1 Lifer, 2 Fellows

AUCKLAND, Friday: The Public Relations Institute has awarded Life membership to Claudia Macdonald in recognition of her significant service over 30 years.

Macdonald is one of New Zealand’s most senior professionals – a leader, advocate and mentor for the industry.

A graduate of AUT, she started her career as a journalist in Dunedin. A move to Auckland also resulted in a move from journalism to public relations.

In the mid-eighties, she headed overseas for eight years, primarily working with corporate and financial clients for UK multinational agency Shandwick.

In 1995 she joined DDB as its internal comms manager – and established a public relations offering for the group, Mango in 2000.

Macdonald became a PRINZ Fellow in 2002 and her work has been recognised worldwide 

“Life membership is the highest accolade – previously awarded to just 17 recipients.”

PRINZ ceo Elaine Koller said: “Claudia has also significantly contributed to the advertising agency. world She was a founding member of the Communications Counsel PREScom committee set up in 2009 to promote the best use of PR, Experiential & Social in brand communications.

“In 2019 Claudia was elected to the PRINZ board, an appointment she still holds today.

“Claudia’s Life membership recognises her commitment, passion and service to ensuring our profession pushes boundaries, is not complacent, is a thought-leader and most importantly is all about people.”

Life membership is the highest accolade and previously awarded to just 17 recipients.

At the awards ceremony, PRINZ also inducted two new Fellows, both from the Canterbury region …

• Rachel Solotti has a long-standing commitment to PRINZ and its professional career path. Not only has she taken this path herself, but she now encourages others to do so.
• Karalyn van Deursen has led a small team through some of NZ’s most challenging public relations challenges: the Canterbury Earthquakes, Port Hills fires, measles outbreak, first suspected Ebola case in NZ, the Mosque Attacks, the Covid-19 outbreak.