About > Who we are
about
inspire, promote and unite
Who we are
ACT Responsible is an international nonprofit organisation born out of 9/11, affiliated with the United Nations Department of Public Information and part of the UN Global Compact. ACT stands for Advertising Community Together.
Our mission is to inspire, promote and unite the advertising communication industry to share good practices on social responsibility and sustainable development. We aim to highlight the power of advertising creativity when it comes to raising awareness on social and environmental issues.
Our Story
A few days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a team of employees from AdForum.com decided to launch ACT (Advertising Community Together). They uploaded the online message “it’s our business to help” to AdForum which called for the advertising community to act against terrorism.
Creatives from over 30 countries quickly responded, offering their talent. They sent hundreds of creative pieces and tributes to the heroes and victims. Trade press, websites, associations, and award
The first campaign exhibitions took place at the Paris Advertising Week in November and during a New York trade event in December 2011. This was followed by the Cannes International Advertising Festival in May 2012, thanks to the support of Bernard Brochand, the Deputy Mayor of Cannes.
Since then, the initiative has become a non-profit association, managed by a team of volunteers with the financial support of major players in the advertising industry. An average of 12 exhibitions
ACT'ive Advisory
Board
Barry
Wacksman
Chairperson
of The Board of Directors, 4As
Bandon
Cooke
Global Chief Communications Officer, FCB Global
Carol
Mason
Managing Director, AdForum (Maydream Inc.)
Dagmara
Szulce
Global Executive Director, International Advertising Association
Jemma
Gould
Senior Director, Corporate Responsibility and Communications, IPG
Jennifer
Ferguson
Chief Communications Officer, Americas, Dentsu Aegis Network
Jon
Castle
President, Global Clients, TBWA\Worldwide
Karina
Wilsher
Partner, Global CEO, Anomaly
Laura
Maness
CEO, Havas New York
Matt
Eastwood
Global Chief Creative Officer, McCann Health
Melanie
Mitchem
SVP Global Communications & PR, FCB Global
Owen
Dougherty
EVP, Chief Communications Office, Grey Group
Rahel
Rasu
Head of Global Communications, DDB
Sarah
Rohan
Senior Manager, Global Strategic Growth, VMLY&R
Wendy
Kleinman
Owner, WK Planning,
meet the act’ive team
If you want to submit an ad, organise an exhibition, become a member, find out about our initiatives, start a partnership, offer media space or simply learn more…
Please get in touch with our team!
write to ACT
ACT Responsible
Bord du Canal, 33
Chalais, CH 3966
SWITZERLAND
call act
© 2019 act Responsible
About > Who we are
about
inspire, promote and unite
Who we are
ACT Responsible is aninternational nonprofit organisation born from 9/11, affiliated with the United Nations Department of Public Information and part of the UN Global Compact. ACT stands for Advertising Community Together.
Our mission is to inspire, promote and unite the advertising communication industry to share good practices on social responsibility and sustainable development. We aim to highlight the power of advertising creativity when it comes to raising awareness on social and environmental issues.
Our Story
A few days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a team of employees from AdForum.com decided to launch ACT (Advertising Community Together). They uploaded the online message “it’s our business to help” to AdForum which called for the advertising community to act against terrorism.
Creatives from over 30 countries quickly responded, offering their talent. They sent hundreds of creative pieces and tributes to the heroes and victims. Trade press, websites, associations, and award organisers advertised the programme, which positively contributed to increasing expressions of solidarity.
The first campaign exhibitions took place at the Paris Advertising Week in November and during a New York trade event in December 2011. This was followed by the Cannes International Advertising Festival in May 2012, thanks to the support of Bernard Brochand, the Deputy Mayor of Cannes.
Since then, the initiative has become a non-profit association, managed by a team of volunteers with the financial support of major players in the advertising industry. An average of 12 exhibitions have been produced every year all over the world. Throughout this time, ACT Responsible has developed partnerships with media companies and, along with its network of friends, initiated many conferences and think tanks.
ACT'ive Advisory Board
Bandon Cooke,
Global Chief Communications Officer
FCB Global
Carol Mason
Managing Director,
AdForum (Maydream Inc.)
Dagmara Szulce
Global Executive Director, International Advertising Association
Jemma Gould
Senior Director, Corporate Responsibility and Communications, IPG
Jennifer Ferguson
Chief Communications Officer, Americas,
Dentsu Aegis Network
Jon Castle
President, Global Clients, TBWA\Worldwide
Karina Wilsher
Partner, Global CEO, Anomaly
Laura Maness
CEO, Havas New York
Matt Eastwood
Global Chief Creative Officer, McCann Health
Melanie Mitchem
SVP Global Communications & PR, FCB Global
Owen Dougherty
EVP, Chief Communications Office, Grey Group
Rahel Rasu
Head of Global Communications, DDB
Sarah Rohan
Senior Manager, Global Strategic Growth, VMLY&R
Wendy Kleinman
Owner, WK Planning
meet the act’ive team
If you want to submit an ad, organise
an exhibition, become a member, find out
about our initiatives, start a partnership,
offer media space or simply learn more…
Please get in touch with our team!
call ACT
write to ACT
ACT Responsible
Bord du Canal, 33
Chalais, CH 3966
SWITZERLAND
© 2019 act Responsible

Dreamleader
« Today, Social Responsibility is a major driving force of global business. The role of advertising is determinant, because it raises awareness on social concerns of citizens, consumers and voters who are the real agents of change. In this spirit, the mission of ACT Responsible is to constantly gather and show the best recent examples of responsible advertising from all over the world to share best practices and show our industry’s involvement in today’s social issues. »

Co-founder, Development & Partnerships
« Communication is essential to raise awareness and alert us all on good causes. It gives us the keys to take part in defending major issues and educates us on matters that touch us all. Often complicated and difficult to address these good causes need the creative talent of professionals to make a real impact and achieve real changes. I believe it’s the responsibility of the whole advertising industry to unite and take a stand to make a difference. This is what ACT Responsible is and I’m proud to have contributed in building it. »
