From the launch of its baseline study in 2021 to the unveiling of its midline findings in 2026, IAA Voice of Change, an initiative of the International Advertising Association (IAA), with UNICEF as its knowledge partner and Manifest as its cause partner, has continued to engage with the advertising and marketing fraternity, taking its mission of encouraging progressive gender portrayals beyond research and into meaningful industry conversations.

Using baseline and midline studies conducted by the Geena Davis Institute, the initiative has used research-backed insights to spark dialogue and encourage change across the industry. The midline findings are beginning to reflect shifts in gender representation, reinforcing the importance of sustained industry engagement and the collective effort required to drive meaningful progress.

Beyond its extensive roadshows, interactive sessions and workshops conducted across India with agencies and industry organisations such as Omnicom, Ogilvy, VML, Madison, Famous Innovations, RK Swamy, Madras Management Association, Scarecrow M&C Saatchi, Havas and Leo, among others, Voice of Change has actively collaborated with prominent industry platforms to broaden its reach and bring more voices into the conversation around gender representation.

A significant part of this journey has been its association with Goafest across four consecutive editions -  2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 - taking the conversation to one of the advertising and creative industry's largest gatherings. Alongside these collaborations, Voice of Change has also created its own platforms for dialogue, hosting its first industry summit in 2022, followed by summits in 2023 and 2024 in partnership with Google. These gatherings brought together influential voices from advertising, marketing, media and entertainment to exchange perspectives, challenge conventional narratives and explore the industry's role in shaping more inclusive storytelling.

Building on this momentum, the unveiling of the midline findings in 2026 marked the beginning of a new phase of engagement, with focused roundtable discussions bringing together key industry leaders, marketers and advertisers. After successful editions in Mumbai in July and Gurugram in September, the conversation will continue in Bengaluru in January 2027.

As IAA Voice of Change looks ahead to more collaborations and industry engagements, the early signs of change reflected in the midline findings offer encouragement, but also underline the work that lies ahead. The aim is to keep moving the needle towards a more equitable future and encouraging the industry ecosystem to embrace more balanced, inclusive and progressive portrayals of gender in advertising and content.​