Next month, the 21st international PRO PR conference, a specialized event for communication leaders, will be held in Belgrade. The importance of this conference and its worldwide reputation is indicated by the fact that it is the only conference supported by two world public relations associations.
Although they are in the same profession and have the same target groups, they are business competitors, and the presidents of two world associations come to the conference. From London, James Hewes, president and director of the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), which gathers more than 40,000 members and has offices in Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore in addition to London, and Nataša Pavlović Bujas, the recently elected president of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA). Both of them will speak at the conference.
More than 200 delegates from 17 countries are expected to attend the conference. The theme of this year’s conference is “New directions, new challenges”. As the founder and president of the organizing committee, Danijel Koletić, pointed out: “We are in Serbia for the 4th time in a row. The first time was in 2004 in Belgrade, then in Subotica in 2011, and in Zlatibor in 2018. Public relations are being transformed thanks to new technologies, but their role in creating and maintaining a good image has a great influence on the creation of profits, which was recognized a long time ago by global corporations that place the function of public relations at the very top of management because the image is not bought, the image is created. The PRO PR conference is not a spectacle of new technologies and LED screens, we have focused for years on content and quality lectures. This year, a total of 30 lecturers and panelists will provide new guidelines in this industry.”
As part of the PRO PR conference, the PRO PR Globe Awards will also be awarded. Winners come from 14 countries, including Iran, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Spain, and others. This is a prestigious recognition for which no financial compensation is paid, but former winners, as well as four world associations (Public Relations and Communications Association – PRCA, International Public Relations Association – IPRA, International Communications Consultancy Organization – ICCO, Chartered Institute of Public Relations – CIPR) nominate future winners.