I’ve just returned from the World PR Festival in Cape Town – twelve hours in economy plus and an hour’s wait at Heathrow while they tried to find us a gate to dock with! With a new business pitch this afternoon and a board meeting tomorrow morning I could have used that extra hour.
This is my first overseas trip of the year, but I thought it important to attend. As I mentioned earlier this week, I gave a speech on the role of public affairs in a democratic society – pointing out that this can have either a beneficial or negative effect. In southern Africa I highlighted the fact that Global Public Relations had been retained by the Zambian government to highlight their drive against corruption – and to fend off the demands of a ‘vulture fund’ who were trying to ramp up an original debt of $3.5m in to a final payment of $55m. But I also pointed to the example of Zimbabwe, where the government control over all media and intolerance of all opposition makes it virtually impossible to practice PR or PA in any meaningful way. I also suggested that the decision of the UN to hand Zimbabwe the chair of the Sustainable Development Commission was ludicrous.
Peter Walker, Colin Farrington and Lis Lewis-Jones also made strong contributions, both in the main conference chamber and in the workshops and break-out sessions. So the UK contingent acquitted itself very well, and Colin’s contribution was recognised by his appointment as chairman of the Global Alliance.
The main thing I wanted to take away from the WPRF however was a stronger feel for the mix of sessions which will work best when we are the hosts in 2008. We are determined to make this an unqualified success – in commercial as well as PR terms. The debrief on WPRF 2007 starts next week – and from that the plans for 2008 can be firmed up.
The CIPR is highly regarded worldwide and we are often called upon to provide leadership – and speakers. We don’t always respond positively to these requests, and when we do the costs are often met by the hosts. There is very much a hard commercial edge to these activities. PR is booming around the world, and the demand for courses and qualifications is correspondingly strong. Our aim is to translate our reputation and our expertise in providing training and qualifications in to a commercial asset for the CIPR. Centres throughout Europe and Africa now use CIPR courses – and the potential in the far east is enormous.
So Heather Yaxley is right to hold us to account for our overseas trips. But between the necessity to make sure that the WPRF 2008 is a success, and the huge opportunities which the global expansion of PR as a discipline and a profession present, I hope we are striking the right balance between watching costs and investing in the future.
Thank you for your update and I look forward to hearing more about the plans for the 2008 Festival in London.
I am sure CIPR will ensure that sessions and outcomes from the event will have a much higher online presence so that ideas and debates can reach the wider PR fraternity than those able to attend international events.
Posted by: Heather Yaxley | 18 May 2007 at 08:26 AM