About — athina afton lalljee

Hi, Athina here. I’m a Group Creative Director at McCann Canada, where I help lead a multidisciplinary team across some of our biggest national and global clients, including Mastercard, Kids Help Phone, Western Canada Lottery Corporation, Peroni and Lactalis. I believe the best creative work solves a real business problem in a way people can’t ignore. And after 15+ years working across Canada and the U.A.E., I’ve been lucky enough to make work that drives business and social impact while earning some shiny things along the way.
My goal is simple: make the work better.

A W A R D S & R E C O G N I T I O N

2026
Cannes Lions | Gold x2, Silver x1, Media – Defining Help (Kids Help Phone)
Communication Arts | Public Service (Series) – Defining Help (Kids Help Phone)
Communication Arts | Public Services (TV) – Help! (Kids Help Phone)
Communication Arts | Digital Advertising – Feelings To Text (Kids Help Phone)
Marketing Awards | Silver x4, PSA and Craft – Help! (Kids Help Phone)
Marketing Awards | Bronze x3, PSA and Craft – Defining Help (Kids Help Phone)
Marketing Awards | Bronze, Digital – Score Cards (Mastercard)
Marketing Awards | Merit, Press Advertising– Packed with Nuts (KIND Snacks)
Clios | Bronze, Film Craft – Help! (Kids Help Phone)
One Show | Merit x2, Music & Sound Craft – Help! (Kids Help Phone)
Brand Film Awards | Winner, Charity – Help! (Kids Help Phone)
Brand Film Awards | Highly Commended, Most Emotional Impact – Help! (Kids Help Phone)

2025
Cannes Lions | Shortlist, Print & Publishing – Packed with Nuts (KIND Snacks)
Clios Music | Bronze x2 – Champions film - 686868 Circuit (Kids Help Phone)
ADCC | Gold, Promo – Score Cards (Mastercard)
ADCC | Silver, Direct – Score Cards (Mastercard)
ADCC | Gold x2 & Silver, Film – Champions film - 686868 Circuit (Kids Help Phone)
ADCC | Shortlist, Creative Effectiveness – Store-y Tales (Mastercard)
Communication Arts | Poster Series – Packed with Nuts (KIND Snacks)
Communication Arts | Integrated Campaigns – Score Cards (Mastercard)
Communication Arts | Public Service TV – Champions film - 686868 Circuit (Kids Help Phone)
Communication Arts | Public Service – Heal-ink (Kids Help Phone)
Marketing Awards | Gold, Health & Wellness Education – 686868 Circuit (Kids Help Phone)
Marketing Awards | Bronze, Integrated Campaign – 686868 Circuit (Kids Help Phone)
Marketing Awards | Merit, Influencer/Talent Marketing – 686868 Circuit (Kids Help Phone)
Marketing Awards | Silver, Sound Design – Champions film - 686868 Circuit (Kids Help Phone)
Marketing Awards | Merit, Production Design – Store-y Tales (Mastercard)
Gerety | Bronze, Print Humour – Packed with Nuts (KIND Snacks)
Gerety | Shortlist, Music Craft – Champions film - 686868 Circuit (Kids Help Phone)
CMA Awards | Gold, Social Causes, Business/Brand Impact – 686868 Circuit (Kids Help Phone)
CMA Awards | Gold, Health Care, Engagement – Heal-ink (Kids Help Phone)
Strategy Awards | Bronze, Connection Strategy – 686868 Circuit (Kids Help Phone)
Anvil Awards | Gold, Integrated Campaign – Store-y Tales (Mastercard)
Anvil Awards | Gold, Branded Environment – Store-y Tales (Mastercard)
Anvil Awards | Silver, Non-traditional – Store-y Tales (Mastercard)

2024
Applied Arts | Film Craft x2 – Champions - 686868 Circuit (Kids Help Phone)
EFFIES | Grand, Gold, Silver & Global Top 50 Contender – Feel Out Loud (Kids Help Phone)
Marketing Awards | Silver, Public Service – Caring Gift Cards (Kids Help Phone)
Marketing Awards | Bronze, Public Service – “Fine” (Kids Help Phone)
Marketing Awards | Bronze, Public Service – Feel Out Loud Brand Platform (Kids Help Phone)
AToMiC | Silver, Design – Help In All Sizes (Kids Help Phone)
CMA Awards | Bronze, Social Causes, Shopper – Caring Gift Cards (Kids Help Phone)
ADCC | Bronze – BurnWatch (Melanoma Canada)

2023
Clios | Bronze x2, Film Craft – Feel Out Loud (Kids Help Phone)
Clios | Shortlist, Design – Help In All Sizes (Kids Help Phone)
One Show | Merit, Film Craft – Feel Out Loud (Kids Help Phone)
One Show | Shortlist, Design – Help In All Sizes Rebrand (Kids Help Phone)
Marketing Awards | Silver, Public Service – Feel Out Loud Film (Kids Help Phone)
Marketing Awards | Bronze, Craft - Music – Feel Out Loud Film (Kids Help Phone)
ADCC | Bronze x3, Film – “Fine” (Kids Help Phone)
Gerety | Silver, Film – Feel Out Loud (Kids Help Phone)

2022
Cannes Lions | Shortlist, Health & Wellness – Grown-up Problems (Kids Help Phone)
New York Festivals | Silver, Health & Wellness – Grown-up Problems (Kids Help Phone)
One Show | Shortlist, Film – Grown-up Problems (Kids Help Phone)
ADCC | Silver, Film – Grown-up Problems (Kids Help Phone)
Clios | Bronze, Film – Grown-up Problems (Kids Help Phone)
Applied Arts | PSA x2 - Grown-up Problems (Kids Help Phone)
Effie | Bronze – Grown-up Problems (Kids Help Phone)
CMA | Bronze, Healthcare – Grown-up Problems (Kids Help Phone)
Marketing Awards | Merit, Public Service – Grown-up Problems (Kids Help Phone)

2019
D&AD | Shortlist – Never Gets Old (LEGO)
One Show | Merit – Never Gets Old (LEGO)

2018
Cannes Lions | Silver, Print & Publishing – Never Gets Old (LEGO)
Lürzer's Archive Feature | Never Gets Old (LEGO)
Communication Arts Feature | Never Gets Old (LEGO)
Dubai Lynx | Bronze, Print – Never Gets Old (LEGO)
Dubai Lynx | Shortlist, Healthcare – Exposing Big Sugar (Ministry of Health & Prevention)
Campaign Magazine ME | Top 10 Digital Campaigns 2018 – Panadol Virtual Pain Killers

2017
Dubai Lynx | Grand Prix, Design – Veils of Pride (Tathqeef)
Cannes Lions | Bronze, Print & Publishing – Veils of Pride (Tathqeef)
Campaign Middle East | Faces to Watch – Under 30

2016
Dubai Lynx | Silver, PR – Taking Home Happiness (Coca-Cola)

2015
Dubai Lynx | Grand Prix, Branded Content – Hello Happiness Phone Booth (Coca-Cola)
Dubai Lynx | Grand Prix, PR – Hello Happiness Phone Booth (Coca-Cola)
New York Festival | Design & Branded Entertainment – Hello Happiness Phone Booth (Coca-Cola)
MENA EFFIE | Bronze, Shopper – Wish Upon a Coke (Coca-Cola)
Cannes Lions | Shortlist, Media – Taking Home Happiness (Coca-Cola)

2014
Cannes Lions | Bronze, Outdoor – Hello Happiness Phone Booth (Coca-Cola)
Cannes Lions | Shortlist, Design – Hello Happiness Phone Booth (Coca-Cola)

2013
Dubai Lynx | Shortlist, Design – The Adventure Card (Land Rover)

J U R I E S

SAE - Dubai, UAE
Certificate - Film Making | 2019

Humber College - Ontario, Canada
BAA - Creative Advertising | 2008 - 2012

Cambridge International School - Dubai, UAE
IGCSE & A Level - Literature, Art & Media Studies

Group Creative Director, McCann Toronto

Get in touch:
athinaafton@gmail.com
LinkedIn