The International Public Relations Association (IPRA) board has resolved to honour its former President Johanna McDowell with the title of Member Emeritus of IPRA in recognition for her service to IPRA and the PR profession over many years.
“It is a great honour for me to be recognised with the prestigious title of Member Emeritus. IPRA has been my guiding light through the course of my PR career which followed on my earlier advertising career activities. They gave me access to other international professionals and I always felt that we were at the leading edge of communications,” says McDowell.
“I joined IPRA in 1994, as I wanted to be part of an international PR organization when I started my first agency and the past 24 years have been memorable for the amount of change and development that the PR industry worldwide has been through,” adds McDowell.
With an impressive background that includes being on the agency and client side of the fence, McDowell has built her career in marketing and advertising since 1974. McDowell previously served as a member of the International Advertising Association (IAA), before being elected to the position of IPRA President in 2012, a global responsibility.
As a long-term member of this international organization since the early 90’s, McDowell saw this as an ideal opportunity to promote Africa to the world: a cause close to her heart. This indeed became the case when she used her experience and knowledge of the industry as the local organiser of the 2015 IPRA World Congress in South Africa which was attended by over 300 delegates from 38 countries.
“It is always a pleasure to create a new Member Emeritus”, says IPRA Secretary General Philip Sheppard. “Up until today there are just 16 others across the globe, and in total there have been only 38 since IPRA’s creation in 1955. Johanna is a deserved recipient of the title and a PR professional who will be remembered for a spectacular Congress in 2015 in Johannesburg.”
About IPRA:
IPRA, the International Public Relations Association, is the leading global network for Public Relations professionals. Membership is individual not corporate. It aims to further the development of open communication and the ethical practice of public relations. IPRA fulfils this aim through networking opportunities, its code of conduct and intellectual leadership of the profession. IPRA is the organiser of the annual Golden World Awards for excellence – PR’s global awards scheme. With 60 years of experience, IPRA, recognised by the United Nations, is now present throughout the world wherever public relations are practised. IPRA welcomes all those within the profession who share its aim and who wish to be part of the IPRA worldwide fellowship. For more information please visit: www.ipra.org
