Gerard “Gerry” F. Corbett

　　Gerard Corbett is Chair and CEO of Redphlag LLC, a strategic public relations firm focused on helping people and companies define and communicate their intrinsic value. Gerry has served 50 years in communications and technology roles with Fortune 200 firms and NASA. He serves on the board of advisors of Infinite Retina and the Museum of Public Relations.

　　Gerry served in leadership positions at Producers Forum Inc., Hitachi, L’Oral, ASARCO, Gould Inc., International Harvester, National Semiconductor, Four Phase Systems and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Gerry most recently was branding instructor in the Entrepreneurship Program at the University of California at Berkeley, Extension and an adjunct professor of PR at San Jose State University. He was Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) in 2012, a member of its College of Fellows, served on its board for eight years and joined PRSA as a PRSSA member in 1974.

　　Prior to Redphlag, he was vice president of Branding and Corporate Communications and general manager of the Web Strategy Center of Hitachi, Ltd. He launched his career in Silicon Valley as a scientific programmer at the NASA Ames Research Center. A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Gerry has a B.A. in public relations from San Jose State University and an A.A. with a major in electronics engineering from the Community College of Philadelphia.

　　Gerry also is a member of the London-based Public Relations and Communications Association, senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; a member of the National Association of Science Writers and San Francisco PR Roundtable. He is past president of the International Advertising Association; and past member of the Arthur Page Society and the National Investor Relations Institute.

　　José Manuel Velasco (Spain, 1965)

　　has a degree in Journalism from Madrid's Complutense University and completed the Advanced Strategic Program at the Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne (Switzerland). He is also an executive and team coach and professor of Communication at Universidad Nebrija.

　　Currently works as PR consultant and executive coach. He is member of the advisory board and senior advisor of the Latin American leading PR agency Llorente & Cuenca, whose coaching practice leads. After being the chair of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management from 2007 to 2009, he is still member of the executive committee of the federation, the largest PR community worldwide.

　　José Manuel Velasco's work experience includes 30 years leading PR departments in large and listed companies, as FCC (construction and environmental services), Unión Fenosa (gas and power) and Renfe (public railways). Prior to start working on PR, he worked as a journalist for print media and radio broadcasters.

　　From June 2008 to November 2014, he was president of the DIRCOM, the leading professional body in the corporate communications sector in Spain. And from 2006 to 2008 was the president of Forética, the leading Spanish forum promoting ethics in business.

　　Mandy Pearse

　　Mandy is an award winning PR professional with a background in government communications. She has run her own consultancy for the last eight years working with public, private and third sector organizations.

　　Mandy is a specialist in engagement and works as a consultant and trainer helping organizations improve their stakeholder communications and training PR professionals from around the globe.

　　She is a Fellow of the CIPR, one of only a very few people to be Chartered in both PR and Marketing, holds an MBA and will be CIPR President in 2021.

　　Dr. Wilfred Marube, MPRSK

　　Wilfred Marube has an experience of over a decade in public relations and communication management as a practitioner, facilitator, trainer and scholar. Wilfred has a PhD in communication studies with professional qualifications in public relations and marketing.

　　Dr. Marube has been involved in many projects among them development of strategic plans, communication strategies, communication audits, change management communication and training programmes.

　　Currently, Wilfred is the President of Public Relations Society of Kenya and the CEO of Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency. He is also a member of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management Board and serves as the Delegate-at-Large for Africa.

　　Some of Dr. Marube’s published works include:

　　Communication initiatives for the improvement of infrastructure: A study of water and sanitation programmes in informal settlements in Kenya

　　Has the Kenyan Public Relations and Communication Management Industry Come of Age?

　　A normative reflection on the practice of public relations and or corporate communication in Kenya

　　Bhavna Singh

　　is Senior Director Communications & Patient Advocacy, Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), which represents research based pharmaceutical companies in India.

　　A communications professional with two decades of experience, Bhavna spearheads the OPPI’s communications function and works on multi- stakeholder advocacy & communications programmes. Her online campaigns; patient communication and comprehensive industry-wide publications have won her recognitions both in India and globally.

　　Conceptualised and implemented by her, OPPI’s annual publications have received several recognitions. The Platinum & Gold at MarCom Awards 2019, a global recognition for OPPI’s publications In Science we Trust & inclUsion; OPPI’s The DNA of Care won the Platinum while The Colour of White bagged the Gold at the Hermes Creatives 2018 under the publication category. The Colour of White also won the Asia Pacific Communications Awards 2017, under the publication category. Bhavna also received the ‘Women In Leadership Award 2016’ for her work on gender diversity in the pharma industry with the ‘The Colour of White’.

　　Recently, Bhavna was named in the Mighty 50 list of corporate communications professionals of 2019 by Reputation Today and listed as one of the 100 important professionals in communications in 2019 by Reputation Today. Bhavna has been named among the 40 Under 40 – Class of 2017, by the Reputation Today magazine, which recognises the emerging leaders in public relations and corporate communications. Bhavna has been recognised by World Global Diversity & Inclusion Congress and World HRD Congress as Global Diversity & Inclusion Leader -2017 and is a winner of BAM Award for using Innovative Media Vehicles in healthcare Communications- 2017.

　　Bhavna believes in challenging herself. Her professional experience spans across diverse businesses including services, entertainment, FMCG, engineering and pharmaceuticals stands her in good stead when it comes to design and implementation of targeted communication campaigns, both digital and traditional. Her work in corporate communications, financial PR, investor relations, marketing and research across the country has resulted in award-winning campaigns with impactful outcomes. Personally, she takes it upon herself to be a champion of gender equality. One such endevour is OPPI’s The Colour of White, a publication which focuses on the low gender ratios in the pharma industry.

　　As a professional communicator, she has witnessed the power of words especially as change catalysts. She believes that as a responsible corporate citizen one of her foremost responsibilities is to write and build awareness on social issues that she feels strongly. This is well -demonstrated in her writing that has been published on several leading portals and websites and her addresses delivered at TEDx and other national platforms.

　　As a debutant author of a children’s book titled Story Express, she believes in building a community of young minds with a social conscience.

　　Bhavna’s love for the stage and her acting abilities ensure that there is never a dull moment when she is around. Her sense of humour and quick wit holds her in good stead in building her communications repertoire.

　　Details of accomplishments as a communication head in last one year

　　● Led the communications and outreach for the entire research-based pharma industry in the country with close coordination among Indian associations, patient groups, media and the industry, reinforcing credible messages to patients at large, thereby establishing thought leadership of OPPI on innovation and research along with patient centricity.

　　● Recognized as ‘Mentor of the year’ exchange4media, women achievers award

　　● Named as one among the top 50 corporate communicators 2020 by Reputation Today

　　● Featured in the top 100 PR and Communications professionals 2020 by Reputation Today

　　● Worked extensively on pharma and health related communications that has earned global recognitions – Marcomm Awards 2019 (Platinum and Gold) and Hermes 2020 Platinum Awards under publication, podcasts and creating a column category.

　　● Was the only speaker from India at the Global Communications Summit 2020, Berlin.

　　Awards received, both internally and externally

　　● Recognised by World Global Diversity & Inclusion Congress and World HRD Congress as Global Diversity & Inclusion Leader -2017

　　● Winner of the aforementioned BAM Award for using Innovative Media Vehicles in Healthcare Communications2017

　　● Winner of Young Woman Leader 2018 Award, She Leads Summit 2018

　　● Named one of the 40-Under-40 – Class of 2017, by Reputation Today magazine

　　● Recognized as ‘Mentor of the year’ exchange4media, women achievers award

　　GONCA KARAKAŞ

　　President of Turkish Public Relations Association (TÜHİD) / CEO, Effect BCW

　　After graduating Boğaziçi University Political Science and International Relations Department in 1990, she took her first step on her career path in investment banking and worked at Western Union Bank. During her 5-year banking career, she received an MBA in International Finance and Banking at Marmara University. In 1994, she switched course from banking to PR and founded Effect Public Relations and Multimedia. In 1999, she became one of the founders which launched one of Turkey's first portals, Ailem.com.

　　In 2000, she founded Karakaş Financial Communication and Investor Relations company as an addition to Effect Public Relations. In 2005, she co-founded Ailem Olsun (Wish I have a Family) Association to provide continuous income for non-governmental organizations supporting homeless and working children to survive as the Corporate Responsibility Platform of Effect Public Relations. Be My Family Association was elected to the Advisory Board of the Prime Ministry General Directorate of Family and Social Research.

　　The Effect Communication Group, grew rapidly and in 2015, became a partner of Burson-Marsteller Public Relations Worldwide, one of the world's largest independent public relations companies. With the merger of Burson-Marsteller and Cohn & Wolfe at the end of 2018, the agency's name was changed to Effect BCW (Effect Burson Cohn & Wolfe).

　　Other than being the founder and President of Ailem Olsun Association, Karakaş still holds memberships of national and international professional organizations such as, The Association of International Public Relations Association (IPRA), and Turkish Public Relations Association (TUHID), additionally is a founding member of Women's Association of Technology (WTECH). Karakaş worked as a faculty member at Yeditepe University Faculty of Communication for 2 semesters, as she attaches importance to passing on her experience and knowledge to new generations as well as professional organizations and collaborations. During her lectures at Yeditepe University, she shared her experiences and success stories with future communicators.

　　Karakaş, has maintained her position as President of Turkish Public Relations Association (TÜHİD) in the last two terms, ie 6 years, and also worked as a consultant to many companies' boards of directors. She took part in the organizations of Turkey's leading universities and NGOs as a speaker. Gonca Karakaş speaks in English, French, German and Italian.