As Chairman and CEO of BBDO Asia in Singapore, Jean-Paul Burge knows a thing or two about creativity – under his leadership, BBDO is the most awarded network for creativity and for effectiveness in the region.

 
What's your session all about today at ADFEST? 
 
I’ll be talking about the importance of protecting ideas, how you identify them, grow them and ensure they are not compromised. And why if we don’t, we are all in a race to the bottom. We must always strive to deliver exciting and effective creative work; after all, in the absence of great, nothing else matters.

 
Do you think it’s harder to be a young creative in advertising today than it used to be with all the noise going on around us?
 
I think this is great time to work as a creative. We have more data, more touch points and more flexibility and technology to apply to the work. Advertising has always been a great career for the right person, it requires hard work, much dedication, love for the craft and a passionate curiosity for new ideas.

 
You also spoke at ADFEST last year. What's your favourite ADFEST memory?
 
The same as every year; catching up with old friends, making new ones, winning a few awards, seeing work we are proud of, and seeing work we wish we would have made.

 
‘In the Absence of Great Work, Nothing Else Matters’ takes place at 4pm today.