Niccola is a Brand Strategist, Designer and Creative Ideator passionate about crafting culturally resonant work that drives change. With a background in art direction and fine arts, she combines artistic vision with strategic expertise.
Niccola has worked with Australia’s biggest brands, including Commonwealth Bank and Woolworths Group, and collaborated on global campaigns for Mastercard, AMEX, Toyota, Audi, and Volkswagen. Her work has been recognised across advertising, design, photography, and sculpture, and she has judged at Cannes Lions and other international award shows.
Committed to diversity in advertising, she founded Power of Ten, a mentoring program for female creatives, and was a panellist at Vivid Sydney’s Make Nice. She also played a key role in The Advertising Council’s AWARD School, serving as National Head and Chair.
After over 12 years at M&C Saatchi Sydney as Head of Art and Creative Director, Niccola brought her expertise and creative leadership to Fuller Brand Communications, leading teams across Sydney and Adelaide. Fuller’s clients include South Australian Tourism, The Electoral Commission of South Australia, Adelaide University, Safework SA, Wine Australia, Hort Innovation and the SA Department of Premier and Cabinet.
With a track record of shaping brands, mentoring talent, and championing innovation, Niccola continues to inspire clients with her thoughtful and impactful creative approach through a consultation and project-based model.
Some things you might not know about Niccola:
Niccola Phillips once crocheted a giant squid which vanished from an exhibition then showed up on an adult film set. She has written several manuscripts and won a few art prizes. Niccola is proud to say that she’s made it through a bout with breast cancer, and prouder still to be the mother of two very determined young children - Edie and Jude.
Industry + Education
2023—D&AD Creative Leadership Masterclass
2022—Adstars—Film juror
2018—AdNews Agency of the Year—Juror
2018—AWARD Awards—Film Craft juror
2017—Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity—Design Juror
2017—AWARD Creative Leadership Course
2017—Adobe Make It Conference—Panelist
2017—B&T—Opinion piece
2016 - 2017—National AWARD School—Chair
2016—Make Nice, part of Vivid Ideas Festival—Panelist
2016 - 2017—AWARD Awards—Print Craft Juror
2015 - 2017—AWARD School—Lecturer
2014 - 2017—AWARD Committee— Board Member
2014—AC&E Awards—Juror
2004—AWARD School—Finished in the top 30
2000 - 2003—Bachelor of Design (Visual Communications) UTS Sydney (Hons 1) Sub-major in photography
Experience
2025—Creative Director, Fuller
2024—Creative Director, freelance
2022 - 2024—Creative Director, M&C Saatchi
Accounts: Woolworths Group, Social
2018 - 2022—Creative Group Head, M&C Saatchi
Accounts: Woolworths Group
2012 - 2018—Head of Art, M&C Saatchi
Accounts: Woolworths, CommBank, CommSec, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Google, IAG, Lexus, NewsCorp, Optus, Vinnies and Accor.
2011 - 2012—Senior Art Director, MercerBell
Accounts: Mastercard, Toyota, Institute of Company Directors, Institute of Chartered Accountants, Allianz Insurance, Sydney Morning Herald, RSVP, BT and Asgard Financial Services.
2010 - 2011—Senior Art Director, freelance
Agencies: RAPP Sydney, DDB Sydney, Ogilvy Sydney, Republic of Everyone, Tibet, Lavender*Accounts: AMEX, Qantas, WSPA, News Limited, AUSTAR and Westpac.
2008 - 2010—Art Director, DDB + RAPP Sydney
Accounts: Australian Red Cross, ARC Blood Service, Cancer Council, Austar, Foxtel, Audi, HSBC, Woolworths, YHA, FedEx, BT and VW.
2007 - 2008—Art Director, Rhodes Wingrove
Accounts: National Portrait Gallery, Institute of Chartered Accountants, CommInsure, Sydney Opera House, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney IVF, and AdNews / PKN.
2004 - 2007—Art Director, LOUD
Accounts: ING, Macquarie Bank, IMAX, Bayer, Australia Day Council, Sydney Aquarium and Bridgeclimb.
Awards + Commendations
Advertising + Communications
Webbys, Caples, AGDA, Effies, AdNews, Mumbrella, AC&E, Echoes, ADMA, Directory Magazine, Shots Magazine
(Full list available upon request)
Art prizes and exhibitions
Brunswick Street Gallery Small Works Prize First prize (2011)
Design Federation GAFFA Gallery
Corbis Creatives Behind the Lens
"Niccola is incredible. No, really, she is incredible. Highly intelligent with a very bright personality, her enthusiasm once applied to a task knows no bounds. Niccola always furnishes brilliant ideas and is thorough in the extreme. I am honoured to be working with her as part of the AWARD Committee, and very grateful for the time she gives us out of her very busy schedule. In addition to her work on the Committee, Niccola is the current co-Head of AWARD School Nationally and has overseen the ongoing development of the curriculum and post AWARD School support program for the students. This is no small task. Niccola also developed, co-ordinated and superbly executed the inaugural AWARD Pop Up School during the three day AWARD Showcase at Semi-Permanent in Sydney in 2016. Not surprisingly, akin to everything Niccola puts her heart and mind to, it was a resounding success. I am lucky to count Niccola as a friend and honoured to have been able to work alongside her."
Wilf Sweetland - AWARD Chair 2017