Australia – Australia’s peak body for public relations and communications, Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA), has recently appointed Louise Harland-Cox, former general manager of member services at trade association Australian Meat Industry Council, to be its new chief executive officer.

The appointment came after an extensive six-month recruitment process with an outstanding pool of candidates across the country.

Harland-Cox brings with her more than 20 years of experience in membership organizations both in Australia and in the United Kingdom, across various industries including financial services, charities, and medical education, as well as agriculture. She has previously worked as the general manager of member services at post-farmgate trade association Australian Meat Industry Council, the head of member engagement and marketing at global body for professional accountants ACCA, and the manager of member services at non-profit organization for training physicians Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

In her new role, Harland-Cox will be leveraging her expertise in organizational strategy, service delivery, and the collaborative instincts required to deliver the best outcomes for PRIA’s members. She will also be responsible for bringing together industry professionals to create value creation strategies, driving growth outcomes for both the industry and the organization members. Harland-Cox will also be looking to implement a data-driven approach to communication and engagement.

Commenting on her new role, Harland-Cox said, “I’m thrilled to be leading the organization at such a pivotal time for the industry, and look forward to building upon such a rich heritage to create outstanding value for our members.”

Meanwhile, PRIA’s national president Leigh McClusky said, “I am confident that Louise’s appointment heralds a new era of member growth and member value for the PRIA.”