CONCEPT HAIR LEARNER OF THE YEAR 2024 WINNERS
The Concept Hair Learner of the Year competition Finals 2024 took place yesterday on the 21st of March 2024 and it was an exceptional day!
The category, which was introduced to the awards this year, was part of the glitzy live event held at The Star in Sydney and live streamed across the world.
Sally, co-owner of Brooks & Brooks, London, is no stranger to winning awards – she has won British Hairdresser of the Year three times – but was shocked and delighted to win this highly-anticipated award. Sydney salon owner Clive Allwright, who has known Sally since school, picked up the award on her behalf.
“I was delighted to receive this recognition from Australian peers and judges. I was sad not to able to be there in person, but it was wonderful that Clive could pick this up for me, as he’s one in a million. It was lovely to see a live event that reminds us all in the UK what the energy of a room of hairy creatives feels like.”
There were eight British hairdressers who were finalists for the award – Cos Sakkas, TONI&GUY; Darren Ambrose, D&J Ambrose; Errol Douglas, Errol Douglas Salon; Gary Hooker and Michael Young, Hooker & Young; Kerry Mather, KJM Salons; Mark Leeson, Mark Leeson Salons; Martin Crean, MODE Hair and Sally Brooks, Brooks & Brooks.
Launched in 2012 by Mocha Publishing, the Australian Hair Industry Awards (AHIA’s) are celebrating their 10th year as the trusted national award platform which provide a benchmark of excellence across both specialist and individual Educational and Business categories and this event marks the inaugural year that the Creative categories have been given their own awards program.
Owner/Publisher Linda Woodhead could not have been happier to see everyone in the same room again; “The Creative AHIA’s are our exciting new awards platform which highlight the quality of the industry’s editorial and trend focused skills and have allowed our entrants to show their clients and communities just how talented they are. The calibre of this year’s collections exceeded our high expectations and all of our finalists and winners should be incredibly proud of their work.”
The awards also marked a record with 100 esteemed international and local judges enlisted to hone in on the impressive entries with business, media and industry expert including Sam McKnight UK, Guy Tang USA, Sally Brooks UK, Angelo Seminara UK, Errol Douglas UK, Jenny Strebe USA, Julie Bellinger-Gibb UK, Faye Murray, Charles Marcus, Kym Krey, Cameron Pine, Brad Ngata, Jayne Wild, Tracey Hughes and Sharon Blain as well as representatives from local publications including HAIRBIZ, Instyle, Woman’s Day, New Idea, Beautyheaven, Hair Romance, mamamia and Jones and international publications including Hairdressers Journal International, Estetica, Independent Beauty Professional Magazine, Intercoiffure SA, Salon Magazine and Coiffure.
Deanna Parker Attwood, Wieselmann Salon
Danny Pato, D&M Hair Design
Stevie Corthine, Stevie English Hair
Paula Hibbard, Paula Hibbard
Amy Gaudie, Urban Chic
Mario Fioravanti, SJ Establishment
Cristina Tatasciore, Flipped Hair
Jude McEwen, Toni and Guy Perth Central
Paige Cameron, Cobelle Creative
Charlene Fernandez, Charlene Fernandez Hair
Elle Schoemaker, Cobelle Creative
James Morris, Biba Gertrude St
Paul James Graham, Paul & Paul Salon
Anthony Staltari, Barbery Australia
Stephanie & Coco
SJ Establishment
Eliza Andrews, Royals Hair
Evie Golding, Rokstar Salon
Leanne Kay, Stevie English Hair
Scott James Sheehy, Toni&Guy Newtown
Sally Brooks, Brooks & Brooks