2024-2025 International Executive Board Slate
IABC Announces New International Executive Board Members
CHICAGO, May 24, 2024 — The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) has announced the newest members selected to serve on the association’s international executive board (IEB). With a primary responsibility for ensuring proper governance and financial oversight for the association, IEB members serve as volunteers for one to three years. The IABC takes pride in representing professional communicators around the globe.
As the governing body of IABC, the IEB leads the organization’s strategic direction, including its mission to set the global standard of excellence for business communication. Selection to become a board member includes putting forth an application and conducting an interview with previous board members. While IABC members with experience serving in a leadership role at the chapter or region level is recommended, there is no requirement. The 2024–2025 IEB slate will be presented to IABC members for ratification at the upcoming Annual General Meeting on 23 June 2024.
The continuing IEB members are: John Harris and Matt Tidwell, Ph. D.
Chair (two-year term)
Kamyar Naficy
Kamyar Naficy is managing director of Alberin, a strategic communications consultancy for finance, technology and sustainability. With over 20 years of experience, Kamyar advises clients in the US, Europe and the Middle East on all aspects of corporate, financial and marketing communications. Prior to working at Alberin, Kamyar held senior communications positions at JP Morgan, London Stock Exchange Group and UniCredit. Earlier in his career, he worked in investment banking and management consulting. He holds a BA from the London School of Economics and a MPhil in Management Studies from Cambridge University.
Immediate Past Chair (one-year term)
Maliha Aqeel, PMP, SCMP, MC
Maliha Aqeel, PMP, SCMP, MC, is Founder & CEO of The Ideas Collective Inc., an independent consulting firm bringing brand purpose to life through content, customers and culture. She has worked in corporate and agency roles for almost 20 years, connecting the dots between brand, marketing and communications to drive business objectives. She is a long-time IABC volunteer and is a regular speaker at industry conferences. She has won several IABC Gold Quill awards for brand development, content marketing, publications and internal communications, including two Gold Quill “Best of the Best” awards for employee engagement and COVID-19 response management and communications.
Vice Chair (three-year term with automatic succession to Chair and Past Chair)
Anuja Kale Agarwal
Anuja is an accomplished global communications professional, with over 30 years of experience in communications, in the insurance, banking, financial and professional services industry in Asia, US and Canada. She is currently the National Communications Director at PwC Canada. Anuja is also actively engaged in CSR and DEI initiatives, and has served on several Diversity and Inclusion Councils. She is currently serving as the Chair of the IABC Global DEI Committee, and is the Co-chair of the DEIB Special Interest Group, IABC. In her free time, Anuja coaches and mentors graduate students and young executives on building their personal brand and executive presence. She is also a guest speaker and writer on topics such as leadership communication and engagement. She holds an MBA in Marketing and has a Bachelor of Commerce, with a specialization in Advanced Accounting and Auditing.
Treasurer & Secretary (two-year term)
Ed Kamrin, SCMP
Based in San Francisco, Ed has more than 25 years of communications experience. He heads a consulting agency specializing in change communications, corporate social impact, and sustainability reporting services for large and mid-sized organizations. An IABC member since 2007, Ed has served the organization in many key roles, including chapter president, region chair, and chair of the Gold Quill Awards. After graduating with high honors from Swarthmore College, Ed worked in Finland for eight years, where he completed postgrad studies at the University of Helsinki.
Regional Directors (one-year term)
Amanda Atwell, ABC, CPRP, IABC Fellow, FGSCE
Dr. Amanda Hamilton-Attwell, PhD, ABC, CPRP, IABC Fellow, FGSCE, is a trailblazer in the field of business communication, with a career spanning over four decades. As the founder and Executive Director of BusinessDNA, she has been at the forefront of offering specialised communication services to companies in Africa.
Amanda holds a PhD in Communication Science from the University of South Africa. She is an accredited Business Communicator (ABC) and a Fellow of the International Association for Business Communicators (IABC) and the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence (CSCE).
She has chaired the IABC Africa Region several times, served as an IABC Research Foundation Trustee, the IEB, and co-chaired the IABC Career Road Map team. In 2014, Dr Hamilton-Attwell received the IABC Chairman's Award, and as a member of the team that developed the Career Assessment Tool for Communication Professionals, the Rae Hamblin Award in 2021.
Kane Errol Choa, APR
Kane Errol Choa, APR is the Vice President of Corporate Communications at ABS-CBN Corporation, a leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines. Kane is a communication leader with 30 years of experience in public relations, media, and the academe. He has served as Chair and Awards Director of IABC Asia Pacific and as Chair and President of IABC Philippines. His contributions to the field have been recognized with Gold Quill Awards, and he has played key roles on the Gold Quill Philippine Blue Ribbon Panel. Kane also imparts his expertise as a part-time faculty member at the University of Santo Tomas. He holds a Master of Science degree in Media and Communications with Merit from The London School of Economics and Political Science as a British Chevening scholar.
Marie Fitzpatrick, ABC, BA - Journalism
Marie is Founder and CEO of Fitzpatrick Communications and teaches writing and communications for Conestoga College. With more than 20 years of experience, Marie brings a unique perspective to her work as a former TV anchor and journalist. As a trusted strategic advisor, she’s counseled City Managers and Mayors of the largest cities in Canada, as well as CEOs and industry leaders. As an internationally awarded communicator in corporate and crisis communications, public relations, marketing and media relations, she brings a contagious energy to all her projects with the ability to crystallize ideas for bottom line results. As an avid storyteller, she inspires teams to tell meaningful stories that create a ‘wow’ factor for audiences.
A steadfast champion of IABC, she’s been a member for more than 20 years holding positions of Chair of the Canada East Region, the second largest region in the world, Vice President on the regional aboard and President at the Chapter level.
She holds a degree in Journalism and certificate in Public Relations from Ryerson University (Professors Peter Mansbridge - CBC’s The National and Mark Starowicz - The Journal), and a certificate from the DeGroote School of Business in Effective Risk and Crisis Communication.
Richard Kies, ABC
Richard is a non-profit leader with over 20 years of experience as an executive director, development manager, crisis communicator, and mentor of staff and volunteer teams. He is currently Vice President of Development for the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan. His communications experience includes 15 years with the Canadian Red Cross, where he was deployed to wildfire disasters in British Columbia and Fort McMurray, Alberta. Richard joined IABC in 1997, obtained his ABC designation in 2011, and had led at the chapter and regional levels in western Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Administration degree and a Certificate in Public Relations from the University of Regina. Richard believes in giving back both locally and globally through voluntary leadership roles.
Karen Matthews
Karen Matthews is the Associate Director, Engagement at RMIT Europe and based in Barcelona, Spain. She has over 20 years of experience as a communications practitioner in industry, higher education, government and not-for-profit in Australia, Vietnam, Spain and Canada. At IABC, Karen is the current Past Chair EMENA Region and has previously served on the World Conference Planning Advisory Committee. In 2023, Karen received an honourable mention as IABC Rising Leader of the Year.
Ellen Vander Linden, SCMP
Ellen Vander Linden, An independent consultant with more than 20 years of experience in communications and marketing. Her work spans a variety of industries: consumer goods, health care, higher education, manufacturing, medical device, nonprofit and retail. Prior to starting her consulting career, Ellen spent nine years with consumer electronics retailer Best Buy Co., Inc. focused on internal communications for the company’s 150,000 employees.
She is a committed IABC volunteer and served in chapter leadership roles (finance, communications, and sponsorship) with both the Austin and Minnesota chapters. Ellen resides in Minnesota today where she continues to lead the East Metro Community Group. As vice chair and chair of the Pacific Plains region, she oversaw region consolidation and formation of the United States region. An Iowa State University graduate, Ellen earned her bachelor’s degree in Marketing and is a certified Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP).
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About IABC
The IABC is the leading global association connecting communication professionals with the people and insights necessary to drive results. Bringing together the profession’s collective disciplines, the IABC delivers on the Global Standard in communication through local chapters and regions; educational offerings; certification; awards; a proprietary resource library; diverse voices; and worldwide conferences.
Contact Information:
Sarah Mitchell | SMitchell@IABC.com | 312.673.5817