PRII AGM 2022 elects new National Council

Following the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, 8 December, David Geary, MPRII, has been elected President of The Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII).  

 

David Geary, MPRII, is the Director of Communications for the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), heading a large communications team in both Dublin and Belfast. Over the course of a 13-year career, David has worked within a variety of communication and public policy roles, mostly within the trade and representative sectors. 

David has served on the National Council of the PRII for several years, as a Council Member, Treasurer and most recently, Vice-President. 

Speaking following his election, David Geary said,

“The Irish public relations community is thriving, involved in every major organisation, government department and public campaign taking place on these shores. Our expertise and professionalism will be central to the success of organisational and societal responses to the shared challenges of our time – issues such as sustainability, social justice, human rights, equity and beyond. It is our dynamic, responsive and highly educated public relations teams that underpin Ireland’s status as a communications gateway to Europe and should be a key pillar of the government’s strategy to attract new business to the country”. 

Laura Wall, MPRII, Group Account Director for PR & Advocacy at Thinkhouse, was elected Vice-President. Laura’s experience is in Retail, Consumer Goods and Hospitality. Currently, she leads the Consumer PR Team and the Influencer Marketing team at Thinkhouse. Laura previously served on the National Council as a Council Member. 

The other members elected/re-elected to the National Council are: 

	Dr Karl Anderson, MPRII, Communications Consultant.
	Alex Connolly, FPRII, Head of Communications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
	Paul Hand, MPRII, Senior Press Officer, ESB.
	Jason Kiernan, MPRII, Senior Digital Communications Manager, Houses of the Oireachtas.
	David Kinch, MPRII, Director, MKC Communications.

They will be joined by Independent Council Member, Joan Mulvihill, Digitalisation and Sustainability Lead, Siemens, Ireland. 

The AGM also approved the awarding of Life Fellowship to Bernard Harbor, FPRII, former Head of Communications, FÓRSA. This is the highest honour that the PRII can bestow on a member. Life Fellows have championed, by example, the highest standards and implementation of the profession. 

Bernard Harbor, FPRII, former Head of Communications, FÓRSA.

PRII CEO Martina Byrne and the Institute’s Executive Team are very much looking forward to working with David closely over the next two years to continue the work and purpose of Ireland’s professional body for public relations and communications professionals.