Creating Connections for
African Communicators

 

Representing the global profession

Representing the Global Profession

Join IABC’s worldwide community of communication professionals and gain access to unparalleled guidance, skills development, networks and job opportunities.

Whether you’re a student, recent graduate, working professional or a corporate team member, IABC membership can help you advance in your career.

Developing Communications Careers

Some of the resources we provide are:

Local and Global Networking

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IABC has one of the most active global networks in the communication profession: members in over 70 countries and more than 100 chapters around the world.

Silver Quill Awards

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IABC Africa’s Regional Silver Quill Awards programme recognises business communication excellence across the continent, and is acknowledged as one of the most prestigious global communication awards.

World Conference

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IABC’s World Conference is held each year in June and is the paramount event for communication professionals, bringing more than 1,000 practitioners together for three days of learning and networking, with sessions that allow you to design your own program with career levels and multiple formats.

GCCC certification

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Professional certifications give you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise, and provide evidence of your outstanding abilities. If you’re interested in getting certified in the Africa region, contact us for details.

IABC Academy

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By partnering with known experts in specific communication specialties, the IABC Academy offers self-paced and on-demand courses that help you expand your knowledge of topics and best practices that are important for your professional growth.

Catalyst

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Stay up-to-date on the latest communication trends with IABC’s digital magazine.
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Meet your Local Board

Board Members:

Chair

Camilla Osborne

Camilla is a communications, marketing and reputation management specialist with over 14 years of experience. With a Masters from the London School of Economics, Camilla has a unique ability to apply traditional communications and marketing campaign skills to her passion of development, health and environmental issues. Camilla is currently the Strategic Communications Lead for Project Last Mile, an organisation that applies private sector expertise in marketing and communications to public health challenges in Africa. Previously, she spent eight years at The Coca-Cola Company with her last role being the Head of Communications for Southern & East Africa, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. She recently certified as an SCMP.
Vice Chair

Yemi Adeyemi

Yemi Adeyemi is a Strategic Communications Leader, Relationship Manager, Non-Technical Risk Assessor and Manager, Story Teller, and Life Coach. His rich career of about 20 years has taken him through the Nigerian Banking Industry and global firms, KPMG and Cadbury, and now Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG). At Cadbury Nigeria, he was Communications Manager and led communications strategy development and implementation for several corporate initiatives. Yemi joined NLNG in 2008 and has served the organisation in various roles. He is currently Ag. Manager, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, and is responsible for managing relationships with multiple stakeholder groups and promoting the Corporate Brand locally and globally. He also manages the administration of the Nigeria Prizes for Science and Literature, NLNG’s flagship CSR project and currently the biggest Prizes on the African Continent with a Prize money of USD 100,000 each.

As a Business Communicator, Yemi’s specialities and interests span; public relations, corporate social responsibility, sustainable development, brand development & management, integrated marketing communications, advertising, promotions, media relations, publications, web utilization and new media. He has managed, monitored and evaluated various projects and events, facilitated trainings and coaching sessions. He has developed and implemented strategies to deliver short-term and long-term business goals, and managed relationships with diverse stakeholders at various levels.

For leisure, Yemi finds pleasure in reading, travelling, meeting people and hosting events. He also enjoys teaching, coaching and mentoring young professionals. He has been a member of the IABC since 2009 and describes it as a professional family to which every Communicator should belong.

Past Chair + Treasurer & Director of Governance

Amanda Hamilton-Attwell

Dr. Amanda Hamilton-Attwell is the founder and Executive Director of BusinessDNA. For more than two decades BusinessDNA has offered specialized business communication services to local and global companies. Amanda holds a PhD in Communication Science from the University of South Africa, she's an Accredited Business Communicator and Fellow of the International Association for Business Communicators (IABC). With over three decades of experience, she's influenced the communication profession as a lecturer, researcher, consultant, and strategic advisor. Her business aligned strategic communication interventions have benefitted numorous local and global companies, She chaired the IABC Africa Region, was an IABC Research Foundation Trustee, and co-chaired the IABC Career Road Map team. In 2014 she received the IABC Chairman's Award and in 2021 the Rae Hamblin award for her role in the work group tha developed the Career Assessment Tool for Communication Professionals. As an adept evaluator she has served on numerous local and global Blue Ribbon Panels, including on Canada East and Canada West panels. She develop the communication awards programme for teriary institutions to a level where it is now a feeding ground for Quill award entries.
Director of Professional Development & Events

Christine Breet

Christine is a seasoned freelance consultant with over 30 years of extensive experience spanning non-profit, government, and private sectors. Her expertise includes communication management, change management, stakeholder engagement, business development, research, community projects, social investment, training, and facilitation. She became an SCMP in 2022.

A dedicated professional committed to enhancing client ROI and fostering shared value, Christine excels in business communication development. She embraces collaborative teamwork and leverages creative design thinking to drive project success.

Commencing her career as a strategic business communicator and project manager in the private sector, Christine transitioned through local government, defence, health, and non-profit domains. She founded her own strategic communication consultancy and cultivated robust partnerships across private and government sectors, focusing on tailored communication strategies.

Christine actively contributes to community research, development initiatives, and project facilitation, prioritising interactive and sustainable approaches. She recognises effective stakeholder engagement and communication as pivotal to project triumph.

As the founder of Christine Breet Communication, she holds esteemed roles as a judge for prestigious awards like Silver Quill, Blue Ribbon for International Quills, Atlanta IABC Silver Quills, and IABC Southern Region Silver Quill Awards. She is a judge for the South African Publication Awards, served as a board member for IAP2 SADC and partook in the United States International Visitor Leadership Program.

Possessing adept project management, training, and facilitation skills, Christine conducts diverse communication courses. Noteworthy media feats include amplifying media presence for NGOs and cultural organisations on limited budgets.

Christine is a respected speaker, facilitator, and lecturer who imparts wisdom at universities and delivers courses for organisations. Committed to NPOs, she lends support in communication needs and advisory capacities.

Christine's accolades include the IABC International Best of the Best Award, Gold Quill, and Silver Quill for the VWSA Communication Excellence Training for Leaders program (as an associate for Devcom). She contributed to the Aurecon team's Gold Award for International Facilitation for the Assmang Housing Project and earned recognition for work on the Kom uit vir Afrikaans campaign. She garnered the SACOB award for Best Membership Growth during her tenure with the Witbank Chamber of Commerce.

Director of Memberships

Babs Naidoo

I am currently the Head: Stakeholder Management and Communications at the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF). I am also a permanent member of the GEPF Executive team and ex-officio member of the GEPF Board Committees. My responsibility includes strategic counsel to the Board and management of the GEPF with respect to stakeholder management, communications, marketing, advertising and media relations while overseeing the organizations Stakeholder Management and Communication division. I believe I am one of the foremost experts in communication and reputation management in the public service in South Africa. As a reputation, communication and marketing professional, I have in excess of 30 years’ experience across a multitude of organisations across the public sector including serving as head of communications for Ministers Kader Asmal and Ronnie Kasrils in the Mandela and Mbeki Governments. This experience has been punctuated by senior leaderships roles in the private sector as well. I possess a wealth of experience in the field of reputation management, media relations, communications, employee engagement, marketing, event management and stakeholder development/relations. I previously served as the Group Executive: Partnership Development and Communication at the South African Revenue Service. My career has also seen me head up communication and stakeholder management divisions at the South African Revenue Service, Communication Service Agency (CSA) at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) and the Ministry of Water Affairs and Forestry. My private sector experience also includes a stint as the Managing Director of Simeka TWS Communications, a Communications Consultancy.
Director for the Quill Awards

Theresa Lee

With more than 30 years’ of experience across a wide range of industries, I have worked in most facets of corporate communication – internal communication, sponsorship management, media liaison, reputation management, and change management. Across my roles at different organisations, I have worked with local leadership teams and management in African countries, as well as contributed to international communication strategy.
My strongest skill (and greatest passion) is language – writing editing, and proofreading – all in pursuit of creating understanding with the target audience. The written word is followed closely by effective internal communication. I have created and implemented strategies, developed new channels, and supported leadership to ensure effective communication that supports company goals.
I have been recognised internally and externally for my work. In 2013 I received a Communication Star at Saint-Gobain for developing health and safety communication for blue-collar workers. The newspaper, Your Life, was also named Newspaper of the Year by the South African Publications Forum in the same year.
In 1999 I was awarded the Editor of the Year accolade by the Southern African Association of Industrial Editors. In 2023, I received the Best of the Best award in the category Communication Training & Education in the IABC’s Gold Quill Awards Programme.
Director for Membership and Members at Large (Western Africa)

Nkem Emezie-Ejinima

Nkem is a member of International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Africa- West Africa Interest Group. Over the past decade and half, she has worked in the energy sector in various areas of the Communications and External Relations function. She began her career in Private Wealth and Asset Management team for an international bank with strong presence in emerging markets. Through her training in the Global Reporting Initiative, she gained interest in sustainability and works on incorporating sustainabe processes and sustainability practices in organisational culture and communication startegy. She holds an undergraduate degree in Politics and Economics from Oxford Brookes University, and a Masters in Comparative Legal Studies from The University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), both in the United Kingdom.

Senior Coordinators:

Member Events

Cecilia Peens

I am a highly focused and accomplished professional with +- 37 years of experience, a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Stakeholder Engagement and Communication across Corporate and Mega Projects, and qualified Neurozone Coach.

My strengths are adaptability, collaboration, change innovation, creative, planning, developing, individualisation, strategic thinking and service orientated. My greatest asset is my extensive knowledge and expert skills set and ability to work and communicate with all different generations, levels and culture.

My extensive skill set includes:, External and Internal Communication Crisis Management, Change Management, Transformational Communication, Integration Communication High Performance Team Culture Initiatives and Implementation, Creative Concept Development, Event Management, Conferences, Media Relations, Branding, Marketing, Project Coordination, Budget, Resource Planning, Community Projects, Publications and Electronic media & Videos.

Event Management is one of my core skills. I have throughout my career coordinated from concept to execution:
• Conferences (technical, non-technical, knowledge sharing, motivational speakers, and colloquiums)
• Recognition and Awards functions,
• Team alignment sessions,
• Year-end functions,

• Behavioural and Change campaigns,
• Wellness days,
• Celebration events,
• Exhibitions,
• Trade shows,
• Science Week
• Communication days.

Since April this year I have ventured into the world of being a business entrepreneur and started my own company consulting company, Conciela Services and is currently consulting for various clients.

Thought Leadership & Content Creation

Ilse Blank

I am a seasoned communication executive with 29 years of experience and a strong track record of business-to-business communication excellence in Africa, Europe, UK, Middle East, India, Russia, China, Singapore and USA.

My personal mission is to use my unique skills to connect people to create greater understanding and cooperation, and help companies earn and keep the trust of their stakeholders through authentic communication.

In 2017 I left the corporate world to start my own communication agency together with a business partner. I am the Managing Partner of Melagrana Pty Ltd, a specialist communication and change management firm based in South Africa, with a number of international clients. In addition to running and growing our firm, I am involved in the delivery of strategic communication, reputation management, digital, integrated reporting, marketing, and change management engagements. Our clients are mainly in professional services, banking and financial services, cyber, technology, energy, and manufacturing.

Collaborating closely with executives and their teams, I am skilled at advising clients on all aspects of communication strategy. The combination of my business acumen and business writing skills also uniquely positions me as a ghost writer for a number of international C-Suite executives. I help my clients communicate complex concepts and difficult messages internally and externally, while navigating their various reputational risk and regulatory environments. I have first-hand experience in client relationship management, general business management, and a strong understanding of financial and non-financial reporting. Personally, I deeply value integrity and honour confidentiality. This is reflected in the trust placed in me by clients to manage sensitive issues.

I hold a B.A. Hons (Communication) and am a certified change management practitioner. I am the proud recipient of an IABC Silver Quill Award and two Gold Quill Awards in recognition for my writing and change communication expertise.

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilse-blank/

Silver Quills & Blue Ribbon Panel

Elsabe Coetzee

XXXX I'm a seasoned Business Lead with 30+ years of expertise in guiding communication strategy, ideation, and nurturing executive competencies. Since 1993, I've crafted communication solutions that reshape perceptions, engage audiences, and drive outcomes. Through CommStrat Communication & Ideation, I collaborate with experts spanning manufacturing, healthcare, entertainment, agriculture, and engineering.

My niche empowers organizations through strategic communication and fostering executive growth. Specializing in enhancing capabilities, fostering collaboration, building trust, and reinforcing culture, I drive productivity during change and optimize talent attraction. With a knack for remote work, I ensure effective collaboration.

I excel in measurable communication on time and budget. Expertise extends to external communication, brand building, reputation management, and stakeholder engagement. I stay ahead with industry trends.

In guiding executive expertise, employee engagement, operational communication, change management, and brand communication, I develop strategies aligned with goals, engage employees, manage projects, and lead change.

Content creation skills span scripting, editing, copywriting, and visual communication. I'm data-savvy, conducting research, surveys, and testing. Proficient in brand communication, I leverage digital channels.

Mentorship recognition includes IABC and Southern Africa Corporate Awards. I evaluate Gold Quill and Silver Quill Standards, contributing to communication growth.

In a dynamic world, I innovate, drive results, empower executives, and ensure impactful communication.

Certification

Karlien Delport Botha

Karlien is a seasoned, experienced Brand, Marketing & Communication specialist with extensive industry experience in FMCG, Manufacturing B2B and B2C markets across Africa.
Throughout her career spanning over two decades, she has gained specialist insight into strategic planning through cultural relevance in both existing, as well as emerging and new markets.

She started her career in development communications, having been part of the startup team of one of South-Africa’s first community foundations back in 2000. Her career evolved into strategic advertising, and from there she spent over a decade in corporate strategic brand management for large multi-national organizations.

She recently joined one of South-Africa’s most award-winning Communication consultancies as a communication consultant, where she is adding value with her niche experience base.

Karlien is also a certified Transformation coach and in her recent career has moved into a space where she is further developing her skills in internal communications, change communication and employee engagement.

Membership Drive (East Africa)

Carol Warui Ogilvy

Carol is a seasoned communications expert, her extensive knowledge and practice in Corporate Communications, Sustainability Marketing, and unique approach to PR and Digital (PR2.0) provides a dynamic foundation to providing communication solutions.
She has over the years worked on local and multinational brands in establishing their presence in local and international markets. A few notable brands that she has handled include AIG Insurance Ltd and MERCK Healthcare which she worked closely with providing strategic direction to their communications in East Africa as well as invaluable PR counsel to the Management team. She has led the Coca-Cola East and Central Africa Franchise agency communications team for over five years where she was involved in Brand, Sustainability and Corporate Communications.

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