Tawana Burnett, Head of Top Accounts & Agencies for APAC at Meta, has been appointed Jury Chair for the Social Content and Influencer Marketing category at the Abby Awards 2026 Powered by The One Club | The One Show.
According to a press release, the awards will be held as part of Goafest 2026, scheduled to take place in Goa from May 20 to 22, bringing together leaders from the advertising, marketing and media industries.
Burnett brings over 25 years of global experience in marketing, brand strategy and digital transformation, having worked with leading brands and agencies across the United States, EMEA, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. At Meta, she works closely with chief marketing officers, business leaders and agency partners to help them leverage digital and emerging advertising and commerce solutions to accelerate brand growth.
Before joining Meta, Burnett led multi-million-dollar brand and product teams at companies including Intuit, LeapFrog, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer. During her tenure, she helped build and launch several well-known products and brands such as QuickBooks, Listerine, Advil and ChapStick.
Burnett is also known for her advocacy around diversity and inclusion in the business ecosystem. In 2019, she was featured in Adweek’s Women Trailblazers list for her active mentorship and investments in more than 15 companies founded by women, as well as for her involvement in the #biascorrect campaign aimed at addressing bias and encouraging conversations around women in leadership roles.
She was inducted into the Ad Age Global Leading Women Class of 2023 and was also named to The List in 2024. Burnett has previously served as a juror for major international advertising festivals such as Spikes Asia and MAD Stars.
Within Meta, she has played an active role in inclusion initiatives, serving as co-lead for the Singapore Inclusion Council and as a member of the IAB SouthEast Asia & India Board. She currently serves as a board member for International Advertising Association SEA and Ronald McDonald House New York.
Originally from New York City, Burnett now lives in Singapore with her husband and daughter. Her appointment as Jury Chair adds to the growing lineup of industry leaders who will shape the judging process at the Abby Awards during Goafest 2026.
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