NABS Fast Forward Team Winners Announced Last Night

Employees from drawn from adland’s premier organisations have won the pitching contest at this year’s Fast Forward, the renowned training programme run by industry charity NABS that was set up by industry legend Jeremy Bullmore 25 years ago. 

Team Talk won the pitch, in which they responded to a live brief set by GambleAware. GambleAware is the leading independent charity and strategic commissioner of gambling harm education, prevention, early intervention, and treatment across Great Britain. 

Team Talk’s members were: Margaux Gatty, content and strategy manager, WPP; Chris O’Malley, senior ecommerce manager, Finecast; Lucy Benton, agency manager, DCM; Iman Sid, senior account manager, Finecast; Hollie Lamond, senior account manager, Finecast; Kyle Simpson, account manager, Publicis Groupe UK – Starcom; and Charley Stenning, account director, Havas Creative. 

The team was mentored by Andrew Goldsmith, CEO, Adelicious and Lucinda Dobson, strategy director, MOI. 

Alexia Clifford, chief communications officer, GambleAware, said, “We were so impressed by Team Talk’s insightful, ambitious and innovative response to the brief. It has been so rewarding working with NABS and the next generation of marketing professionals as part of the Fast Forward development programme.  

“It's been wonderful working with such a talented group of professionals, and gaining a fresh perspective on how marketing and advertising can help us to prevent people from experiencing gambling harms in the future.”   

In total, 53 of adland’s rising stars participated in the course. Each participant was hand-picked by their organisation, with all participating organisations fully on board with NABS’ mission to nurture both the minds and the mental wellness of the next generation of adlanders. 

All money raised will go towards NABS’ vital work of advancing the mental wellness of everyone in our industry. 

James Appleby, chair of Fast Forward for the second year running and UK managing director, Assembly Europe, said, “This year’s Fast Forward cohort have been fantastic. There was a huge energy in the room from the minute we got our delegates together, and the ideas that have come out of each team have impressed me and my fellow judges enormously. If this is the future of our industry, we have good reason to feel optimistic.” 

Sue Todd, CEO, NABS, said, “Younger people are most likely to be affected by poor mental health at work. Getting them together for learning and community is a proven way to improve their mental wellness. That’s why NABS continues to make Fast Forward bigger and better each year. The course builds delegates’ skills and confidence as well as helping them to expand their network, and in doing so it gives the next generation of adlanders the boost they need to be as brilliant as they can be.” 

To register your interest in signing up your talent for Fast Forward 2025, click here.