CAANZ Marcomms Leadership Group to present – ‘Re-imagining PR: How ideas-led PR can help business’ at their 2012 Forum on 21st March

Entitled Re-Imagining PR: How ideas-led PR can help business, the forum is presented by the CAANZ Marcomms Leadership Group (MLG), and will take place 21 March 2012, 1:30pm – 5:30pm, at the Rendezvous Grand Hotel, Auckland.

Says Head: “The forum will offer a rare opportunity for the New Zealand marcomms community, from both client organisations and agencies, to hear from the front-line of international campaigns about the effectiveness of ideas-led PR.”

Another 2011 Cannes PR Gold Lion winner, Queensland brand Bundaberg rum sought to build people’s spirits following the widespread devastation of the Queensland floods by creating the Watermark programme.

Matt Bruhn, marketing director of Diageo, will speak about Bundaberg’s dedication to the community as the idea behind this campaign as well as its success from a brand and commercial point of view.

Lastly – bringing an agency perspective to the discussion – Lynne Anne Davis of Fleishman Hillard Asia Pacific, will share her experiences of using integrated strategies to make a business impact; a concept which has guided numerous award-winning campaigns and led to the agency being recognised as 2011 ‘Asia Pacific Agency of the Year’.

Idealog editor Hazel Philips will MC the forum, which will also offer audience members the opportunity to put questions to the speakers in a panel session chaired by Vincent Heeringa, publisher of Tangible Media.

There will be an opportunity to network at post-forum drinks.

After the sell-out success of last year’s experiential forum – The New Rules of Brand Engagement – the Marcomms Leadership Group has this year chosen to focus on the dynamic of business-results driven PR.

More information and registration details are available at the website

National Australia Bank’s Group General Manager Brand

Kevin Ramsdale joined NAB in 2010 after five years at Bupa Australia Health and 15 years with Ford Motor Company. Initially General Manager of Marketing & Research for NAB’s Personal Banking business, Ramsdale took on the brand role for the broader NAB enterprise in 2011 and played a lead role in the strategy development and execution of the much-discussed Break Up campaign.

Tim McColl Jones

Executive Director at Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne

Tim McColl Jones is one of Australia’s leading independent brand communications practitioners with a unique blend of global, regional and domestic experience across a range of industry sectors. McColl Jones joined Clemenger BBDO/Melbourne as Board Director and Business Director for NAB in December 2010 contributing to the development of Break Up, which has become a hugely successful business and marketing milestone.

Matt Bruhn

Marketing Director at Diageo Australia

A classically trained marketer with over 10 years’ experience at Imperial Tobacco, Kellogg’s and Diageo, Bruhn currently manages the Diageo Australia marketing team which he says is “blessed with brands such as Bundaberg Rum, Smirnoff Vodka and Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky”. Bruhn is dedicated to creating work that reflects the legacy of the brands he works on, and to impacting the community in a positive way. He is passionate about marketing brands and products in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Lynne Anne Davis

Regional President and Senior Partner at Fleishman-Hillard Asia Pacific

Based in Hong Kong, Davis oversees Fleishman Hillard’s Asia Pacific operations. During her time in the role, the business has expanded exponentially, and achieved numerous awards; in 2011 it was recognised as ‘Asia Pacific Agency of the Year’.

“Clients’ needs are more complex as they face unprecedented pressure to manage their reputations and bottom lines in a new world of social influence. As the communications function becomes increasingly strategic, especially at major global firms, the need for interdisciplinary consulting is growing,”  Davis says.