EXCLUSIVE: Jon Bisset, CEO of the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA), has resigned from the role after more than three years at the helm of the peak industry body.

Bisset would not be drawn on the details of his next endeavour but confirmed to B&T it was an executive level role at a not-for-profit company which had connections to PR and media.

PRIA has not confirmed a replacement for Bisset but is directing all enquiries to Terri-Helen Gaynor, MD of PR agency, Reputation.

Bisset is currently a board director of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, Connecting Up Australia and of the Australasian Society of Association Executives.

He has also served as CEO of the Council on the Ageing (NSW), deputy CEO of the Fundraising Institute Australia and as GM Operations for Netball Australia.

In August critics speculated that the Communications Council’s new Public Relations Council (PRC) would usurp the powers of PRIA, but Bisset said this had not happened.  

“I don’t think so. PRIA has been through a lot of changes over the last three years. We were nine organisations and have merged into one.

“Like a lot of peak originations there is a lot of competition. It’s not just the PR Council it’s the International Association of Business Communications (IABC), it’s the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) and others. There always have been lots of competing organisations.

“I’m sure PRIA and the PR Council will work together and co-operate in the future.”

He starts his new role in February.