Ray Shaw to lead PRIA as new CEO

The Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) has appointed Ray Shaw as Chief Executive Officer to lead the executive team supporting its diverse and vibrant membership across Australia.

“Shaw brings impeccable business, innovation and engagement skills to the CEO role,” said PRIA National President, Mike Watson.

“As CEO, Shaw will increase the PR Institute’s services and engagement to more than two thousand members, plus 85 PRIA leaders in every state and territory who deliver robust programs for education, mentoring, industry research, consultancy business management and policy.

“This appointment advances a reorganisation signalled by the new PRIA board in February. Redesigned events and services since then have delivered financial success for the organisation and returned the PR Institute to profit this year.

“Shaw understands that PRIA is strategically bridging the communication gap between boardroom advisors and our young gun practitioners. He has working experience with the diversity of our professional members from consultancy, corporate, government, not-for-profit, and academic practice.”

Ray Shaw will join the PRIA as its new CEO

Shaw started his career in membership organisations before launching a PR consultancy in Brisbane called Intermedia, which became one of Queensland’s biggest. Shaw transformed Intermedia into Australia’s largest meeting and event management firm, Event Planners Australia, which he sold in 2010 to the world’s leading event agency, Swiss based MCI.

Shaw has been a state and national PRIA councillor, served as Chairman of the Brisbane Visitors and Convention Bureau and was on the board of the Meetings Industry Association.

His experience as a freelance journalist and commentator on technology issues for business and consumers during the past twenty years will help drive PRIA services during the convergence of digital and traditional communication.

“The CEO role provides unique opportunities to build recognition for strategic communicators. As Australia’s peak communication body, PRIA is working on projects from increasing the use of valid measurement, offering career development to new practitioners and senior strategists, advising on lobbyist legislation, accrediting 30 universities and running flagship events such as the 2014 national conference in Brisbane immediately following the G20 Summit. I am excited to be able to give something back to my profession by building these programs and engaging greater numbers of PR professionals,” said Shaw.

Mike Watson said the PR Institute was indebted to interim CEO, Graham Le Roux, for supporting the full time secretariat team, and helping restructure the Institute’s financial performance since March.

“We cannot recommend Graham highly enough and want to keep him involved with existing and future projects,” Watson stated emphatically.

About the Public Relations Institute of Australia www.pria.com.au The Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) is the national industry body for public relations and communication professionals in Australia. PRIA, in its 65^th year, represents and provides professional support and recognition to over 2,000 individual practitioners and more than 125 consultancies nationwide. Since 1949, it’s been PRIA’s role to promote and enhance the professional communication to the broader community. PRIA adheres to the highest standards of ethical practice and represent public relations practitioners in the best interests of the profession.

For more information contact:

Neil O’Sullivan

National Marketing and Communication Manager Public Relations Institute of Australia neil.osullivan@pria.com.au Tel: 0452 460 933

Available for interview:

Ray Shaw

Chief Executive Officer Public Relations Institute of Australia Tel: 0419 702 660

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