The Decoding Indies session at Converge 2026 gave AIMA member agencies the chance to show our media partners who they are and what makes them tick, with partners voting on each presentation. When the scores were tallied, one agency came out on top: YoungShand.
Their prize is $10,000 of media value, generously donated by AIMA partner Stuff.
So what drove the team to go above and beyond? "Who doesn't love a bit of friendly competition among agency mates?" says YoungShand's Sophie Radford. But the real motivation was the prize itself. "We're incredibly fortunate to partner with stellar charities that are deeply passionate about their purpose; and so are we. Any chance we get to bolster their cause, we're all in."
Rather than a standard presentation, the team built an interactive YoungShand world for partners to explore, and it landed. "The creative presentation stood out due to its interactive nature," says Stuff's Laressa Marinovich. "It provided a personalised touch that helped us learn more about everyone in their office and what each person or department does. You could see the time and effort, and heart, that was put into this."
The prize will be split between two clients with campaigns in market. Burnett Foundation Aotearoa, at the forefront of the community response to HIV in Aotearoa for nearly 40 years, receives $5,000. The other $5,000 goes to Blind Low Vision NZ's doggy doonations campaign, raising much-needed funds for guide dog training.
A huge thank you to Laressa and the team at Stuff, whose generosity turned a friendly contest into support for two causes doing vital work.
Congratulations, YoungShand. Have a play in the world they built: YoungShand World
