Two experts in different fields to speak at IPRA World Congress 2015

Besides having an opportunity to share ideas, network with peers, and meet with some of the top global communicators, a number of international and regional speakers will congregate in Johannesburg to address the challenges and opportunities that face the public relations industry. Two of the keynote speakers addressing delegates are award-winning journalist, Msindisi Fengu and José Filipe Torres, CEO and Founder of Bloom Consulting.

Msindisi Fengu

Msindisi Fengu, a senior journalist for the East London-based Daily Dispatch, will be a keynote speaker at the Congress. Fengu is an award-winning journalist and no stranger to public relations. While working in the marketing, communication and public relations industries, he learned, hands-on, the workings of corporate communications. Fengu shared the overall 'CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year' Award at the 2013 Awards Ceremony for his Investigation series: 'School hostels of Shame', which appeared in South African daily print newspaper the Daily Dispatch and was chosen from 1,387 entries from 42 nations across the African continent.

José Filipe Torres

One of the world's experts in Nation Branding, José Filipe Torres, the CEO and Founder of Bloom Consulting will also deliver a keynote speech. According to the prestigious publication, The Economist, he is cited as being "a world renowned specialist in country branding". Bloom Consulting is a Madrid-based strategy consulting company that specialises in country branding and business strategy. His work focuses mainly on nation building projects and the developing of brand strategies in the private sector, as well as corporate strategy and HR consulting. The Bloom Consulting Country Brand Ranking tool that he developed in 2011 quickly became a popular research tool, used by practitioners from around the world. Over the last decade, Bloom Consulting helped develop and manage the brands of Latvia, Poland, Bulgaria, Spain, and Madrid among others. Thanks to this proprietary tool, Bloom Consulting can measure every country's desirability in terms of attracting tourists and investment.

The congress has firmly established itself as the world-class event for the development and updating of public relations managers and public affairs officials.

Notes

The International Public Relations Association (IPRA), is the leading global network for PR professionals. It aims to further the development of open communication and the ethical practice of public relations. With over 50 years of experience, IPRA, recognised by both the United Nations and UNESCO, is now present throughout the world wherever public relations is practiced. IPRA welcomes all those within the profession who share its aim and who wish to be part of the IPRA worldwide fellowship.

For more information, please visit: www.ipra.org. Follow Johanna McDowell on Twitter @jomcdowell.