The Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) NSW Young Guns has appointed two new Co-Chairs to lead the committee’s program. Abby Kent (right in lead image), senior account executive at Sling & Stone, and Anastasiia Nazarenko (left), account manager at Palin Communications, have stepped into their new roles to lead the team through its next chapter in supporting emerging PR practitioners in NSW.
Kent and Nazarenko succeed outgoing co-chairs Maya Ivanovic and Rachel King, who led the group from 2020.
The NSW Young Guns is a dedicated PRIA committee focused on providing a link to industry for up-and-coming communications practitioners and students. The group’s dedicated program and events aim to drive industry engagement and education, connect like-minded young professionals and maximise engagement opportunities with industry leaders.
Kent joined the NSW Young Guns in November 2021 and has participated in key speaking engagements on behalf of the committee at NSW universities and the 2022 PRIA National Conference, sharing her journey into industry and her experience working with high-profile startup and enterprise technology clients at Sling & Stone.
Kent said: “My exposure to PRIA’s junior networks through university was instrumental in my transition to industry, introducing me to many of the mentors I’m in touch with today. I joined the committee to ensure this connection between entry-level and senior practitioners is maintained, and am excited to be taking on a greater role in what this will look like for the Young Guns.”
Nazarenko is an emerging health PR leader at Palin Communication who has been a part of the NSW Young Guns for over two years. She has led the development of some of the NSW Young Guns’ most in-demand events, in line with her passion for providing emerging PR practitioners with a platform for networking and professional development.
Nazarenko said of her appointment: “I am excited to help extend the energy and enthusiasm of the PRIA NSW Young Guns into new, unchartered waters. There is a high demand for professional development opportunities among young communicators, and I am looking forward to work on strengthening our offering.”
The new co-chairs are united in their vision for the committee and see it continuing to focus on delivering value, inspiration and meaningful support to up-and-coming communication professionals through a fresh professional development offering in 2023.
Louise Harland-Cox, CEO of Public Relations Institute of Australia, congratulated the committee on the new appointments.
“The NSW Young Guns are a consistent source of support for our industry’s young and emerging professionals, from their ongoing mentoring opportunities to their popular networking and growing Facebook community,” said Harland-Cox. “I look forward to working with Abby and Ana to build upon the committee’s success as part of PRIA’s overall strategy for 2023.”
