09 September 2011

Advantage SA is launching a new campaign designed to highlight the amazing things that happen within industry in South Australia, and some of the young people who are making an impact on the State.

Designed to demonstrate the diversity of industry and career opportunities here in South Australia, the campaign highlights a group of dynamic young South Australians who are working in some of the State’s most competitive and innovative sectors, and who have already achieved amazing things in their career.

Featuring Dr Christopher Wong, South Australia’s 2011 Rhodes Scholar and Research Fellow at the University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital’s Cardiovascular Research Centre; Julian O’Shea, Curriculum and Research Coordinator, Engineers without Borders; Paul Pearce, Lead Systems Engineer at the Australian Submarine Corp; Nick Pill, Visual Effects Art Director, Rising Sun Pictures; Dr Tara Pukala, Research Chemist focused on Alzheimer’s disease, and Tessa Henwood-Mitchell, founder of Tia International Aid; the campaign goes well beyond press advertisements and billboards. It offers a fully interactive experience, allowing people to connect with these young guns and discuss the opportunities available in some of the State’s most vibrant industries.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the stars of the campaign, or the industries in which they work, can speak to them online through their About.me pages.

One of the stars of the campaign, Nick Pill from Rising Sun Pictures, is making a splash on the world stage by providing visual effects for blockbuster films such as Terminator Salvation, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 & 2, and Green Lantern.

Rising Sun Pictures CEO Michael Taylor is excited about Nick Pill’s involvement in the campaign, and looks forward to more South Australians having access to an expert in his industry.

“The Advantage SA campaign is opening a superb window of opportunity for young people in South Australia. Being able to connect with the experts is exciting, encouraging and motivational. Nick’s contribution to the Advantage SA campaign is providing an invaluable opportunity for young people who want to connect with our industry,” Michael said.

Clemenger BBDO Adelaide, the agency behind the new campaign is extremely proud to be putting out the message that young South Australians can achieve their dreams with out leaving the State.

“For too many young South Australians, moving interstate appears to be the only way of realising their dream career. They have a sense that to be successful, they have to move to Sydney or Melbourne. But if more of these bright, ambitious young people knew about some of the amazing things their peer groups are achieving right here in Adelaide and South Australia, more of them would stay,” said Kim Boehm, Managing Director of Clemenger BBDO Adelaide.

“Most will have been touched by the effects of heart disease but few would know that at the tender age of 24, Adelaide Medical Researcher and Rhodes Scholarship winner, Dr Christopher Wong is at the forefront in finding a cure for heart disease and strokes, and he’s based in SA! Or there’s Tessa Henwood-Mitchell, the founder of a not-for-profit organisation improving the lives of Bolivian children living poverty.

“These are real stories of real South Australians who are both inspiring and successful.

“This is an exciting move from Advantage SA, a campaign full of optimism and good news.  And it’s a campaign that can only grow in scope because there are so many fantastic stories to tell.”

Advantage SA CEO Karen Raffen is excited by the new campaign, and looks forward to the positive effects it will have on South Australians.

“This campaign was created to communicate the diversity of industry here in South Australia, as well as the key advantages of living and working in the State, increase awareness of the opportunities available, and to support, promote and influence the future prosperity of the State,” Karen said.

“This initial phase of the campaign is just the tip of the iceberg. There is such a wide variety of industry within South Australia, and plenty of people working within those industries who are doing amazing things.

“I don’t want to stop until we’ve created avenues for the general public to make connections with every possible industry in South Australia, and the inspirational leaders within those industries.

The Amazing Things Happen in South Australia campaign officially launches on Monday 12 September 2011.