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PR/Corporate Communications & Publications Awards Judging Committee

Chair:

Murat Avalin, Founder & CEO, CANVAS Communications & Consultancy
Istanbul, Turkey

Murat Avalin is the founder of CANVAS Communications & Consultancy. He has over 25 years of experience in public relations and corporate communications. He has managed the communication strategies of local and global brands in different sectors. His areas of expertise include public relations, media relations, crisis management, CSR projects, leadership communications, digital communications, and influencer marketing.

After graduating from Bosphorus University Physics and Philosophy departments, he completed the Strategic Marketing Program of Cornell University Johnson Graduate School in Ithaca, New York.

Committee: 

Zainab Ansari, Managing Director & CEO
Xenith PR (Pvt.) Ltd, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
A corporate image professional & Public Relations specialist with over forty-five years of a high profile and successful career in large multinationals and reputable organizations.  Zainab regularly conducts training on Crisis Management, Marketing Strategies & Analysis, Management Techniques, Public Relations, Time Management, to marketing/sales and Public Relations Managers of various organizations.

Mauricio Carrandi, CEO Mexico
LLYC (Llorente y Cuenca), México City, Distrito Federal, México

Executive with more than 20 years´ experience in communications, marketing, PR and advertising. From communication/consulting/advertising agency startup to corporate image, marketing and managing director of multinational firm. Always focused on business results, client satisfaction and strategic creativity.

Mary DiMaggio-Finley, President
Legato Communications Etc., Inc., Columbia, Maryland, United States

Mary has over 25 years of experience in strategic multi-media corporate and health communications, focusing on consumer products, social marketing, Federal Government health, and brand management. She consults with small business organizations, providing medical and health communications to pharmaceutical clients, non-profits, health and social media influencers, and self-help authors.

Yurii Dudka, CEO
MediaStar TV School, Cupertino, California, United States

Yurii Dudka, a Ukrainian-American producer, communication teacher, journalist, and PhD in Economics, Founder/CEO of MediaStar. With a passion for shaping media journeys, he established MediaStar TV School to meet the demand for media skills. Yurii aims to unlock potential, cultivate influential careers, and make a lasting impact through media.

Maria Eça, Director of Public Affairs and Crisis
LLYC, Lisbon, Portugal

Maria leads and develops the Public Affairs and Crisis Management areas at LLYC in Portugal. She has more than 15 years’ experience in strategic communications consulting and journalism. She believes in the strategic role of Public Affairs both for companies and public authorities.

Ignacio Fossati, CEO  
Fossati PR, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
An AV technology industry PR professional and former journalist with more than 20 years of experience. Founder of Fossati PR, a Spanish-based public relations agency specialized in the AV, entertainment technology, and broadcast industries working for AV manufacturers, associations, distributors, and integrators. He is a member of AVIXA and an AVIXA-Recognized AV Technologist.

Kristina Garcia, International Marketing Professional
Economic Development, Walnut Creek, California, United States

Kristina L. García has twenty years of experience in economic development, strategic planning, and marketing. She represented the German states of Berlin, Hessen, and Bavaria, and Finland. She works across industries from IT to autotech. She holds a B.A. from the University of Kansas and Friedrich-Alexander Üniversität in Erlangen, Germany.

Marlene Gaspar, General Director
LLYC, Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal

Responsible for LLYC's operation in Lisbon since January 2023. Responsible for the areas of Engagement and Deep Digital at LLYC in Portugal for 6 years. Degrees in Public Relations and Advertising from INP, post-graduate in Marketing and International Business from INDEG-ISCTE and certified in Doing Digital from NOVA SBE.

Anishkaa Gehani, CEO & Founder
Yardstick Marketing, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Anishkaa Gehani is a seasoned Marketing Consultant with almost two decades of multi-functional experience. As the Founder of Yardstick Marketing Management, she helps companies create compelling personal and organizational brands through effective storytelling.  Anishkaa has worked with over 1000 brands and supported a portfolio of Fortune 500 companies in the Middle East.

Boyan Ivanovich, Corporate Communications Director
Yettel Bulgaria, Sofia, Bulgaria

Currently, she is Corporate Communications Director at Yettel Bulgaria, the leading telecom operator on the Bulgarian market. Previous experience includes being the CEO of the leading Bulgarian PR agency, d:istinkt. Have consulted brands from diverse industries, including media powerhouse Netflix, Gilead, Reckitt Benckiser, Horizon Therapeutics, Telenor, and FMCG leaders Lidl, Kaufland.

Monika Jaslowska, Transformation Advisor           
Polpharma Group, Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland

Monika is a Transformation Advisor at Polpharma Group and a sinologist with over 20 years of experience in communication. She managed branding, products, and corporate brands in Poland and abroad. Jaslowska develops an internal innovation program, transforms the company's culture. Nominated for the Diversity and Inclusion Management Board Representative position.

James Lee-Tullis, Director
Independent Consultant, Munich, Bavaria, Germany

James Lee-Tullis has over 25 years’ experience creating and leading award-winning customer communication and loyalty channels for world-class brands. Previously serving as Head of Content, Editorial Director, Editor-in-Chief, Publisher, and Chief Strategy Officer, he works today as a consultant, helping clients optimize content and enrich their customer journey.

Meta Magdalena, CEO
PT Desain Nindya Amarta (DNA Komunika)
Jakarta Selatan, DKI Jakarta, Indonesia

Andreina Martinez, Communications Manager
Anexa BPO, Mexico City, Mexico

Andreina Martínez is an award-winning Communications Specialist experienced in Corporate Communication, branding, visual communications, and digital media. Her focus is to create high quality, immersive, creative, relevant content that engages with audiences through different channels and mediums. She was recently awarded the Masters Excellence Scholarship by the University of Leeds.

Ana María Matulic, Executive Director
Headline Communications, Santiago, Region Metropolitana, Chile

Ana María is a journalist who holds a degree in Social Communication and a Master's in Business Management from Universidad Adolfo Ibañez. Headline, a strategic communications agency, advises over 200 companies across various sectors, directing projects for companies like Abbott, Xerox, Johnson & Johnson, Laboratorio Chile TEVA, IPRN, PR LATAM, and AMCHAM.

Carlos Maya, PR Vice President 
another, Mexico City, México
Carlos Maya has more than 20 years of experience working as a consultant in Communications Strategies, Crisis Management and Corporate Reputation. He's been in another for +5 years where he leads the PR area as VP.


 

Eliza Misiecka, General Director
GENESIS PR POLAND, Warszawa, Mazovian, Poland

Eliza Misiecka, PhD, founder and head of the GENESIS PR agency, since 1994 in the PR industry. She specializes in corporate and financial PR, crisis communication management and investor relations. She has run over 700 long-term PR campaigns for private companies and public institutions.


 

Olga (Olya) Osokina, Founder
UME Tech, Los Angeles, California, United States

Olga is shortlisted in the top ten women in Tech and a ten-time finalist and winner of the Stevie Award, including Innovator of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year. Producer for founders, focusing on PR strategy, brand capitalization, and technology innovation for maximum recognition and business process capitalization.

Ceren Öztoprak Altunok, Supervisor
Borusan Cat, İstanbul, Maltepe, Türkiye
Ceren is a graduate of Comparative Literature and Communication from İstanbul Bilgi University. After 3 years of experience in a public relations agency (IMAGE, one the firsts in Türkiye), Ceren joined Starbucks / Shaya Group. In 2021, Ceren started working at Borusan Cat, which operates in 3 industries (construction, resource, energy and transportation) in 6 countries.

Suha Pyarasani, Mechanical Engineer P.E.
G&B, United States

Rekha Rao, Managing Director
Zeno Group, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Rekha has 25 years of experience in advertising, corporate communications, marketing, and public relations, specializing in FMCG, consumer, lifestyle, and purpose communications. She has worked on campaigns like Lifebuoy's hand hygiene program and Vicks' #TouchOfCare campaign. Rekha has been on several award juries, including Global PR Week Awards and Stevie Awards.

Jody Sunna, Vice President, Corporate Communications
Philip Morris International, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland

Jody has more than two decades of PR experience. She joined Philip Morris International in 2018 for the opportunity to help the company deliver a smoke-free future. Prior to PMI she was EVP, General Manager of Havas PR North America. She is a graduate of Purdue University.

Gabriel Tan, Chief Communications Officer
Prince Holding Group, Phnom Penh Capital, Cambodia
Gabriel Tan (GT) is a seasoned communications strategist overseeing Prince Holding Group's messaging. With a track record of award-winning achievements, GT collaborates with leadership and stakeholders to effectively articulate the Group's vision. GT's extensive experience spans agency, in-house, and entrepreneurial roles across multiple locations. GT holds an honors degree in Business Studies and is trained in ESG reporting by the Global Reporting Initiative.

Robyn Vogels, Director and Owner
Personnel Relocations, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

The Director and Founder of Personnel Relocations in Australia since 2008.  Robyn is the Co-Author of Amazon best seller, "Your DIY Move Guide to Australia".  She is an international relocation specialist and respected corporate global mobility professional across Australia.