MUMBAI: The celebrations started in March this year and since then it's been one long party. The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) completed 60 years and to celebrate its diamond jubilee year, the association planned a number of events throughout the year with a view to enriching the advertising community and the marketing and business community as a whole.

The diamond jubilee celebrations will culminate with 'The Future of Advertising' symposium, which will be held in Mumbai from 9 - 11 November.

A host of eminent speakers like Group M Worldwide CEO Irwin Gottleib, Omnicom vice chairman Michael Birkin, Hindustan Lever managing director Arun Adhikari, Lowe Worldwide CEO Tony Wright, BBDO creative head Asia David Guerrero, Ogilvy & Mather chairman and national creative director Piyush Pandey, United Nations under secretary-general Shashi Tharoor and author of One and Detective Marketing Stefan Engeseth will deliberate on The Future of Advertising.

The three-day symposium, with a nominal registration fee of Rs 6000, will focus on how advertising was traditionally known and the way it has changed dramatically within a very short period of time. It will look at how consumers have changed and the way audiences are reacting to advertising messages; and, above all, on how impressions and opinions about a brand are not influenced by advertising alone.

The speakers will present their vision of the future of advertising, the outlook in this field and in the global economy, and the changing face of the media.

It will also examine the future consumers, future communication challenges, convergence and new media, and newer research to read trends.

JWT India CEO and Steering Committee chairman for the symposium Colvyn Harris said, "AAAI has served well the cause of advertising and its development in the last 60 years, and it is time to strengthen the role played by the association, given the current market dynamics. With an impressive line-up of eminent speakers and thought provoking subjects, this symposium will shed light on the challenges and opportunities that face the advertising industry. I am positive this will go a long way in consolidating the industry and paving the way for its growth going forward. We intend to deliberate the macro economic aspect of the potential of India, and the changed role advertising will play in the future. For a business and a brand with ambition, it is this critical area which makes a business successful in the long run."

AAAI president Srinivasan Swamy said, "The diamond jubilee is an important milestone for the association and various events have been planned across the year to commemorate this 60 this year milestone."

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations chairman Ramesh Narayan said, "It has been a busy year. AAAI has planned seminars, conventions, publications and events to commemorate and celebrate this year. In fact, AAAIs diamond jubilee year commenced with a change in the associations identity, which was redesigned to be relevant to the changing times. AAAI now sports a simple yet modern logo and a logotype that reflects the abbreviation of its name. This change of identity and design is evocative of AAAIs role in modulating the industry's cadence and resonating the positions and principles of its membership."

Said Harris, "This is an effort to give back something to the industry and it is a fantastic opportunity. It will help in improving the profile of the people in the industry and is open to every professional who is associated with brands in any way."

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