Leading Saudi nationals to address key international PR meet

Held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Minister of Defense, the two-day conference will be held from December 13-14, 2004, at Emirates Towers Hotel and marks IPRA's first event in the Arabian Gulf.

Al-Ayed, a graduate of East Oregon State University in USA, has over 12 years' corporate communications' experience and founded his company TRACCS/SACCS PR in 1998. Along with an impressive line-up of 40 regional and international speakers, he will be joined by one of his key clients, Ahmed Linjawy, External Relations Associate Director for Procter & Gamble Arabian Peninsula and Sarah Al Ayed, who currently holds the position of Vice President and heads up the "Women's Division" within TRACCS/SACCS.

Al-Ayed said, "I am looking forward to sharing my experience of how I have successfully adopted a more strategic recruitment policy, especially with regard to hiring women and how my organizational structure is helping my corporate clients to not only communicate more effectively but to integrate all forms of marketing communications, throughout the Middle East."

According to Steven Jones, IPRA Conference Secretariat and Conference Director of the Institute for International Research (IIR) and organizers of the event, "We are honored that Mohamed Al Ayed has accepted our invitation to speak at this premier event. Global communications are now an essential part of everyday life and the need to communicate clearly and effectively, are paramount for today's PR professionals. Mohamed has inspired many regional companies and it is appropriate that he should present a case study about his unique human resources strategy that has broken the mould and enabled TRACCS/SACCS to grow at such a remarkable rate. "

Other key topics for discussion will include: PR Best Practice Techniques; Corporate Social Responsibility; Crises and Issues Management and Latest International Industry Trends. In addition to the main conference, IPRA have arranged two one-day workshops, which will run concurrently on the final day. The workshops will address key current industry issues such as media training and managing PR.

During his international opening address, IPRA President, Professor Donald K. Wright, will trace the evolution of PR in the Middle East, its unique global responsibilities and the role of IPRA.

Other prominent international industry speakers who have already confirmed their attendance include: Michael Murphy, Chairman of the UK's Institute of PR - Department of Trade & Industry Steering Group; Mike Seymour, International Director For Issues & Crisis Management, Edelman PR Worldwide; Andrew Pirie, President Asia Pacific from Weber Shandwick and Jurgen Togotzes, President of Europe, Middle East & Africa, Manning Selvage & Lee.

Amongst the key speakers will also be a strong contingent of senior regional industry players from eminent organizations such as, Tejari, ASDA'A PR; Promoseven Weber Shandwick; Proctor & Gamble, LG Electronics and Zayed University.

The International Public Relations Association (IPRA), which has more than a thousand members from 98 countries, was founded in 1955 in London. It is active in promoting the exchange of information and co-operation in every sector of the profession, as well as in building a programme of professional development opportunities and other initiatives aimed at enhancing the role of public relations in management and international affairs.

The IPRA Annual Conference Dubai 2004 is supported by Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), Dubai Convention Bureau and the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).