The Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management 18th Annual General Meeting was held on Sunday 19 April remotely due to Covid-19 restrictions regarding travel and public gatherings. A candle was lit by the President in solidarity with all those who have lost their lives globally to Covid-19, in support of our frontline workers and colleagues who are directly involved in the battle against the pandemic.
Global Alliance President Justin Green presented the 2019 Annual Report, which provided an overview of the key activities and initiatives conducted by the Global Alliance in 2019. Membership currently stands at 77 which represents an increase of 55%. Increased financial stability was achieved during 2019, with overall income up by 49% year on year.
Highlights and achievements in the past year included improved organizational structures, offerings and business model. As a member organisation, accountability, transparency and sound corporate governance Bylaws are vitally important. An extensive review was undertaken and changes were made, and the introduction of eleven new Policy Documents were implemented to guide both the current board and future directors.
2019 saw a major reinvestment by Global Alliance to enhance our Membership Benefits by improving advocacy, education, training and skills and knowledge sharing. In July, we established a full-time professional office co-located with APCE in Lisbon, Portugal and in December a regional hub in Jakarta, Indonesia, located at LSPR Communication & Business Institute. A monthly Newsletter for members was also introduced thereby connecting our global profession and providing key industry insights.
The second half of 2019 was truly memorable with plenty of standout moments from our global partnership with Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) at their conference in San Diego to Global Alliance holding its first ever regional conference in Hangzhou, China in conjunction with the Public Relations & Global Communications.
We continued to strengthen our commitment to the rollout of the Global Capabilities Framework developed in partnership with University of Huddersfield, UK, ensuring free access to all members until the end of 2020. While the establishment of six Regional Councils: North American, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe, Africa and India-Middle East has helped increase our reach across the world profession.
The AGM agreed to a change in Bylaws which are now more inclusive than ever before, working closer together worldwide. These changes have met with widespread global support, allowing the organisation to become stronger, richer and true to our mission.
The newly elected board of directors who will commence their appointments 1 July 2020 were elected by the AGM.
The incoming board includes leading professionals, academics and industry association leaders with representation from every continent. Incoming members are listed and marked in bold below:
|
Position President Immediate Past-Chair |
Name & Member Affiliation Justin Green, PRII – Public Relations Institute of Ireland (Ireland) José Manuel Velasco, Dircom – Communication Directors (Spain) |
Term June 30, 2021 June 30, 2021 |
|
Treasurer |
Philip Bonaventura, PRSA – Public Relations Society of America (USA) |
June 30, 2022 |
|
Secretary |
Fiona Cassidy, PRINZ – Public Relations Institute of New Zealand |
June 30, 2021 |
|
Delegate-at-Large |
Alastair McCapra, CIPR – Chartered Institute of Public Relations (UK) |
June 30, 2021 |
|
Delegate-at-Large |
Sarah Hanel, CPRS – Canadian Public Relations Society (Canada) |
June 30, 2021 |
|
Delegate-at-Large |
Hamilton dos Santos, ABERJE – Brazilian Association for Business |
June 30, 2021 |
|
Delegate-at-Large |
Prita Kemal Gani, APRN – Asean Public Relations Network (Indonesia) |
June 30, 2021 |
|
Delegate-at-Large |
Yin Xiaodong, PRGC – Public Relations Global Communication (China) |
June 30, 2022 |
|
Delegate-at-Large |
Amith Prabhu, The Promise Foundation (India) |
June 30, 2022 |
|
Delegate-at-Large |
Ángel Alloza, Corporate Excellence (Spain) |
June 30, 2021 |
|
Delegate-at-Large |
Dr. Amybel Sánchez de Walther, USMP – San Martin de Porres University |
June 30, 2022 |
|
Delegate |
Paula Portugal Mendes, APCE – Portuguese Association of Corporate |
June 30, 2021 |
|
Regional |
Gonca Karakaş, Tuhid – Turkish Public Relations Association (Turkey) |
June 30, 2021 |
|
Regional |
Luis Martin Gomez, Fundacom (Ibero America) |
June 30, 2021 |
|
Regional |
Richard Wang, PRGC – Public Relations Global Communication (China) |
June 30, 2021 |
|
Regional |
Silvia Arto, COM-ENT – Communication & Entreprise (France) |
June 30, 2021 |
|
Regional |
Peter Mutie – Peterson Integrated Communication Institute (Kenya) |
June 30, 2021 |
|
Regional |
Dr. Rotimi Oladele, NIPR – Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (Nigeria) |
June 30, 2021 |
|
Regional |
Dr. Wilfred Marube, PRSK – Public Relations Society of Kenya (Kenya) |
June 30, 2021 |
The President thanked outgoing board members for their huge contribution made to Global Alliance: Dr. Marcia DiStaso from University of Florida (USA), Jane Gitau from African Public Relations Association (Africa), Candy Hernandez from LSPR Communication & Business Institute and Joe Truncale former CEO of Public Relations Society of America (USA).
“Today, Global Alliance is a global, diverse and multicultural organisation representing professionals across all religions, cultures, societies and races. Thanks to our members commitment, the new improved Global Alliance now plays a much stronger role in representing our profession and promoting ethical standards and professional development worldwide. We are fully committed to the Global Principles of Ethical Practice in Public Relations & Communication Management. Adopted worldwide by your members, we continue the work to see these principles endorsed and formally recognised by major global organisations so the highest ethical standards become our profession’s baseline.” said Justin Green, President Global Alliance.
