UOWD Student Iman Abu Iqran Selected to Represent the UAE at 2026 Cannes Lions Roger Hatchuel Academy

Tuesday, 21 April, 2026

Iman Abu Iqran, a Bachelor of Communication and Media student at the University of Wollongong in Dubai, will represent the UAE at the 2026 Cannes Lions Roger Hatchuel Academy after being selected through a competitive, multistage process. 

Chosen from a pool of applicants from universities across the country, Iman progressed through several rounds of evaluation before being named the UAE representative for one of the world’s most respected programmes for emerging creative talent.

What makes her selection especially compelling is the way she approached the application itself.

Reimagining the Creative Pitch

As part of the process, applicants were asked to submit a two-minute video introducing themselves and explaining why they should be selected.

Iman approached the brief as more than an introduction. She treated it as a creative project.

She filmed in multiple locations, using colour, composition, and changing visual settings to create variety and support the story she wanted to tell. From green grass to desert dunes to her desk surrounded by brightly coloured monitors, each setting added a different visual layer. She also introduced animation, varied camera angles and motion design elements to bring energy and personality into the piece.

“I wanted to stand out while still showing I fit what the Academy was looking for,” she said. “It was a balance between being creative, being memorable and still answering the brief clearly.”

She developed and refined the concept with support from her tutor, Ms Negin Chabok, UOWD Media Instructor, shaping the submission into a piece that reflected not only her ideas, but how she thinks as a creative.

Watch Iman’s application video below:

Creativity, Curiosity and the Mindset Behind the Work

Iman says creativity has been part of how she has seen herself for as long as she can remember.
“I have been called the creative one my whole life,” she said, recalling a childhood shaped by drawing, music and creating.
Today, that instinct shows up in the kind of projects she most enjoys, particularly storytelling through visuals, branding and motion design.

She describes her approach to creative work as both ambitious and open. She aims to make every project as strong as it can be, but sees experimentation, feedback and even failure as part of the process.

“I want everything I create to be perfect, but I know that is not possible, so I do not care too much if I fail at it, only if I do not do my best,” she said.

That mindset, together with a strong curiosity and willingness to keep learning, played an important role in her success.
She also credits her experience at UOWD with helping shape how she thinks as a creative, not only through coursework, but through the process of developing projects, receiving feedback and refining ideas over time.

“But more than the assignments themselves, it was the process of working on projects, whether in groups or individually, and getting continuous feedback, advice and insight from professors that shaped how I think,” she said.

Dr Michael Mallory, Program Director: Media and Assistant Professor at UOWD, said her achievement reflects both her talent and the way she has developed during her time at the university.

“We are incredibly proud of Iman,” he said. “She has continued to develop her creative problem solving and critical thinking in remarkable ways, and we are excited to see her bring that to this global stage.”

Looking Ahead to Cannes

At Cannes Lions in June 2026, Iman will join delegates from around the world for a week of learning, collaboration and exposure to some of the leading minds in the global creative industry.

She says she is looking forward most to meeting people, exchanging ideas and learning how different cultures and perspectives shape the way people approach design, storytelling and marketing.

Her selection marks a significant personal achievement, while also reflecting the creative talent emerging from UOWD and the wider UAE.

As she prepares to represent the country on one of the world’s most influential creative stages, Iman’s story is a reminder that creativity is often found not only in the final idea, but in how you choose to approach the brief itself.