Devereux, Global CIO and ECD at Accenture Song, North America.

AWARDS:

NZ GOVT - THE PUBLIC SERVICE BANGER

Cannes:
Bronze lion – Health Awareness & Advocacy: Brand led education & awareness – PR. 

Axis Awards:
Grand Prix – Brand Experience & Activation. 
Gold – Brand Experience & Activation.
Gold – Creative Use of Media. 
Silver – Large Scale Content.
Silver – Music Content. 
Silver – Public Relations.  

Caples:
Silver – Response to COVID
Silver – Not For Profit
Silver– Public Relations
Shortlist – OOH/Ambient

Best Awards: 
Gold – Moving image. Long form. 
Bronze – Spatial design. Exhibition & Temporary structures. 

WARC Global Effectiveness Awards:
Bronze – Collaboration & Culture

The WEBBY Awards:
Nominee – Public Service & Activism, Advertising, media and PR. 

SKINNY - FRIEND-VERTISING

Cannes:
Bronze lion – Innovation in film. 

GLOBAL Effies: 
Grand Effie – Global.

Asia Pacific Effies: 
Gold – Influencer
Gold – IT / Telco 
Silver – Asia Pacific Brands 

New Zealand Effies: 

Gold – Best strategic thinking 
Silver – Consumer Services 
Silver – Most Effective Use of Integration 
Silver – Most Progressive Campaign

WARC Global Creative Effectiveness Awards: 
Shortlist – Collaboration & Culture

Caples:
Silver – Integrated
Shortlist – Digital B2C

Oneshow:
Shortlist – Innovation in Direct Marketing
Shortlist – Targeted Online Video

Clio:
Bronze – Direct film. 

Spikes Asia:
Silver – Integrated Media. 
Bronze – Brand Experience & Activation. 

AXIS awards:

Gold – Direct Campaign. 
Gold – TV or cinema 30’ or below. 
Silver – Direct Digital. 
Silver – Direct Broadcast. 
Silver – Social Media Campaigns. 
Silver – Influencer. 
Silver – Social video. 
Silver – Creative Use of Media (integrated).
Bronze – Digital Use of Video.
Bronze – Out of Home Campaign. 
Bronze – Integrated campaign led by brand experience & activation.

PEDIGREE - TAKE A BABY STEP INTO PARENTING

Caples:
Silver – Integrated 
Bronze – Branded Content
Bronze – Digital B2C

Spikes Asia:
Bronze – Film (Park).
Bronze – Film (Cafe).
Bronze – Film (Club).

Axis awards:
Silver – TV or Cinema 30’ or below. (Park). 
Bronze – TV or Cinema 30’ or below. (Cafe). 
Bronze – TV or Cinema 30’ or below. (Club). 
Bronze – Pre-rolls (Campaign).

DB EXPORT - THE PAPERLESS NEWSPAPER AD

D&AD:
Finalist - Radio & Audio.

ADSTARS
Silver - Radio & Audio

SPIKES ASIA:
Bronze - Radio & Audio

TIGER - TIGER SNACKS

AXIS Awards:
Silver - Brand Experience & Activation
Bronze - Ambient Outdoor
Bronze - Integrated Campaign Lead by Brand Experience
Bronze - Product Design - Non Tech

PEDIGREE - TEENAGERS. THE ONLY OPTION IS ADOPTION.

D&AD:
Shortlist – Radio & Audio – Commercials Over 30 Seconds – Buzz Kill.

SPIKES Asia:
Silver – Radio & Audio – Sectors > Consumer Goods - Stunt Double.

AXIS Awards:
Silver – Radio - Above 30’’ – Rollercoaster.
Silver – Radio - Above 30’’ – Buzz Kill.
Silver – Copywriting - Radio – Rollercoaster.
Silver – Copywriting - Radio – Buzz Kill.
Bronze – Copywriting - Radio – Stunt Double.

MyHOOMAN. GIVE UP ON HUMANS.

CLIOS:
Bronze – Radio - campaign.

AXIS Awards:
Bronze – Radio - 30’’ or below – Feet.
Bronze – Radio - 30’’ or below – E-scooter.

FFI - WORMAGEDDON.

AXIS Awards:
Silver – Influencer.
Silver – Digital & Interactive campaign.
Bronze – Brand Experience & Activation - Integrated Campaign.
Bronze – Digital Art Direction & Typography.
Bronze – Branded Content Campaign.
Bronze – Creative Use Of Media.

BNZ - DANCER.

AXIS Awards:
Grand Prix - Direction.
Silver - Editing.
Silver - Cinematography.
Silver - Original Arrangement.