PRCA MENA, the Middle East and North Africa branch of the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), the world’s largest professional PR body has announced the launch of its NextGen Group. Split by language into two committees, NextGen and NextGen Arabia is an initiative by PRCA MENA aimed at providing events, information, support and advice to practicing PR and communications professionals from a graduate to an Account Director level across the MENA region.
The group will be dedicated to supporting those just starting out or those that have been practicing for years, whilst equipping practitioners with all the tools needed to achieve significant career progression. It will offer a forum for discussion, sharing peer-to-peer advice and experiences, and provide inspirational figures to learn from and encourage growth and creativity.
Focused on igniting ambition, the group will highlight what constitutes great PR and communications sharing best practice and breaking down competitive barriers within the industry, all the while promoting the importance of PR and communications as a profession. With a strong emphasis on industry collaboration, the NextGen group will unite young practitioners from across the region, encouraging their growth as future leaders of public relations.
Commenting on the launch of the NextGen Group, Hayley Clements, General Manager of the PRCA MENA commented: “It’s important we empower and support our young and emerging talent in the region by giving them the right tools and support to make informed decisions about their career. Both NextGen MENA & NextGen Arabia will help young Arabic professionals build a community where they can share their experiences, learn, grow, and more importantly, showcase their amazing talent.”
Upon her appointment as NextGen Chair, Bianca Riley, Account Director at Atteline commented: “I am honoured to be the Chair of the NextGen group for PRCA MENA. Growth and coaching are two passions of mine, both personally and professionally, so to be able to bring this passion into an incubator for young PR minds such as the youth and other members of the PRCA is such an incredible opportunity. I’m excited to work alongside the group’s amazing Vice-Chair, Suzanne Kanianthra, as well as our 9 committee members, to bring this group and its objectives to the forefront of PR discussion in the region.”
Raghad ElAssi, NextGen Arabia Chair and Senior Public Relations Specialist at OSN comments: “It’s a great honour to mentor industry professionals and help them navigate the emerging industry landscape as the Chair of PRCA Next Gen Arabia. It’s an exciting time for the upcoming Arabic professionals in the Middle East, and I want to take this opportunity to create a relevant platform to enlighten and connect young professionals with their peers and support next generations. As Chair, I want to hear the community’s ideas to guide and provide strategic value, with the help of the group’s Vice-Chair Nasr Ankar and the talented committee members, in order to scale and elevate the group’s objectives.”.
PRCA MENA’s NextGen and NextGen Arabia Groups are composed of a Chair, a Vice-Chair, and appointed committee representatives drawn from over 70 PRCA MENA corporate members from across the region.
The NextGen MENA Committee is made up of:
Chair: Bianca Riley, CMPRCA, Account Director, Atteline
Vice-Chair: Suzanne Kanianthra, MPRCA, Senior Account Manager, Golin MENA
Committee Members:
• Rhea Mathew, Communications Consultant
• Michael Hylton, Consultant, Instinctif Partners MENA
• Joumana Saad, Communications Consultant
• Reem -Al-Ajeel, Consultant, Instinctif Partners MENA
• Melinda Mesiano, Account Director, M&C Saatchi
• Shaleen Sukthankar, Senior Account Manager, Weber Shandwick MENAT
• Nisha Idicula, Senior Consultant, Hill+Knowlton Strategies
• Mai Elsayed, Account Manager, Seven Media
• Yousef Batter, Account Manager, Hill+Knowlton Strategies
The NextGen Arabia Committee is made up of:
Chair: Raghad ElAssi, CMPRCA, Senior Public Relations Specialist, OSN
Vice-Chair: Nasr Ankar, MPRCA, Account Manager, Action Global Communications
Committee Members:
• Raneem Abudaqqa, Consultant, Instinctif Partners MENA
• Maryam Danagege, Senior Arabic PR Executive, SOCIATE
• Hanine El Massri, Account Manager, M&C Saatchi
• Ahmed Malik, Account Manager, Cicero and Bernay Public Relations
• Tala Al Massri, Account Executive, Cicero and Bernay Public Relations
• Kareem Salam, Consultant, Hill+Knowlton Strategies
• Maya Samman, Senior Account Manager, Markettiers MENA
• Nour Aboulaban, Account Manager, Markettiers MENA
