MEPRA Podcast Series: The Brief

Tune into the brief podcast series to keep up to date with the latest news in Middle East PR and hear from the industry’s biggest names as they address key issues, challenges and trends for communications professionals in the region.  The monthly show is hosted by the Middle East PR Association (MEPRA) and produced by the international broadcast specialist, markettiers. The podcast is available to download via iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or RadioPublic and featured on www.mepra.org/podcasts.

Episode 28: The Importance of Measurement

This 28th episode of the The Brief  will be based around measurement and the importance of it within the communications industry.

Host:  

Kate Midttun, MEPRA Executive Board Member & CEO of Acorn Strategy

Guest Speakers:

Elise Misse, Global Communications Measurement Manager and Double-Gold AMEC Award Winner for Global Communications Measurement and Evaluation
Annabel Amann, Global head of Client Experience, Acorn Strategy

Episode 27: Mubadala Investment Company Campaign Investing in Innovation, The Future is Here

Episode 25: Celebrating 20 years of MEPRA

This episode of the brief will feature an interview with Jack Pearce, MEPRA Founder, former Chair and Founder of Matrix Public Relations. Taryam and Jack will take a look back to where it all began with MEPRA and how far we have come as we celebrate 20 years of supporting communications professionals in the Middle East.

Host:

Taryam Al Subaihi, MEPRA Chair and Director of Corporate Communications, EWEC

Guest speaker:

Jack Pearce, MEPRA Founder, former Chair and Founder of Matrix Public Relations

Episode 24: The Thriving Saudi Communications Industry

This episode of the brief  features an interview with Khaled Tash, Vice President Corporate Communications at Saudi Arabian Airlines ‐ SAUDIA to discuss the thriving communications industry in Saudi Arabia, opportunities for further growth and challenges to overcome.

 Host:

Taryam Al Subaihi, MEPRA Chair and Director of Corporate Communications, EWEC

Guest Speaker:

Khaled Tash, Vice President Corporate Communications at Saudi Arabian Airlines ‐ SAUDIA

Episode 23: Small But Mighty

This episode of the brief will feature three MEPRA Board Members who lead small and medium consultancies to address the biggest concerns and opportunities faced by SMEs in our industry, following results from a recent survey which revealed top challenges faced by this group, plus how MEPRA and the industry can come together to help grow this sector and our profession as a whole.

Host:

Hilmarie Hutchison, MEPRA Strategy Board Member and CEO at Matrix PR

Guest Speakers:

Ananda Shakespeare, MEPRA Strategy Board Member & CEO &  Founder at Shakespeare Communications
Kate Midttun, MEPRA Executive Board Member and Founder & Managing Director at Acorn Strategy

Episode 22: Clubhouse Conversations 

The 22nd episode of the brief in 2021 will feature a discussion with MEPRA Treasurer and CEO of CARMA & SOCIALEYEZ, Mazen Nahawi on Clubhouse, the new social networking app making waves all across the world.

Host:

Taryam Al Subaihi, Current MEPRA Chair & Head of Corporate Communications, EWEC

Guest Speaker:

Mazen Nahawi, MEPRA Executive Board Member and CEO of CARMA & SOCIALEYEZ

Episode 21: Looking Back & Moving Forward: A discussion between the past and present MEPRA Chair

The 21st episode of the brief in 2021 will feature a discussion between the past and present MEPRA Chair looking back at the year that was 2020 and focusing on what’s in store for MEPRA Members and the industry in 2021.

Co Host:

Jonty Summers, Former MEPRA Chair & MD Hanover Middle East
Taryam Al Subaihi, Current MEPRA Chair & Head of Corporate Communications, EWEC

Episode 20: The history of procurement and the path to success

The 20th episode of the brief will examine how procurement of communications services became what it is today and how to achieve the best outcomes for both sides of the fence.

The podcast is hosted by MEPRA Executive Board Member and Acorn Strategy Managing Director and will feature interviews Sam Achampong, General Manager, Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) MENA and Michael Farmer, author of Madison Avenue Manslaughter, a best-seller which discusses how agencies are caught between fee-cutting clients and profit-hungry owners.

Host: Kate Midttun MEPRA Executive Board Member and Managing Director, Acorn Strategy

Guest speakers:

Sam Achampong, General Manager, CIPS MENA
Michael Farmer, author of Madison Avenue Manslaughter

Episode 19: 12th Annual ASDA’A BCW Arab Youth Survey

The 18th episode of the brief will examine the results from the 12^th Annual ASDA’A BCW Arab Youth Survey, which provides insights into the hopes, aspirations and attitudes of Arab youth. The podcast is hosted by MEPRA Executive Board Member and CEO of CARMA & SOCIALEYEZ, Mazen Nahawi who will interview Sunil John, BCW Middle East President and Founder of ASDA’A BCW and Dom Bartkus, Director at PSB Middle East on how the survey results can provide public and private sector organisations with data and analysis to make informed decisions and policies.

Host: Mazen Nahawi, MEPRA Executive Board Member and CEO of CARMA & SOCIALEYEZ

Guest Speakers:
Sunil John, President – Middle East, BCW & Founder, ASDA’A BCW
Dom Bartkus, Director PSB Middle East

Episode 18: Communication Lessons from the 2020 US Presidential Elections

The 18th episode of the brief will examine the 2020 US presidential election campaign and what it can teach us as communication professionals. The podcast is hosted by MEPRA Board Member and APCO Worldwide MENA President, Mamoon Sbeih and will feature interviews with Brandon Neal, Senior Director at APCO Worldwide, Washington, DC & former Democratic Campaign Strategist and Rich Galen – Political Commentator & Former Republican Campaign Strategist.

Host: Mamoon Sbeih, MEPRA Board Member and APCO Worldwide MENA President

Guest Speakers:
Brandon Neal, Senior Director at APCO Worldwide, Washington, DC & former Democratic Campaign Strategist
Rich Galen – Political Commentator & Former Republican Campaign Strategist

Episode 17: Next-gen learning to adapt     

The 17th episode of the brief will feature interviews with Zayed University’s Professor of Practice at College of Communication and Media Sciences, Inka Stever and students Shamma Waleed Abdulla Ali Alhammadi and Noor Rashid Hamed Al Ruzaiqi, who will discuss the challenges faced by the university and media and communications students following to the ever-changing implications of COVID-19. This episode is hosted by MEPRA Youth Board Vice President and Senior Marketing Manager MEA, PageGroup, Hanisha Lalwani.

Host: Hanisha Lalwani, MEPRA Youth Board Vice President and Senior Marketing Manager MEA, PageGroup

Guest Speakers:
Inka Stever, MEPRA Strategy Board Member & Professor of Practice at College of Communication and Media Sciences, Zayed University
Shamma Waleed Abdulla Ali Alhammadi, Zayed University Student
Noor Rashid Hamed Al Ruzaiqi, Zayed University Student

Episode 16: The Workplace Re-imagined

The 16th episode of the brief will feature interviews with ADNOC’s Dr. Coni Judge and Four Communications Group Founder and Group Managing Director Ray Eglington who will discuss how they prepared for a return to office and helped their teams’ transition into the new normal following COVID-19 lockdown measures.

Host: Jonty Summers, MEPRA Chair & MD Hanover Middle East

Guest Speakers:
Dr. Coni Judge, Senior Advisor, Group Communications, ADNOC
Ray Eglington, Founder & Group Managing Director, Four Communications Group

Episode 15: The Path to Recovery

The 15th episode of the brief  features interviews with Fred Duan, Siemens Energy China SVP & Head of Communications, and Jeff Astle, APCO Worldwide Shanghai Managing Director, who address how they prepared for, and transitioned to the new normal as businesses opened their doors following COVID-19 lockdowns.

Host: Jonty Summers, MEPRA Chair & MD Hanover Middle East

Guest Speakers:
Fred Duan, SVP & Head of Communications, Siemens Energy Hub China
Jeff Astle, Managing Director, APCO Worldwide Shanghai

Episode 14: Mental Wellness During COVID-19

The 14th episode of the brief  will feature an interview with health and wellness expert and She is Arab speaker Dr Hanan Selim who will discuss the importance of prioritising mental wellbeing during COVID-19.

Host: Cheryl King, MEPRA Board Member & Managing Director, markettiers MENA

Guest speakers:
Dr Hanan Selim, Healthpreneur, CEO Founder of Healology & She is Arab speaker

Episode 13: The Impact of COVID-19 on Young Communicators

The 13th episode of the brief  features interviews with MEPRA Youth Board members, Brazen MENA Senior Account Director, Jennifer Love, Weber Shandwick MENAT Senior Manager, Client Experience Nada Elbarshoumi and Mubadala Vice President, Employee Engagement Sara Kazim. Our guests will discuss how COVID-19 is impacting young communicators, their daily work and the way they are working  with their teams and clients during this time.

Host: Sabrina De Palma, Executive Director, MEPRA

Guest speakers:
Jennifer Love, Senior Account Director, Brazen MENA
Nada Elbarshoumi. Senior Manager Client Experience, Weber Shandwick MENAT
Sara Kazim, Vice President, Employee Engagement, Mubadala Investment Company

Episode 12: How the comms industry is navigating COVID-19

The 12th episode of the brief  features an interview with Maijd Al Futtaim’s Chief Communications Officer Tracy Faulkner, Edelman Middle East CEO & PRCA Mena Chair, Omar Qirem  and our Chair and Hanover Middle east MD, Jonty Summers. Our guest will discuss how their teams are navigating the COVID-19 outbreak and how we can all best communicate through this time.

Host: Sabrina De Palma, Executive Director, MEPRA

Guest speakers:
Jonty Summers, MEPRA Chair & MD Hanover Middle East
Omar Qirem, CEO, Edelman Middle East
Tracy Faulkner, Chief Communications Officer, Majid Al Futtaim

Episode 11: International Women’s Day 2020

The 11th episode of the brief  features an interview with Margery Kraus, Founder and Executive Chair at APCO Worldwide to mark International Women’s Day 2020.  Margery discusses how lessons in motherhood helped create and run a successful global company and shares highlights from her  new book ‘Roots and Wings’.

Host: Camilla D’Abo, MEPRA Strategy Board Member and Managing Director at APCO Worldwide Dubai

Guest speakers: Margery Kraus, Founder and Executive Chair at APCO Worldwide

Episode 10: Interview with Arun Sudhaman,CEO and Editor-in-Chief of PRovoke Media (previously The Holmes Report)

The 10th episode of the brief  features an interview with Arun Sudhaman, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of PRovoke Media (previously The Holmes Report). Arun shares the latest in industry news and trends, discusses the recent PRovoke MENA event and its future plans for the region.

Host: Jonty Summers,MEPRA Chair & MD Hanover Middle East

Guest speakers: Arun Sudhaman, CDEO & Editor in Chief, PRovoke MEDIA

Episode 9: Interview with Buzzfeed Europe’s Head of Content, James Lamon – Live from REMAP

The 9th episode of the brief  will feature an interview with James Lamon, Head of Content, Buzzfeed Europe following his presentation at REMAP. James will discuss how Buzzfeed has redefined content consumption, the evolution of the brand, how they measure for success, tips on going viral plus more.

Host: Jonty Summers, MEPRA Chair & MD Hanover Middle East

Guest Speaker: James Lamon, Buzzfeed Europe

Episode 8: Interview with Arab News Editor in Chief, Faisal Abbas

The 8th episode of the brief, Jonty Summers speaks to Arab News’ Editor in Chief Faisal Abbas on everything from how the media outlet become THE English voice for Arabs to uncovering his ‘Bad PR’ folder which included PR pros to avoid.

Host: Jonty Summers, MEPRA Chair & MD Hanover Middle East

Guest Speaker: Faisal Abbas, Editor in Chief at Arab News

Episode 7: Elevating measurement and evaluation practices and how to win awards

The seventh 7th episode of the brief, Jonty Summers shares a call with – London based – Richard Bagnall, Co-Managing Partner at CARMA International and Chairman of AMEC; Richard is also the 2019 MEPRA Awards Adjudicator. Amongst other key topics, Richard shares his views on what makes an award-winning entry, important things to remember and key measurement principles.

Host: Jonty Summers, MEPRA Chair & MD Hanover Middle East

Guest Speaker:  Richard Bagnall, Co-Managing Partner at CARMA International and Chairman of AMEC

Episode 6: Uncovering the latest trends in broadcast PR

The sixth episode of the brief  will feature an interview with Howard Kosky CEO of the markettiers network who will discuss the latest trends in broadcast PR.

Host: Jonty Summers, MEPRA Chair & MD Hanover Middle East

Guest Speaker:  Howard Kosky, CEO, markettiers network

Episode 5: MEPRA’s Young Communicator takes on Agency versus In-house PR

The 5th episode of the brief  is hosted by Brazen’s Jennifer Love, who is the named winner of ‘Outstanding Young Communicator of the Year’ at the 2018 MEPRA Awards. Jennifer chats to Rebecca Hall, PR Director of Atlantis, The Palm, discussing the contrast of working in-house versus in a PR agency; they cover opportunities and challenges from both perspectives, how an in-house PR can leverage from a PR agency and effective ways of working to get the most out of each one.

Host: Jennifer Love, Senior Account Director, Brazen

Guest Speaker: Rebecca Hall, PR Director, Atlantis, The Palm

Episode 4: In the spotlight: PRWeek Middle East with Danny Rogers

The 4th episode of the brief  features an interview with Danny Rogers, Editor-in-Chief, PRWeek UK who shares the latest news and trends from the UK, discusses the recent PRWeek Power Book Middle East launch and what’s to come for the PRWeek Middle East chapter.

Host: MEPRA Chair, Jonty Summers

Guest Speaker: Danny Rogers, Editor-in-Chief, PRWeek UK

Episode 3: Live from the 2019 MEPRA Leadership Majlis

The 3rd episode of the brief  covers the highlights of the 2019 MEPRA Leadership Majlis, interviewing speakers following their sessions on stage. Topics covered include; the critical role of communications in organisational change & transformation, whether CCO’s are facing an existential crisis and embracing the UAE’s Year of Tolerance

Host: Souad AlSerKal: VP Corporate Communications, Tabreed

Guest Speakers:

• Sara Kazim, Vice President, Employee Engagement, Mubadala Investment
• Roger Bolton, President, Page Society
• Jamal Al Awadhi, Vice President, Product & Guest Experience, Etihad Aviation Group
• Jonty Summers, MEPRA Chair & Managing Director, Hanover Middle East

Episode 2: The Changing Face of Modern Media

The 2nd episode of the brief  explores ‘The changing face of modern media’ and what the future holds for media outlets as a trusted news source in a time of disinformation, clickbait and digital transformation.

Host: Jonty Summers: MEPRA Chair, Managing Director, Hanover Middle East

Guest Speakers:

• Mina Al Oraibi, Editor in Chief, The National
• Jason Leavy, Managing Director MENA, VICE Media

Episode 1: Women in Leadership

The 1st episode of the brief  features MEPRA Chair, Jonty Summers speaks to H+K Strategies MD Lisa Welsh and Tabreed VP Souad Alserkal to discuss their challenges & opportunities as women leaders in PR. Award winning academic Dr Payyazhi Jayashree from the University of Wollongong Dubai also weighs in as an expert in gender parity to explore how we can achieve a gender-balanced boardroom.

Host: MEPRA Chair, Jonty Summers

Guest speakers:

• Lisa Welsh: MEPRA Vice Chair & Managing Director, Hill+Knowlton Strategies,
• Souad AlSerKal: VP Corporate Communications, Tabreed
• Dr Payyazhi Jayashree is Associate Dean (Education) and Professor (HR) at the University of Wollongong in Dubai