The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) has announced the relaunch of its new Global Advisory Board, a strategic initiative designed to bolster the Association’s international reach and reinforce its status as the world’s largest professional body for PR professionals.The Global Advisory Board will focus on four key workstreams: Talent, Ethics, Innovation, and Future. Each workstream aims to address crucial aspects of the PR industry, driving forward best practices and ensuring the sector's continued growth and relevance on a global scale.Talent: This workstream is dedicated to addressing talent-related challenges within the industry. Key areas of focus include bridging the gap between education and the workplace, enhancing recruitment strategies, and improving training and salary benchmarking. The board will also address social impacts and refine the PRCA’s approach to education.Ethics: Building on the achievements of the PRCA Ethics Council, this workstream will work to lift ethical standards in the global PR industry. Key activities will include developing ethical codes of conduct, creating forums for ethical debate, and sharing best practices. Collaboration with the PRCA Standards Committee and efforts in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) will also be central to this workstream.Innovation: This workstream will explore a wide range of issues related to innovation in public relations practice. It will focus on the impact of emerging technologies, such as AI, on the industry, as well as thought leadership on technological and media trends shaping public relations.Future: This workstream will advocate for the PR industry’s role in a rapidly changing world. It will address the global operations of PR agencies, the industry's response to geopolitical shifts, and strategies for enhancing the sector’s visibility and influence.The PRCA’s Global Advisory Board is composed by:Nitin Mantri, Regional Executive Managing Director, APAC I WE Comms & Group CEO, Avian WELee Nugent, Regional Director, APAC at Archetype (Vice Chair) (SEA)Mary Beth West, Consultant at Mary Beth West (USA)Ahmad Itani, Founder & CEO at Cicero & Bernay Communication Consultancy (MENA)Alex Aiken (UK)Barbara Phillips, Founder at Brownstone Communications (UK)Caroline Hsu, Chief Global Officer at The Hoffman AgencyPaul Cohen, Partner, CEO North America at Milk & Honey (USA)Patrícia Ávila, Regional Director at Agora (Brazil)Jim Donaldson, CEO and Founder at the Jim Donaldson Partnership (UK)Kwame Senou, Executive Director at THOP (Ivory Coast)Viroslava Novosylna, CEO & Founder at Slova Tech PR (Ukraine)Ipelegeng Thibedi, Chief Executive Officer, Africa at Weber Shandwick (South Africa)Omar Qirem, Chief Executive Officer, Middle East, and Deputy Chair of Corporate Affairs, EMEA at Edelman (MENA)PRCA Global Advisory Board Chair, Nitin Mantri, said,“The PRCA Global Advisory Board is uniquely positioned to shape the evolution of PR by navigating the complex interplay between business, society, and geopolitics. As Chair, I see this as a critical opportunity to bring diverse perspectives together, set new standards, and redefine communications. Our role is transformative, and I am excited about the potential of this board to elevate the value we bring to brands and communities alike.”PRCA Global Advisory Board Vice Chair, Lee Nugent, said, “I’m honoured to have been appointed to the PRCA’s Global Advisory Board and look forward to working with my fellow board members and the PRCA team, helping the organisation to continue to successfully serve our international membership base. I look forward to helping members drive professional best practice in communications, no matter where in the world they’re located.”

The Public Relations and Communications Association Middle East and North Africa (PRCA MENA) has announced the return of its annual conference. This year's event, the PRCA MENA Conference 2024, will be held on Thursday, November 14th at the Taj Business Bay in Dubai.Building on the success of last year's record-breaking conference in Riyadh, the 2024 edition promises an even more dynamic program with a stellar lineup of speakers. Attendees can expect thought-provoking sessions designed to address current trends and challenges in the PR industry. Leading experts from various fields will share valuable insights and practical strategies, sparking meaningful discussions and fostering professional development for PR professionals.The conference agenda will encompass emerging topics and innovative practices within the ever-evolving world of public relations. Beyond the sessions, ample networking opportunities will be available throughout the day. Coffee breaks, a dedicated lunch session, and an evening networking event with drinks will provide attendees with valuable space to connect with fellow professionals and exchange ideas.Commenting on the upcoming event, James Hewes, CEO of PRCA, said: "Our conference in Riyadh set a new standard for engagement and thought leadership in the MENA region's PR industry. We are thrilled to bring the 2024 conference to Dubai, where we will continue to address the current landscape of public relations while offering a platform for professionals across the region to learn, network, and gain inspiration."

The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) APAC has launched the "Asia Go-To-Market Primer 2024," offering strategic insights for establishing communication programmes across Asia. Covering 13 markets, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, India, and Sri Lanka, the primer provides detailed profiles of each region's socioeconomic, media, and cultural landscapes. It also suggests budget guidelines for strategic communications activities.Led by Caroline Hsu, Co-Chair of PRCA APAC and Chief Global Officer at The Hoffman Agency, the initiative aims to address Asia's growing complexity and diversity. Hsu emphasized the need for recognizing Asia's digital maturity, economic growth, and cultural uniqueness to create impactful campaigns.

The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) APAC has launched its first-ever Asia-Pacific ‘PRCA APAC Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (D,E,&I) Charter’’.In response to the growing imperative to prioritise D,E&I in the work of all PR professionals, the PRCA APAC DE&I Committee is proud to launch a comprehensive Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (D,E&I) Charter. This Charter is designed to promote an inclusive and diverse public relations industry across the Asia Pacific region, addressing systemic barriers and guiding industry best practices.This 7-point charter, which has been produced with input from PR and communications practitioners in the region, is one of the many ways that the industry can work towards achieving this goal. It is meant to serve as a set of industry guidelines that PR practitioners can use to guide their work and promote a culture of respect, equality and inclusion.Charu Srivastava, Chair of the PRCA APAC D,E&I Committee and Co-Founder at TriOn & Co, said: “We believe that establishing a robust charter is essential in driving positive and real change within our industry. Our goal is to provide industry practitioners with practical guidelines that promote a culture of respect, equality, and inclusion. These guidelines set a strong foundation for us to build upon as we strive to be an industry that is truly diverse, inclusive and equal in all manners.”

Rob Morbin, the executive director of the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO), is departing after a six-year tenure with the global PR organisation.Morbin joined ICCO in 2018 from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and has played a pivotal role in the organization’s growth. He initially served as deputy chief executive under the late CEO Francis Ingham and assumed the role of executive director in May 2023. During his time at ICCO, Morbin also contributed to the senior management team of the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA).Under Morbin's leadership, ICCO has expanded its presence in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, enhancing its services, products, events, and competitions, such as the annual World PR Report. The organization, representing PR associations and agencies across 70 countries, has also elevated the profile of PR at Cannes Lions through collaborations with PRovoke Media and WorldCom, and provided its members with platforms at the Council of Europe and the United Nations through its partnership with the UN Development Programme.Grzegorz Szepanski, ICCO president and CEO of Burson Poland, expressed gratitude, saying: “I would like to give a heartfelt thanks to Rob for his transformational impact on ICCO over the past six years. He has risen to unprecedented challenges, driven new initiatives, and opened up exciting opportunities for members around the world. We wish him every success in his next venture.”The current leadership team at ICCO includes interim CEO Andras Sztaniszlav, a partner at the Hungarian strategic communications agency PersonaR, who joined at the beginning of this year. Additionally, former ICCO and PRCA membership director Steve Miller has recently left both organizations to return to CIPR.

PRCA MENA, the Public Relations and Communications Association in the Middle East and North Africa, has announced that Gambit Communications’ Alexandra Richards and Sara Al Dehni have won the MENA Young Lions Competition 2024 for their #LendTheirVoice campaign. The star duo will go on to represent the MENA at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.Responding to a brief set by Shamsaha, Alexandra and Sara beat a field of 16 teams. Each team had 24 hours to create a campaign that would help Shamsaha to target audiences from expanded regions, especially focusing on support to victims of GBV in Palestine and Sudan.Sylvia Marcus, the Partnerships and Business Development Manager at Shamsaha, commented: “At Shamsaha, we believe in the power of collaboration and innovation to drive positive change. Partnering with the PRCA MENA Young Lions Competition allows us to amplify our message of women's empowerment and protection throughout the Middle East, inspiring a new generation of advocates and change-makers.”PRCA’s Head of EMEA, Monika Fourneaux MPRCA said: “Each competing team has demonstrated exceptional skill and creativity. The breadth of innovative campaigns highlights the incredible diversity of young talent in our region. Congratulations to Alexandra and Sara for their outstanding achievement, and we extend our best wishes to them for success in Cannes. Thank you to all participants for your contributions, and we look forward to seeing you again next year.”