The Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) today announced the election of new national president, Jennifer Muir FPRIA, and new deputy national president, Jacquie Ray MPRIA. Muir is the general manager of primary communication and Ray is the managing director of Timmins Ray.

Muir was elected national president unopposed, replacing Mike Watson FPRIA, who successfully led two years of profit growth at the PRIA. Watson remains on the board as the immediate past president. Ray replaces outgoing deputy national president Allison Lee FPRIA (Destination NSW).

Muir will drive the PRIA National Strategic Plan 2015-2017, with a particular focus on continued financial sustainability, membership growth, and strengthened professional development and education frameworks.

“Public Relations and Communication is one of the few professions forecast to grow over the next five years, according to conservative Australian Government analysis. PRIA is a crucial bridge from the first job to the ultimate job, and our professional skills are essential in communities and in boardrooms,” Muir said.

“Professional members in every state and territory reap the benefit of PRIA’s policies, activities and involvement with issues such as lobbying and workplace rights. PRIA delivers a multitude of valuable benefits for members, such as driving the recognition of the value of communication for company directors and governance, delivering mentoring and professional education with PRIA accredited tertiary institutions, and forming the new emerging practitioners group.

“Our members are public relations and communication professionals – they lead organisations with strategic thinking at the forefront, rather than just making announcemens or polishing old-fashioned press releases at the end of a strategic initiative.

“Corporations, government and NGOs know that success comes from having strategic communicators at the decision making table. It is our role, as the peak professional body, to support strategic communicators by providing access to the best international knowledge centres and by putting solid policy and professional development programs in place.

“We will steer this profession through the implementation of the first global Professional Framework, the new industry blueprint for professional development, education and career mapping. We have strong industry led partnerships with all levels of tertiary education, recruitment, human resources and professional development.

“I am delighted to have been elected as president. Mike Watson and the National Board have done a fantastic job over the past two years. There are more than 100 senior volunteers helping to run incredible PRIA initiatives for our members in every state and territory of Australia.

“It is an exciting period to take the helm of the Institute and to lead it into this new era.”