[NewsMaker] Daniel Munslow

"The IABC Africa Region needs to continue to place its members' needs at the heart of everything it does. As such, we need to focus on delivering value to our members through key initiatives such as the Gold Quill Awards, the annual conference, continuing professional development sessions, local Chapter networking opportunities and of course accreditation," he said.

About Daniel Munslow

Daniel Munslow, a director at engagement consultancy, Talk2Us, is the new Africa regional chairperson of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) for the next 24 months. He has overall board responsibility for IABC Africa, including representing Africa at the Council of Regions.

Q: What is your main business challenge?
A: As a global non-profit association mandated to support business communication, we face the challenge of remaining relevant to our market and ensuring we are - at all times - able to deliver on their needs. Added to this, businesses are facing tough macroeconomic conditions that force them to question the value of associations and memberships. As a volunteer-based association, the other major challenge is recruiting and retaining volunteers who can drive the IABC.

Q: What is your core strategy?
A: The core of the 2015/16 IABC Africa strategy is based on six pillars aligned to both the global strategy as well as the needs of members: Chapter relationships - maintaining key connections with the IABC Chapters that make up the Africa region. These include Johannesburg, Cape Town, Tshwane, Botswana, Tanzania, and Nigeria; membership growth; Africa Quills - in 2014, the IABC region won over 20 Gold Quill Awards from about 30 entries... We aim to maintain and grow this number, positioning our communicators as the very best at what they do; Africa development - a heavy focus will be on growing our Africa chapters, ensuring a truly continental reach; professional development - the IABC's accreditation, academy, and skills development initiatives ensure communicators can be trained by leading global experts; and networking opportunities - among the top needs of our members is for networking opportunities where they can learn from one another and share knowledge.

Q: Most important attribute needed to do your job?
A: The ability to inspire. Within a volunteer association, one of the biggest challenges is to inspire fellow volunteers. They need to see the vision of the successes based on the strategy, buy into them, and be willing to spend the time to make them happen. Each volunteer needs to feel that they own a piece of 'equity' in the end result and allow them to celebrate successes.

Q: The biggest trend in your industry?
A: Of the many trends in today's communication landscape, the number one trend would have to be convergence. The digital and generational ages are drastically shifting in the way that the communications industries operate, in a converged and unified function. Within this, two of the biggest elements that are integrating into the mix are engagement and internal communication. They are both increasingly being seen as enablers of brand and reputation management.

Q: How will you make an impact?
A: Making an impact is something you achieve as a team - by motivating the right people in the right portfolios, and allowing them to drive their goals and objectives with the necessary support and guidance.

Q: What inspires you?
A: I get inspiration from the people I meet and their stories. You can learn so much from everyone you meet in life.

Q: What are you currently reading for work?
A: Harvard Business Review's Collective Genius by Linda A Hill.

Q: Your life philosophy?
A: Life is full of challenges, changes, and surprises. Good ones and bad ones. If you say things cannot be achieved, they never will do. So rather get up and make things happen.

Q: At the top of my 'bucket list' is...
A: Climbing Everest Base Camp. Having climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2012, Everest is next!