2026 ANZ EXCELLENCE AWARDS
presented by
THE FINALISTS
Following a record-breaking year for the Licensing International ANZ Excellence Awards, we are delighted to reveal the 68 finalists for 2026.
More than 130 entries were received this year, an increase of approximately 20% on 2025, reflecting the extraordinary creativity, innovation and commercial strength of the licensing industry across Australia and New Zealand.
Over recent weeks, our independent panel of industry judges has carefully assessed every submission against the relevant award criteria, including innovation in product, marketing and sales performance.
All judges were required to declare any potential conflicts of interest and abstain from judging any submission where a conflict existed, ensuring a fair and independent judging process.
And now, after reviewing an outstanding field of entries, the results are in.
Congratulations to our 68 finalists, representing some of the most exciting brands, products, partnerships, campaigns and talent in the ANZ licensing industry.
BEST RETAILER
Camilla
Dusk
EB Games & Zing Pop Culture
BEST RETAILER MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOR LICENSED PRODUCTS
Coca-Cola x Carré (The Coca-Cola Company / Asembl Brands / Culture Kings)
Minecraft CubeezTM (Microsoft / Mojang / Merchantwise / Headstart International)
Minions ( NBC Universal / OTR Shell Reddy Express)
Hello Kitty Cafe (Sanrio/Haven Global)
Hello Kitty ( Sanrio / Haven Global / Meeq)
The Wiggles ( The Wiggles / Kmart )
BEST LICENSED PRODUCTS APPAREL, ACCESS. & SOFTLINES
Wuthering Heights x Black Milk Clothing ( Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products / BlackMilk Clothing )
Hot Wheels x Super Cheap Auto ( Mattel / Caprice / Super Cheap Auto )
Winnie The Pooh 100th Anniversary ( Disney / Caprice )
Minecraft X Cool Shirtz ( Mojang / Merchantwise / Cool Shirtz )
The Met X Camilla ( The Met / WP Brands / Camilla )
Bluey Vacay Apparel Range (BBC Studios / Designworks / Target )
Pokémon x MAISON de SABRÉ (Pokemon / Haven Licensing / Maison de Sabre)
BEST LICENSED PRODUCTS HARDLINES
John Wick Poker Set ( Loinsgate / IMG Licensing / Pirate Gold / Welaunch )
Emily in Paris Glasshouse Fragrances ( Paramount / Haven Global / Glasshouse Fragrances )
LEGO® Bluey ( BBC Studios / LEGO® )
Agoro Collectibles ( Hasbro / Agoro / New Zealand Mint x Merchantwise )
BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS Blind Box (Warner Bros. Discovery Consumer Products / Agoro )
2025 LEGO® Harry Potter Range ( Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products / LEGO® )
BEST LICENSED FMCG & PROMOTIONS
Monopoly Macro Mike ( Hasbro / Asembl Brands / Macro Mike)
The Ton’s Treat Box Bridgerton ( Netflix / Asembl Brands / The Cheesecake Shop)
Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll Collagen Meal Replacement ( Go-To Foods/ The Collagen Co / Cinnabon / Asembl Brands)
Kelloggs Macro Mike ( Mars Snacking / Asembl Brands / Macro Mike )
Streets x The Collagen Co ( Streets / The Magnum Ice Cream Company / The Collagen Co / Asembl Brands)
Wicked For Good X Wicked Sister ( PDP Fine Foods Pty Ltd / Universal Products and Experiences )
BEST LIVE EXPERIENCES & EVENTS
Romance was Born at Mattel 80th ( Mattel / Aust. Fashion Week )
Harry Potter at Chadstone ( Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products / Chadstone Shopping Centre )
Sesame Street x Bromley: In Your Neighbourhood ( David Bromley / Sesame Street / Haven Global )
Cookie Monster Pop Up Cafe ( Sesame Street / Haven Global / Pop Retail Enterprises ))
Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe ( Sanrio / Haven Global / Pop retail Enterprises )
The Wiggles: Tree of Wisdom BIG SHOW Arena Spectacular Australian Tour ( The Wiggles )
CHILDREN’S BRAND OF THE YEAR
Peppa Pig ( Hasbro / Merchantwise )
Bluey ( BBC Studios )
Toy Story (The Walt Disney Company )
Jurassic Park ( Universal Products and Experiences)
Gabby’s Dollhouse ( Universal Products and Experiences )
The Wiggles Pty Ltd ( The Wiggles / Haven Global )
BEST TEEN & ADULT’S BRAND OF THE YEAR
Spongebob ( Paramount / Haven xGlobal )
Dungeons and Dragons ( Hasbro -Wizards of the Coast / Merchantwise )
KPop Demon Hunters ( Netflix / Merchantwise )
Harry Potter (Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products )
Hello Kitty ( Sanrio / Haven Global )
Wicked For Good (Universal Products and Experiences )
BEST CORPORATE FOOD AND BEVERAGE’S BRAND OF THE YEAR
Violet Crumble ( Menz Confectionery / Asembl Brands )
Bundaberg Rum (Diageo / Asembl Brands )
Coca-Cola ( The Coca-Cola Company / Asembl Brands )
Chupa Chups ( Perfetti Van Melle / Asembl Brands )
BEST SPORT, FASHION, CELEBRITY & LIFESTYLE BRAND OF THE YEAR
RipCurl ( KDM Brands / Asembl )
Bridgerton ( Netflix / Merchantwise )
Wallabies Licensing Program ( Rugby Australia / Velocity Brand Management )
EVERLAST ( Fraser group / Designworks)
AFL ( Australian Football League/ Fanatics)
RISING STARS
Harrison Wallace ( Realism )
Jae Williams ( Haven Global )
Kaveri Dubey ( Dusk )
William Marshall ( Culture Kings )
Donovan de Klerk ( The Merchantwise Group )
Clancy Ivone ( The Walt Disney Company )
Tahnee Smith ( Warner Bros Discovery Global Consumer Products )
Emily Gale ( Universal Products and Experiences )
Christine Aroyan-Samaan ( Universal Products and Experiences )
BEST LICENSEE
Very Very Cool Pty Ltd for Cool Shirtz
Caprice Australia for Disney
Colgate-Palmolive Company for Harry Potter
Designworks for Bluey
Note Media Tiles will be sent to all finalsist by 1st September
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR
HALL OF FAME HONOREES
TOM PUNCH
Tom Punch’s 36 year licensing journey began with a rented office, two rented computers, an old Honda Civic, and the kind of entrepreneurial energy that builds an industry legacy. From those early days, Tom has helped grow Haven into Australia’s most awarded licensing agency, recognised globally for the strength, creativity and commercial impact of its programs. Under his leadership, Haven has delivered an unmatched run of major brand launches and partnerships, earning international recognition from some of the world’s most celebrated brand owners, including Sanrio, 20th Century Fox, HIT Entertainment, Sesame Street, Felix the Cat, MGA Entertainment and more.
Tom’s career has placed him at the centre of extraordinary licensing moments, from becoming Nickelodeon’s first ever agent globally, to launching Star Wars Episodes I, II and III, building Marvel’s presence in Australia from the early Spider-Man and Iron Man days, driving powerhouse programs for The Simpsons, Thomas the Tank Engine, Lord of the Rings, South Park, Hello Kitty, Peanuts and Sesame Street, and pioneering unexpected partnerships across food, live entertainment, transport, sport and the arts.
His philosophy of “service and results” has shaped Haven’s reputation for global best practice, while his belief that “opportunities are not given, they are taken” has helped create a culture where people are encouraged to think differently, back bold ideas and build remarkable careers.
Tom’s contribution is one of vision, energy and results, a legacy defined not only by the brands he has helped bring to life, but by the people, partnerships and possibilities he has championed along the way.
YVONNE KING
Yvonne King’s career is woven through some of the biggest entertainment and licensing moments of the past three decades. Through Haven, and earlier with Gaffney’s, she has represented many of the world’s most iconic studios and brands, including Lucasfilm for Star Wars, New Line for The Lord of the Rings, Sony Pictures, Marvel Studios, 20th Century Fox, Paramount, LEGO, South Park, Bratz, Sesame Street, Pokémon, Dr Seuss, The Smurfs, Sanrio’s Hello Kitty, Beverly Hills 90210 and Terminator 2. Her work has often placed her at the beginning of major entertainment shifts, from introducing Nickelodeon brands before pay TV arrived in Australia, to building the enormous Blue’s Clues and Dora the Explorer programs, working with Marvel before its characters became global movie franchises, and helping bring reality television into Australia through Big Brother. Alongside this, Yvonne has built Haven into a brand with a reputation all of its own, irreverent, fun, fiercely experienced and deeply respected. With long standing relationships, award winning programs, decades long staff loyalty and a no nonsense approach that has earned respect locally and globally, Yvonne’s contribution has helped shape not just successful licensing programs, but the culture and character of the industry itself.
AWARDS NIGHT
29th October 2026
Crown Casino Melbourne
6.30 PM TO 10.30 PM
OUR SPONSORS
