Archive for September 2021
Meet the 2021 Creative Judges (Barbering) – The Industry Awards 2021
The Industry Awards team are excited to introduce you to the judges of our creative barbering categories, a new barber-focused section of our creative awards!
We’re so honoured to have these accomplished and knowledgeable barbers on board with us this year. They have years of experience in many areas of barbering, including business ownership, mentorship and education. Keep reading to find out more!
Rex Silver
Rex A.C. Silver is a 36-year hair industry veteran, and since crossing over to men’s hairdressing and barbering seven years ago has amassed seven Australian Hair Industry Awards (AHIA) finalist nominations in barbering categories including two for Best Barber Australia.
His barber businesses are winners of nine Westpac/News Corp Best in Business awards, and he is on the judging panel at this year’s inaugural Australian Modern Barber Awards.
Rex has been editor of BarberShop magazine since December 2019. Published quarterly, BarberShop magazine goes out in print to over 4,000 barber shops, men’s hairdressers and unisex salons. Each issue, BarberShop features in-depth interviews, industry news and business trends, the latest gear and products, and everything in-between to give a well-balanced overview of all things that make up today’s modern barbering world.
Lance Liufau
Lance is a 36-year old New Zealander born of Samoan Chinese ethnicity, a father, husband, art lover and barber.
He grew up in West Auckland for the first 19 years of his life and has spent the last 17 years living in Brisbane, where Lance’s barbering career began in 2005.
Lance started cutting in a barbershop in the heart of the Logan Area and has worked in and around the greater parts of Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
About seven years ago Lance became interested in sharing his knowledge and skill set with others to assist those wishing to gain more from their profession and learn techniques to use in their day-to-day work. He organised his first workshop in 2013 and since then Lance has shared his knowledge with many barbers at various events and education sessions.
Fast forward to today, Lance has performed stage work at HairBiz Forum, Hair Expo and the Brisbane Hair & Beauty Expo every year since 2014. He’s worked with, and performed workshops for, various companies such as Wahl Australia, De Lorenzo, Paul Mitchell as well as a range of wholesale distributors.
Lance is currently one of three owners of The Loft Barbershop (Australia), the former Editor of Barbershop Magazine and is also a former Wahl Education & Artistic Team Member and an iCandy Scissors Ambassador.
One accomplishment that Lance is proud of is having organised a 24-hour cutting event for Men’s Mental Health in November 2018. It was open to all barbers who wanted to help, and Lance is proud to say that the barbering industry came together for a great cause and raised both funds and awareness.
Jesse Lima
From an early age, Jesse has always had a passion for art and helping others. He started cutting hair at the age of 14 specializing in hair designs.
Now at 23 Jesse is known worldwide for his amazing hair art, education, mentorship, and industry-leading scalp micropigmentation. He also owns two barbershops in the Tampa, Florida area and a scalp micropigmentation clinic.
There are three things that Jesse believes make a great competition photo:
1️. Lighting
2️. Keeping it simple, clean and crisp
3️. Trying action shots instead of a perfectly positioned model
Make sure to follow us on Instagram Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with the latest news from The Industry Awards.
Meet the 2021 Creative Judges (Hair) – The Industry Awards 2021
Entries into The Industry Awards 2021 are still being accepted until September 14, but while you’re working hard to create an awesome entry, you might be wondering how we select our winners.
Our judges come from a wide variety of backgrounds and bring a wealth of experience across the hair, beauty and barbering industries. We have some experienced Industry Awards judges back on board this year and we’re also welcoming some brand new judges.
First up, we’ll be introducing the judges for our creative hairdressing categories. Stay tuned for further blogs introducing the judges for the creative barbering, training and business categories
Sally Brooks
Sally is co-owner of Brooks & Brooks salon in Holborn, London, along with Jamie Brooks. She’s won some 60 awards with her creative team including London Hairdresser of the Year three times. Sally was named British Hairdresser of the Year at the British Hairdressing Awards in 2017, 2018, and 2020, and was the first female hairdresser to be nominated for and win the title since 2006. She was also named as the Fellowship for British Hairdressing’s Hairdresser of the Year for 2019/2020.
Sally loves simplicity with a twist, enjoying not only the end result, but the thought process behind it. Creating something that looks simple but is actually difficult is what challenges Sally; trying to be original and challenging herself is what keeps her inspired. Being satisfied with “just OK” is never an option. Sally and Jamie’s philosophy has always been simple, love your job, love your clients and strive to be the best you can.
Carl Keely
Originally from New Zealand, Carl travelled the world before settling in Melbourne and founding his salon group Chumba, with his wife Belinda Keeley in 2003. As the dual head of Chumba, their teams have won in excess of 200 awards including multiple Hair Expo and AHFA trophies.
As an industry educator Carl has toured the world and continues to teach and educate the industry. Finding a passion and panache for photographic work, Carl explored life behind the lens and quickly began racking up awards both in Australia and internationally.
With a passion for mentoring the next hair generation, Carl continues to look for talent to bring into the spotlight. Carl enjoys the varied work hairdressing has provided, but what Carl enjoys most of all is the one day a week he spends on the salon floor.
Richard Kavanagh
New Zealand born Richard Kavanagh, left school at the age of 15 and was told “you will not amount to anything boy.” Richard is now a five time Australian Session Stylist of the Year recipient, having styled cover shoots, celebrities, hair shows and fashion shows in a session career any hairdresser could only dream of, spanning over two decades and traversing the globe.
Thanks to his mum who wanted Richard to do an apprenticeship, he has had his skill and trade qualifications to lean on in an industry that is always evolving.
Richard’s tips to aspiring stylists; “Get really good at the basics. Be flexible. Pay attention to everything, and smile.”
Lex Buckley
Lex Buckley, together with partner Sheryl, are the publishers of the well-known and well-read Images Magazine. Now in its 20th year, Images has earned an international reputation and was awarded an Intercoiffure Global Press Award Paris in 2009.
Lex says; “With a keen interest in photography, I have an eye for the ‘money shot’ which is stunning enough for a magazine editorial or front cover. My focus while judging the submitted images this year will be on the total look and feel of the shot; for example, does it tell a story? Is it visually exciting?”
This will be Lex’s sixth year judging the Editorial Stylist of the Year awards – as a stalwart of the industry and with a keen eye for detail, we’re excited to have him on board again this year and we truly value his experience and support.
Meet the 2021 Business Judges – The Industry Awards 2021
Entries into The Industry Awards 2021 are still being accepted until September 14, but while you’re working hard to create an awesome entry, you might be wondering how we select our winners.
Meet the judges for our business categories this year, who bring years of professional and practical experience in the industry. Stay tuned for further blogs introducing the judges for the creative barbering and training categories!
Audrey Hill – National Commercial Manager, Kérastase
Audrey has recently become the National Commercial Manager for Kérastase, after taking on numerous other roles in the L’Oreal Professional Products division for the past 19 years. For the first 14 years with L’Oréal she worked with Kérastase in a range of roles including Area Manager, Key Account Manager and Education Manager.
Audrey is passionate about working with salons to create the perfect client journey, to ensure the ultimate client experience and maximum profitability for the salon.
Seumus Cooney – New Zealand Regional Manager, Wella Professionals
Seumus started out in the industry in 1994 working for Combined Salon Supplies. He spent two years gaining invaluable front line warehouse and logistics experience. Making a move into sales, he worked for IMM Corp. Ltd whose hero brand was Nioxin.
A year later Seumus joined the Wella brand, and 2021 marks Seumus’s 23rd year with the company. During his time with Wella he’s had a number of roles, from Sales Consultant through to Senior Sales Consultant, Key Account Manager, and now for more than six years, New Zealand Regional Manager. He works with a wide number of brands including System Professional, Nioxin, Sebastian, SP, Wella Professionals and Clairol.
Supporting training and capability has always been a priority for Seumus and he feels his involvement with The Industry Awards is another way to do that. Seumus has judged the business categories many times, so he brings years of judging experience to the panel.
“I feel honoured to judge these awards and have an intimate view into just how exceptional our industry really is.”
Malcolm Gibbons – Business Coach, Salon Business Coach
Malcolm’s introduction to the hairdressing industry was through working with a salon specific product supplier. For around ten years he helped salon owners with products, and providing business advice and in-salon training.
Malcolm then ventured into salon ownership. For over 16 years he worked to triple the floor space of his flagship salon, added spa services and increased revenue by over 470% per week – all whilst buying, building and selling another salon and owning a computer and software supply company.
He’s been successfully coaching hair and beauty salons in sales growth, service delivery, time management, culture change and all other aspects of salon business ownership for over ten years. Malcolm also delivers regular business changing ‘salon owner retreats’ offshore and works with salon owners locally and internationally.
Malcolm has been judging the business categories for The Industry Awards for several years, that combined with over 30 years experience in the industry makes him a real asset to the 2021 judging panel.
“I’m looking forward to judging the Industry Business Awards again as I never get tired of seeing the great results come in. The passion and quality that salon owners and their teams bring to ‘Doing Business’ is always a thrill and very inspiring.”
This year, we’ll be sharing expert advice from select judges on our socials and blog. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to be the first to hear the advice they have to share!