Meet the Online Mentors
Leigh Wood

I am Co-Founder and Design Director at Nani Creative – an Aboriginal owned and led design and marketing agency. That’s my day job, but beyond that I am a connected and committed part of the Australian commercial creative and marketing industry. Through my work with Nani, and my extensive creative network, I am dedicated to making space for the imaginations, skills, and artistry of tomorrow’s diverse talent—a cohort of people who may not have the same access to industry that many take for granted.

I’m no stranger to being the only woman in the room, but I don’t see it as a handicap—it’s my superpower. It’s what’s led me to work across many terrains of the design industry.

In 2020, I co-founded Nani Creative to meet a growing demand within the industry for authentic Aboriginal creative – work that can meet commercial objectives while maintaining the integrity of First Nations stories. Five years on and we are growing our representational goals, creating work that weaves diverse, multicultural lives and perspectives into Australia’s ad and comms landscape. Nani is bridging the gap between brands and how they engage with culture and creativity, in a space that’s rife with virtue signalling and ‘tick box’ brands. But that’s not what Nani is about. We partner with brands who recognise that diverse insight is a meaningful component in shaping powerful stories.

In my secondary role as Co-President of the Perth Advertising and Design Committee (PADC) – and only the second female President in it’s 40+ year history – I enable influence on the representation of diverse voices in the commercial creative industry. I curate panel events, industry awards, and student volunteer teams. My expertise is grounded in two decades working at the intersection of government, training, and the creative industries. I am also a committee member with the Western Australian Marketing Association (WAMA). As WAMA Design Lead, I champion the creative aspect of marketing and communications.