GWA 2024: Jury

Anne-Gret Iturriaga Abarzua, Phd


Anne-Gret is Austrian and since 2008 head of communications for INEOS in Cologne, Germany where she is responsible for internal and external communications, community relations, lobbying, emergency response and CSR. She has a degree in economics and business communications from the University of Vienna. Anne-Gret is a member of a number of national PR bodies. She was IPRA President 2023.

Abayomi Ojo


Abayomi Ojo is Nigerian and a marketing communications consultant with over a decade of experience with high-growth SaaS companies. At WhirlSpot Media, a Lagos-based agency, Abayomi serves as a strategic growth consultant, providing advisory services to pan-African and international brands such as SHAREit Group, BuuPass, WorkPay, Wella Health, and the NEPAD Business Group. Abayomi holds a BA and an MA in creative arts from the University of Lagos.

Alain Grossbard Oam


Alain is Australian and since 2011 has been an educator in public relations at RMIT University, Melbourne. He has worked in numerous senior roles in the energy industry. Alain is past president of the Public Relations Institute of Australia Victoria division, as well as a national board member. He has won national and international awards and has been a recipient of a GWA. Alain is a fellow of the International Specialized Skills Institute.

Alicja Wysocka Świtała


Alicja is Polish and managing partner and co-owner of Clue PR, a technology-oriented agency ranked in the top 10. Alicja is active in Polish media, being both a contributor to Forbes Women and Vogue. Her agency has won IPRA Golden World Awards in the past for campaigns with a focus on female empowerment.

Amanda Coleman


Amanda is a UK-based crisis communication consultant and author of Crisis Communication Strategies. She now runs her own crisis communication consultancy but for more than 20 years she worked in police communication and lead the response to the Manchester Arena terrorist attack of 2017. Amanda is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the Public Relations and Communications Association, as well as being a senior associate of the Centre for Crisis and Risk Communication.

Andrew Napier


Andrew is a British UK-based consultant specializing in international corporate communications, public affairs and change management. Consulting clients have included the energy sector, telecoms and sports. Previous corporate experience includes senior roles at the International Olympic Committee, Ford of Europe and British American Tobacco.

Charles Keikotlhae


Charles is from Botswana and an ex-officio member of the executive committee of PRISA Botswana after serving as chairperson. He has over 18 years' experience in the profession both in the public and voluntary sectors. Charles has a BA in media theory and practice from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, an MSc in strategic management from the University of Derby, UK, and a diploma in environmental journalism from the University of Kalmar, Sweden.

Daniel Silberhorn


Daniel is German and a senior sustainability/ESG and communications advisor at SLR consulting in Germany. He holds a masters degree in public relations from Manchester Metropolitan University and certificates in Business Sustainability Management and Impact Communication by CISL, UK. Daniel also teaches global communications at Erfurt University, Germany, for the international PR education program Global Communications Project.

Diana Scholz


Diana Scholz is German and global head of communications for Bayer’s Consumer Health Division. She joined Bayer in 2012 and worked in Germany, France, Japan, the United States and Switzerland. With a passion to experiment and innovate she has delivered impactful communication strategies while advocating for diversity. Diana has a master’s degree in media and political communication from the Free University of Berlin. She lives in Basel with her partner, and she loves to spend time outdoors exploring, running and hiking.

Edd Fuentes


Edd, a Filipino national, is the founder and president of FuentesManila, one of the leading PR agencies in the Philippines. Prior to establishing the company, he worked with J. Walter Thompson as creative director servicing their client Unilever. Edd was as an IPRA council member from 2009 – 2011 and has served two previous terms on the board.

Eeva-Liisa Vallin


Eeva-Liisa Vallin is Finnish and has served as communications director in a number of Finland-based, international companies. She previously taught communications at a university of applied sciences. She is the owner of a PR agency and an active member of Finnish press organisations. She worked for many years with business marketing communications, PR and journalism. Eeva-Liisa is graduate of Tampere University.

Elena Fadeeva


Elena is a distinguished international leader in business management and strategic communications. With a background in corporate law and business management, she has successfully founded several market-leading ventures, including in cooperation with global brands of Omnicom Group Inc. Today she is focused on such areas as application of artificial intelligence, fintech, and other areas of innovation, both in emerging and established markets.

Enric Ordeix


Enric is Catalan and Dean of EAE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. He is also a professor of corporate and international public relations and the academic director of MA-strategic management in global communication, and he works part time at Emerson College, Boston, USA.

Esra Dillon


Esra is British and CEO of Eriskay PR. She has extensive experience providing PR and marketing services in London for business between the UK and Turkey. Esra’s career has included roles at EDS-BOX, The Walt Disney Company and Adaytum. She holds a degree in fine art and is a member of the London Chamber of Commerce. Esra is the UK editor for Turkey Magazine.

Esther Cobbah


Esther is Ghanaian and CEO of the award-winning communications agency, Stratcomm Africa. She was previously external affairs manager for the West African Gas Pipeline Project and public affairs manager for the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation. In all these roles she has developed innovative communication approaches to address organisational needs. Esther is a graduate of the University of Ghana Legon and Cornell University, USA.

Faisal Alzahrani


Faisal Alzahrani is a Saudi national and a member of the Society of Organizational Learning, the Arab Society for Social Responsibility, and Toastmasters International. At Saudi Aramco, Faisal held management posts including manager of public relations and manager of Saudi Aramco affairs services, before he took early retirement in 2010. In 2015, Faisal worked at the Saudi Ministry of Health as a communications advisor to the Minister as well as head of Media & PR. He is currently working as a freelance PR consultant.

Ger Peerboom


Ger is Dutch and a strategist focused on brand development and brand presence in international media. Currently he works for Abu Dhabi Sewerage Service Company and Glomacs. Per is an influencer on social media and an initiator of content based on excellence. He worked for many years in international environments in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Europe with SABIC, Borouge, and Mubadala.

Hemant Batra


Hemant Batra is an Indian national and is managing director of Veritas Reputation. Hemant is a chartered accountant with over two decades of experience in PR. His company, based in Mumbai, specialises in strategic communications, corporate reputation management and crisis communications. It is currently counselling some of the leading companies in India and has a specialisation in fintech, pharma and start-ups.

Henriette Viebig


Henriette is German and has been leading the brand and communications team of technology group Körber since 2014. During her career of more than 25 years she worked in agencies and global organizations. She loves using the power of communication and especially storytelling to win over audiences. Henriette is passionate about people communications to drive culture change.

Jacqueline Purcell


Jacqueline has Irish and British citizenship. An award winning president at Toastmasters International, she is CEO of Jasper Alliance London, and holds post-graduate degrees in research and education. She received an award from British Expertise for Outstanding International Leadership on Middle East Development projects. She serves United Nations clients, delivering curriculum development and in 2019, she received CIPR approval for her Modern International PR Media Programme.

James Mcqueeny


Jim is a US national and chairman of Winning Strategies now merged with EFK Group. The company is a strategic communications firm based in Newark, New Jersey which seeks to integrate political strategy with advertising, public relations and digital content. Jim leads IPRA’s activities at the UN Department of Global Communication in New York.

Jelena Pavicevic


Jelena has Montenegrin nationality. She is the founder and managing director of an independent, Podgorica-based consultancy, Benefit Communications. Experienced in a variety of organisations and socio-political and business spheres, she provides consulting services, focusing on communications strategies, image consulting and lobbying. Jelena graduated in Law, has completed postgraduate studies in International Marketing and attends the EMBA Strategic Communications studies. Jelena believes that communications have a significant impact on us all.

Johanna Mcdowell


Johanna is British and has lived in South Africa for many years. She is the managing director of the Independent Agency Search and Selection Company and partner of SCOPEN Africa. With a background that includes being on both the agency and the client side, Johanna is well placed to offer commentary on marketing and advertising in both the South African and international contexts. Johanna was IPRA president in 2012.

Justin Flaherty


Justin is Australian and the co-owner and director of award-winning PR and communications agency, Horizon Communication Group. His areas of expertise include reputation and issues management, creative storytelling and shaping strategy. Justin is a leading change agent who delivers products that drive understanding and deliver change. As a former chartered accountant, Justin brings a unique analytical expertise and a strategic mindset to PR.

Katarzyna Terej


Katarzyna is Polish and has been a communication and public relations expert for 25 years. She has wide experience in leading international projects, business to business consulting, public affairs and crisis communication. She has an extensive experience in advising boards on strategic issues, including the communication of complex projects and challenges. She was a Stevie Awards judge for several years in various categories.

Kresimir Macan


Kresimir is a Croatian PR professional and business consultant specialised in crisis management, strategic communication and social media. He runs consulting agency Manjgura founded in 1997. He has led public relations for domestic and international investments and worked on election campaigns as advisor to two Croatian prime ministers. He was awarded a Grand Prix by the Croatian PR Association for his work.

Laura Dabulyte


Laura Dabulyte is from Lithuania and a well-known communication expert in the region. She has more than 20 years of experience in the communication field. As well as running PR agency Comms on Duty, she also lectures on crisis communication at Vilnius University. Laura organizes a monthly event for communication experts, "Value Driven Communication."

Loula Zaklama


Loula is an Egyptian national and an IPRA Member Emeritus. She was one of the longest serving IPRA board members. Loula was IPRA president in 2006. As president of Rada Research, she founded the PR industry in Egypt establishing a dynasty which continues to flourish. Loula graduated from the American University in Cairo with a B.A. in mass communication.

Maria Gergova-Bengtsson


Maria is Bulgarian and managing director of Sofia-based agency United Partners. Maria served as IPRA president in 2009, a year in which she was also voted as Bulgarian Business Woman of the year. Maria is a previous IPRA board member and has co-organised IPRA events in central Europe. Maria has been a Golden World Awards judge for many years.

Mariia Markova


Maria is responsible for communications, marketing and admissions at the British University of Management in Tashkent, Uzbekistan where she pioneered an undergraduate PR programme. She previously worked for Mikhailov and Partners and Fleishman-Hillard Vanguard. Maria has worked with brands such as Kimberly-Clark, GMT Clinic, and Novalex Group. She holds a diploma of professional retraining and an MBA from the Berlin School of Business and Innovation.

Marija Beslac


Marija is Director of Communications and Partnerships of Nordeus Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting the education of children in Serbia. She has 20 years of experience in communications, brand development, employer branding and corporate social responsibility across different industries. In addition to her roles, she passionately works to support the development of the start-up ecosystem, empowering women and the community of communicators. As a cognitive-behavioral coach she enjoys sharing knowledge through training and mentoring.

Marina Bolanca


Marina is Croatian and CEO of Abeceda Komunikacije. She has over 20 years of experience in communication, public relations, and public affairs, for clients in a myriad of industry sectors. Her agency operates in Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovinia with a strong orientation towards strategic creative communication. The agency is the recipient of an IPRA Golden World Award. Marina is VP of the Croatian Association for Public Relations.

Nagwa Emad


Nagwa Emad is an Egyptian national and a long-standing professional member of IPRA. She is the founder and managing director of Media Waves Egypt one of the country’s leading PR agencies. Nagwa is also president of the charity Cairo Capital Lions Club. She is a graduate of Cairo University and holds an M.A. in English Literature.

Natasa Pavlovic Bujas


Nataša is IPRA President 2024 and Head of the Judges panel. She is Serbian and founder of Blumen group, an agency for integrated communications and business consulting, based in Belgrade. She has more than 25 years of experience in strategic communications, brand development and market positioning. She has won national and international awards, including the GWA Grand Prix. In the last ten years Nataša has worked as a business coach, and gives guest courses and lectures in the Balkan region.

Nigel Chism


Nigel Chism is British and finance director of Kajima. Educated at the John Lyon School and the University of Westminster, he qualified as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young in 1979. He served with the reserve forces in The Royal Green Jackets. He is a member of the Garrick, a freeman of the City of London and liveryman of the Wheelwrights’ Company. He still sometimes plays drums.

Peter Agbeko


Peter is an experienced Ghanaian communication specialist, who currently heads the public relations department of the Ghana Standards Authority. He is a member of the Institute of Public Relations, and the Ghana Governing Council. Besides IPRA, Peter is a member of the Public Relations Society of America. He is an alumnus of the Ghana Institute of Journalism and holds an MSc in social development planning and management from Swansea University, UK.

Philip Sheppard


Philip has joint British and Belgian nationality. As secretary general he is responsible for the day to day running of the association. He is a graduate economist and previously worked with Shell in London, Ireland and Dubai. After running his own communications company, he worked as a consultant for Ernst & Young in Switzerland and as a lobbyist for the European Brands Association in Brussels. Philip is a freeman of the City of London and was IPRA president in 2007.

Richard Linning


Richard is Australian and has been a strategic advisor and advocate on contentious issues worldwide. He has contributed to communication of the reform of the Greek civil service, promoted values in Vietnam and legal reform and anti-corruption in Romania. He brings practical experience, critical thinking and an appreciation of the ethical and cultural challenges of PR practice. Richard is a Member Emeritus and was IPRA president in 2011.

Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo


Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo, APR, IABC Fellow is a Filipino communication and PR leader with 44 years in the profession. She was 2018 President of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, IABC International Executive Board Director and IABC Foundation Trustee, 2021 Chair of the Gold Quill Awards, and IABC Philippines Adviser, Past Chair and Past President. She serves in global and national associations, and judges and mentors for various award programs. She led communication for Philippine firms Meralco, and Holcim Philippines. She is a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication.

Robert Gray


Rob Gray is British and commissions and edits IPRA’s Thought Leadership series of essays. He has written corporate histories of FTSE-100 brand Rentokil and global travel technology giant Amadeus. His book on marketing disasters, Great Brand Blunders, was described by Forbes as excellent. A highly experienced journalist and content marketing expert, Rob has served on the GWA judging panel for many years.

Ronaldo Jabal


Ronaldo is a Filipino and CEO of Pageone Group, an integrated marketing communications and public affairs company based in the Philippines but servicing clients in Southeast Asia. His clients include the United States Agency for International Development, the EU, the Asian Development Bank, and the World Bank. He is former president of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines and a co-leader of the Risk and Crisis Working Group of the Asia Pacific Association of Communication Directors.

Seyhan Ayel


Seyhan is a Turkish national with a long marketing, strategy and PR history. She manages OptimoreGroup and Atlantis Consultants for more than 25 years, advising local and international companies, NGOs and government institutions. Seyhan has graduated from Sankt Georg Oesterreichishes Real Gymnasium and the Bosphorus University of Istanbul. Never losing an appetite for learning, she continues her studies in Boston University.

Sophia Kudjordji


Sophia Kudjordji is Ghanian and the acting chief corporate communications officer for the Jospong Group of Companies in Ghana. A development communicator with over 25 years’ work experience. Sophia holds a Masters in development communication from the Ghana Institute of Journalism, and an MBA in leadership and sustainability from the University of Cumbria, UK.

Svetlana Stavreva


Svetlana is Bulgarian and and a former public relations and communication professional at IBM in Europe. She was IPRA President 2019-2020. Svetlana has a masters degree in economics from the University of National and World Economy in Sofia, Bulgaria. She also holds a diploma from the UK Chartered Institute of Marketing. In her spare time she has been a journalist, lecturer and car racer.

Tamir Haas


Tamir is the founder of Tamir Haas Public Relations and Media Strategy, a public relations agency that operates in Israel and worldwide. Haas has 20 years of experience in PR for a wide range of clients, including corporations, start-ups, and non-profits. Tamir has also been an analyst on media and public relations matters, specializing on campaigns that require correlation between ideas and their implementation. He is IPRA GWA winner of 2023.

Tatevik Simonyan


Tatevik is Armenian and co-founder of SPRING PR. She is a strategic communications expert implementing projects in the CIS and Baltic countries. With more than 13 years of experience she specialises in international relations, CSR and event management. Tatevik is a business trainer with an emphasis on developing communications strategy, content marketing and visual communications. She is an visiting lecturer of strategic communications.

Tosin Adefeko


Tosin is Nigerian and Founder/CEO of AT3 Resources, an award-winning brand growth agency. She is a corporate executive with over 25 years’ experience. Over the last decade, Tosin has worked with META, Coca-Cola, Procter and Gamble, Guinness, Microsoft, Nokia, British Airways, and many more. She is passionate about gender equality and female empowerment. As a member of Women in Management and Business, she regularly chairs the communications committee of their annual conference.

Zehra Güngör


Zehra is Turkish and was IPRA president in 2014. She runs the communication consultancy, STAGE PR. Zehra has a Ph.D. in communications and diplomacy from Marmara University, Istanbul. A former journalist she is the founding member of the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey. Zehra is a lecturer, and keynote speaker in national and international conferences.



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