Driving trends reflected in PR conference line-up

PUBLIC RELATIONS INSTITUTE OF NEW ZEALAND
Media release 1 May 2007

Driving trends reflected in PR conference line-up

Today, few organisations operate without professional public relations advice and support, and areas where PR professionals are playing an increasing role are being highlighted at this year's industry conference.

Among other topics, speakers from the UK, Australia and New Zealand will be discussing Corporate Social Responsibility, internal (or employee) communications and crisis management at the Public Relations Institute of NZ (PRINZ) conference in Auckland on 24-25 May.

PRINZ Executive Director Paul Dryden says that the annual PRINZ conference focuses on key industry trends, providing delegates with practical leading edge case studies and examples of PR theory and practice.

"The PRINZ conference offers benefits for people at all levels in the public relations sector. "It provides learning opportunities for people newer to the industry or operating alongside PR professionals within organisations, and it is also an opportunity for senior practitioners to tap in to new trends, examples of excellent strategic thinking - and of course to network with colleagues and peers."

Keynote speakers include the CEO of the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development Peter Neilson, previously a cabinet minister under the Lange Labour Government, and Microsoft NZ Managing Director Helen Robinson, both exploring aspects of corporate social responsibility.

For the first time a series of break-out sessions will be dedicated to internal communications while Australian management consultant Geoffrey Stackhouse is making the trip across the Tasman to lead a workshop on crisis communications.

Other notable speakers include Australia-based communications expert Andy Eklund explaining his "from blamestorming to brainstorming" theory on how to stimulate creativity in work teams; former press secretary for Helen Clark, Mike Munro, and Anne Gregory, a visiting UK Professor of Public Relations who will give her views on what makes an effective communicator.

At the conference gala dinner, the annual PRINZ awards which acknowledge the best of the past year's public relations programmes and projects will be announced, along with the appointment of new PRINZ Fellows.

This year also sees the reintroduction of the PRINZ Communicator of the Year Award. This will be presented to a business or social leader outside of the public relations industry in recognition of their excellent communication skills and their championing of effective, open and robust communications within their own sector. Previous recipients have included Sir Peter Blake, Alan Duff and Dame Catherine Tizard.

Further information about the conference, which is open to people inside and outside the PR industry and includes one and two day registrations can be found on www.prinz.org.nz or by contacting the PRINZ office on 09 358 9805.

ENDS

www.prinz.org.nz

© Scoop Media