Tara McKenty joins AKQA Australia as Executive Creative Director

Tara McKenty joins AKQA Australia as Executive Creative Director, further strengthening the agency’s leadership team as it continues its integration with whiteGREY. Tara brings over 16 years of creative industry experience across the APAC region, including a decade leading Google’s creative team across APAC. Her work has been celebrated globally, earning awards at all major festivals, including a coveted Gold for Creative Innovation at Cannes Lions.

A thought leader in the local and international creative community, Tara has served on high-profile juries such as the Cannes Lions Innovation Jury. She is also the founder of D&AD RARE, a global initiative supporting underrepresented groups thriving within the creative industries.

In her role, Tara will collaborate closely with AKQA Australia’s senior leadership team, including Tim Devine, Executive Creative Director, Iona Macgregor, Chief Strategy Officer, and Justine Leong, General Manager Sydney, to continue driving excellence and growth within the region.

Justine Leong, General Manager of AKQA Sydney, said: “Tara is an exceptional talent whose creative excellence and leadership have left an indelible mark on the industry. Her commitment to innovation and inclusion aligns perfectly with AKQA’s mission to create a better future. We’re delighted to have Tara join us and are excited about the impact she will bring to our clients and team.”

On her appointment, Tara said: “AKQA is renowned for creating work that blends creativity, technology, and humanity in meaningful ways. I’m looking forward to working with a strong team of leaders and partnering with our clients to build innovative and impactful experiences that truly make a difference.”

About AKQA: AKQA is a design and innovation company that employs over 5,500 professionals across 30 countries. Named Digital Agency Global Network of the Year in Campaign’s 2023 Global Agency of the Year Awards, AKQA was awarded the Cannes Lions Grand Prix for Digital Craft in 2023 and won 22 Cannes Lions, including Grand Prix for Design and Glass in 2024. In 2023 and 2024, AKQA was recognised with seven Fast Company Innovation by Design Award. AKQA also won Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas in 2024.