Meet Benjamin Johnson, Creative Director, Werk Agency who will be presenting at the upcoming Marketing and Communications Seminar on 28 May at Christ's College, Christchurch.
What is your background and how did you come to be a Director of Werk?
Truth be told, I have a highly unorthodox career trajectory. After studying commerce and science, my diverse career path took many unexpected turns, ultimately leading me to the helm of an award-winning creative marketing agency. After graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Science I intended to become a Policy Analyst. Life had other plans, however. I have travelled the world as a wedding photographer. I founded a thriving non-profit organisation that redistributes food waste to people in need daily. I transitioned into commercial photography working on advertising campaigns and product photography for major brands such as Whittaker’s and Mercedes-Benz. And then I co-founded Werk Agency 5 years ago with an old friend.
What types of projects does Werk do and what types of clients do you have?
Werk is a full-service creative marketing agency solving business problems with creative solutions. We offer services ranging from marketing strategy and branding to content production, social media management, digital advertising and media buying. No two days are the same because we service clients from a range of sectors including education, FMCG, events and entertainment, construction and government. Everything we do is data-driven and results-oriented. Whether that's e-commerce sales, enrolments, ticket sales or lead generation, we maximise return-on-investment for our clients. You can view our most recent showreel here.
What marketing considerations do you think are most important for independent schools in the next 1/5 years?
- Students as decision-makers
- On-demand discovery
- Digital journey and data feedback loops
- Authentic student-led content
Lots to discuss in the workshop!
What marketing channels and tools do you think are most pertinent to independent schools?
- Meta
- TikTok
- Marketing automation
- Video-first content
- Website CRO
In the workshop we will be deep-diving into the marketing tech-stack required to target, communicate and convert prospective leads.
What are you most looking forward to when you present the workshop?
I'm really excited to hear more about each school's unique character, community and how they are communicating this to the world!
Anything else you would like to add.
Joining me for the workshop will be Loren Smith (Client Services Director) and Hayley Gunn (Senior Marketer), both accomplished marketers. Loren is a seasoned media and marketing professional with over a decade of experience across Wellington, Auckland and Australia. A Cannes Young Lion Gold Winner, she brings a sharp strategic mind, collaborative spirit and passion for delivering results. Hayley is a data-driven digital marketer with sharp instincts across the full customer journey. From Meta to CRMs, she knows her way around a dashboard. With experience spanning schools, government and consumer brands, she recently joined Werk from Plato in Christchurch and now calls Wellington home again.
Register now for the Marketing and Communications Seminar here.
