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About

DEFY FEST is a two-day Advertising & Marketing Learning Festival organised by DEFY Advertising 

Colombo, Sri Lanka.


The objective of the festival is to bring the highest-level advertising and marketing learning experience home

to Sri Lanka. The first edition of DEFY FEST takes place on the 29th and 30th of May and entrance is by invitation only.


The festival will feature senior figures in Advertising and Marketing from the region, conducting compelling sessions live on stage, moderated panel discussions and workshops.

program

Workshop Day 

Film Production 

Harsh Dave


How to kill Advertising

Assam Khalid


State of Mind. State of Power.

How to emerge from an adult state in every conversation 

Binaifer Dulani


Brains, Baises, and Behavior: Navigating the Maze 

Saji Abraham 

Session Day 

Writing for the Screen 

Rajesh Ramaswamy (Ramsam) 


Creativity vs the Copy Machine

Sosuke Koyama 


Blah to Brilliant- The Art of the Brief

Saji Abraham


Panel Discussion 1

Rajesh Ramaswamy, Sosuke Koyama, Saji Abraham

Moderated by Dilshara Jayamanna


The Real Work

Bringing Our Whole Selves — and Our Worth — Back Into the Room

Binaifer Dulani


How to Choose a Production Partner

Harsh Dave


Oddvertising: DEFY the Odds Stacked Against Ads

Assam Khalid 


Panel Discussion 2

Binaifer Dulani, Harsh Dave, Assam Khalid

Moderated by Hasini Assiriyage

Speakers

Rajesh Ramaswamy (Ramsam)

writer, FILMMAKER, FOUNDER
The Script Room / Coconut Films India.

Rajesh Ramaswamy (Ramsam) is an India-based Writer, Filmmaker, and Founder of The Script Room—a creative hub for long and short-form storytelling across ads, series, and films. With over two decades in advertising, he has written more than 1,000 ad scripts and served as Executive Director at Mullen Lowe Lintas, Bangalore.


Widely known for shaping some of India’s most iconic campaigns, Ramsam’s work includes Fastrack’s “Move On,” Tanishq’s “Second Marriage,” and Paper Boat’s “Drinks and Memories,” many of which he directed himself. His storytelling spans brands like Netflix, Nykaa, Bumble, OYO, PhonePe, and more.


A filmmaker with Coconut Films and a screenwriter for upcoming series and movies, Ramsam brings a rare blend of mass appeal and creative depth. His campaigns have earned both public love and industry acclaim for their relatability and cultural resonance.

Saji Abraham

Founder, 
Fighting Fit Brands, Mumbai.

Saji Abraham is an experienced advertising and marketing professional with over two decades of rich experience. While at Lowe Lintas, he has helped launch brands, resuscitate flagging ones and propel both challengers and leader brands onto a growth trajectory. He has done this both locally and globally across categories like FMCG, Auto, Banking and a host of others. Specializing in collaborative problem solving, he has helped brands craft their vision, mission, ambition and also solve acute regional sales problems. 


Saji also helps brands find their purpose and align themselves to social missions that help brands to do well by doing good. For this he draws upon his in-depth experience of Lifebuoy where he helped champion the global hand-washing agenda and create a purpose led brand.


After advertising, Saji has been the Chief Marketing Officer of Classic Legends, an automotive startup which is bringing back legendary motorcycle brands like Jawa, Yezdi and BSA. Here in addition to brand building almost solely through the digital medium he also helped put in place lead management systems and contributed to product development. 

Currently he is pursuing his own path, founding Fighting Fit Brands. He aims to translate his philosophy of all round fitness into the brand realm as well, helping brands realize their true potential.

Harsh Dave

Founding Producer,
Firecracker, Mumbai.

Harsh Dave has been a leader in the advertising production business since 1986. Founder of Firecracker Productions in Mumbai, Harsh has expanded his operations across Malaysia, Dubai, India, and Sri Lanka.


Over his career, he has produced more than 1,800 episodes of television content and two feature films. Harsh has partnered with some of the world’s leading brands including Unilever, Pepsico, Nestlé, Honda, Reckitt & Coleman, P&G, Hyundai, and Royal Enfield, among many others.

Binaifer Dulani

FOUNDING PARTNER & CREATIVE 
TALENTED, INDIA.

Binaifer is the creator of ‘The Unfiltered History Tour’, India’s most awarded campaign at Cannes Lions, earning multiple Grand Prix and the Titanium Lion.

She was Campaign’s  South Asia Creative Leader of the Year2024 and featured in Impact magazine's 50 Most Influential Women in India. She is also a Cannes Lions Creative Director of the Year honoree and a See It Be It alum.


Her campaigns have addressed caste discrimination, preserved freedom fighters' legacies, and advanced intersectional feminism. Binaifer co-leads Indian Creative Women, a platform bridging gender gaps in leadership, and teaches at India’s top universities.

Sosuke Koyama

Chief Transformation Officer,
Publicis Groupe Japan.

A Strategic Planner for close to 30 years, Sosuke joined Publicis Japan as Executive Planning Director in August 2014.  After moving to Facebook in 2018, Sosuke returned to help with the launch of Publicis’ new unit Digitas in 2020. 


He has worked in multiple countries, cultures and agencies including Japan, the United States, China and Singapore. His past clients include everything from cars, shoes, fashion, FMCG, electronics, travel, fast food and the finance sector at agencies such as W+K, Fallon, BBH and TBWA.

Assam Khalid

Founder & Creative / Strategic Consultant,
Vexology Advertising UAE.

Assam is a UAE-based Creative & Strategic Consultant and founder of Vexology Advertising. With over 15 years of experience at top agencies like BBDO, Ogilvy, and Saatchi & Saatchi, he’s among the region’s most awarded creatives, with 350+ international accolades including two Gold Cannes Lions.


Named the #1 Strategic Planning Director in Pakistan & MENA by the Big Won Report and among the world’s top 25 Creative Directors by The One Club, Assam has led impactful campaigns across categories from FMCG to fintech. His work has been featured at Tate UK and recognized by WARC as part of its top 100 marketing campaigns.


He regularly speaks at global forums such as Dubai Lynx, TEDx, and Spikes Asia, and serves on juries for leading international award shows.

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Delegates

Entrance to DEFY Fest is Free
 by Invitation Only

Seating is limited and Starting 6th May, invitations will be shared with CMOs and Agency Heads who will allocate invitations to their teams.


Invitees should RSVP and register by 13th May to confirm their spots.


Any invitations that have not been registered by then will be cancelled and allocated to anyone in the waiting list.


Instructions on accessing the waitlist will be made available on the 8th of May.



** A SMALL BUT IMPORTANT REQUEST **



The only request we have for anyone who registers is to please participate and get to the festival early. If you confirm but do not attend it will take the opportunity away from someone else.

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Entrance to DEFY FEST is free of charge but by invitation only. A limited number of invitations have been sent out to Agency heads, Marketing heads and Student administrators of selected universities. Check with your department head/administrator if they have included you in their invitation list as a delegate.

Yes. Confirmed delegates have until 9.30 AM on the 29th to present themselves at the venue registration desk. Venue volunteers will stop holding seats after 9.30 AM on the 29th. In case any confirmed delegates have not presented themselves by 9.30 their slots will be given to any walk-in attendees.

If you have filled in the Google form, you are in line for confirmation. Each confirmed delegate will receive an official email from nastasha@defy.lk confirming your attendance. The confirmation emails will be sent from 19th May till 23rd May. If you have not received your email by 20th May please get in touch with nastasha@defy.lk to clarify.

Yes. However, this is solely at the organiser’s discretion. Please contact nastasha@defy.lk to transfer your pass to someone else. This may not always be possible.

  • Day 1 is a full day of sessions starting at sharp at 9.00 am (please arrive by 8.00 am to register in time and find a good seat (only sponsor, speaker and organiser seats are reserved). There will be an 80-minute lunch break.
  • Day 2 is a half day that consists of several workshops. More info on Day 2 will be made available by 20th May
  • No. A confirmed invitation only gives you entry to day 1. There are only 90 seats for the workshops. There will be a separate sign-up link for each workshop which will be made available by 20th May
  • Yes. The event will start and end exactly on time
  • Your choice. If you are late and someone on the waitlist is present, they will be given your seat (This applies to both days).
  • 7.45 AM (Day 1)
  • 8.15 AM (Day 2)
  • No. Out of respect for the speakers, auditorium doors will be closed at the start of each session. The sessions run back-to-back with a 3-minute changeover time between sessions.
  • No. There will be no free food or beverages provided. You will be able to purchase food and drink from restaurants/vendors close to the venue. Please note that food and drink (including water) is not allowed inside the auditorium.
    Day 1 / 29th May - Full Day of Sessions at Bishop's College Auditorium, 11, Perahera Mawatha, Colombo 3.

    Day 2 / 30th May - Half Day of Workshops - Rise Up, Alwis Place, Colombo. 

    Unfortunately, there is no parking available inside Bishop’s Auditorium, and street parking is not permitted in the surrounding area.


PARTNERS