The International Executive Board, or IEB, is the governing body of IABC and is accountable to its members. The IEB shall have supervision, control, and direction of the affairs of the association; actively pursue the association’s purpose; determine its policy within the limits of the law, Bylaws, and Articles of Incorporation; uphold the IABC Code of Ethics for Professional Communicators; and supervise disbursement of funds. The IEB develops the strategic plan and direction for the association under the guidance of the Association Bylaws approved by the IABC membership. The IEB serves as the Board of Trustees for the IABC Foundation.
In addition to learning more information about each member of the 2021-2022 IEB below, we asked them to share their insight on the following question: “If you could send a message to the organizational leaders around the world about the importance and impact of communication professionals, what would you say?” Please see their responses below their bio.
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS
Alain Legault, MA , SCMP– Chair | Alain Legault, MA, SCMP, is the director of corporate communication and public relation at the Société de transport de Montréal and has been working for over 20 years in strategic positions with major trade union, city administration and public organizations. The recipient of the IABC Chair’s Award in 2019, Legault has a strong history of leadership and engagement in IABC, most recently as the chair of the IABC 50th Anniversary Task Force. On the chapter and region level, he has served on both the Montreal chapter and Canada East Region boards. A graduate of McGill University in political science and history, Legault also hold a master’s degree in communication from UQAM. View Alain’s LinkedIn profile and follower him on Twitter @IcareMtl.
“Sans relâche, il nous faut exceller. Sans relâche, il nous faut nous dépasser. Sans relâche, nous devons être à l’avant-garde. Nous sommes indispensables pour le futur de notre organisation!”
Term End Date: June 2024
Danielle Bond – Immediate Past Chair | Danielle Bond is an award-winning marketing executive with expertise in the professional services sector. Danielle is the Group Director – Brand, Marketing & Communications of Asia Pacific engineering, design and consulting company Aurecon. Brand strategy is a passion and a strength. In 2020, the Australian Financial Review named Aurecon Australasia’s most innovative company and most innovative professional services firm. In 2021, Aurecon was again recognized as one of the Top 20 Graduate Employers in Australia and one of Australia and New Zealand’s Best Places to Work. Prior to joining Aurecon, Danielle led the marketing team at Ernst & Young in Oceania and several Australian law firms, including Corrs Chambers Westgarth. She is a highly collaborative and creative leader and is passionate about people, innovation and strategic communication. Danielle is a member of IABC’s Victoria Chapter and has served as an evaluator of the IABC Gold Quill Awards for several years. She joined the International Executive Board in 2019. View Danielle’s LinkedIn profile and follow her on Twitter @DanielleBond16.
“Business leaders’ words and actions can build or destroy trust. Building enterprise capability in strategic communication can help transform business and our world for the benefit of our communities.”
Term End Date: June 2023
Maliha Aqeel, PMP, SCMP, MC – Vice Chair | Maliha Aqeel, PMP, SCMP, MC, is Founder & CEO of The Ideas Collective Inc., an independent consulting firm bringing brand purpose to life through content, customers and culture. She has worked in corporate and agency roles for almost 20 years, connecting the dots between brand, marketing and communications to drive business objectives. She is a long-time IABC volunteer and is a regular speaker at industry conferences. She has won several IABC Gold Quill awards for brand development, content marketing, publications and internal communications, including two Gold Quill “Best of the Best” awards for employee engagement and COVID-19 response management and communications. View Maliha’s LinkedIn profile .
“As strategic advisors to the business, communication professionals help communicate and bring to life an organization’s purpose, vision and values. This in turn creates opportunities to engage stakeholders, drive awareness and protect brand reputation while delivering business impact.”
Term End Date: June 2025
Ann-Marie Blake, Chart.PR, MCIPR – Treasurer & Secretary | Ann-Marie Blake, Chart.PR, MCIPR, is a senior communications professional with a successful background in large and complex international corporate organisations. She is an accomplished leader with experience managing teams in Europe, Asia and the US. In addition to her day to day work, she also teaches the PRCA Introduction to PR and Strategic Communications Planning courses. Blake has been an IABC member since 2012. She was previously Treasurer for the IABC U.K. chapter and is current Chair of the UK Blue Ribbon Panel for the IABC Gold Quill Awards, as well as an evaluator.
Term End Date: June 2023
Julie Ludwig, ABC, SCMP – Executive Director at Large | A business communicator with 20 years of experience producing and implementing successful marketing and communications strategies in the accounting, legal, architecture, engineering and construction industries, Julie Ludwig, ABC, SCMP, is an experienced writer on marketing communication, legal, forensic accounting and technology topics. She currently serves as a senior marketing manager for Baker Tilly US, a leading advisory, tax and assurance firm. Ludwig’s past work experience includes her work as the global communications manager for RGL Forensics and senior account executive and operations consultant with meme, inc. in Denver, Colorado. Ludwig first joined IABC in May 2006 and has since served the association in many leadership roles at the chapter and region level, including president of the Colorado chapter and chair of the Southern Region. At the international level, she most recently served on the IABC finance committee. View Julie’s LinkedIn profile .
“As they say, ‘You can’t not communicate’. Everything we do is communication, but not all communication is done well. It is vital to have professional communications at the heart of every organization, and having communication professionals in your organization greatly aids in that mission. There is a direct line that can be drawn from your communication to your business results. Communication professionals are the ones who help us have the conversations we need to have for our organizations.”
Term End Date: June 2023
Kamyar Naficy – Director | Kamyar Naficy is the founder and principal of KNECTCOMMS, a strategic communications consultancy that specialises in financial services and fintech. Prior to establishing the consultancy, Kamyar held senior communications positions at JP Morgan, London Stock Exchange Group and UniCredit. Earlier in his career, he worked in investment banking and management consulting. With over 20 years of strategic communications experience, Kamyar has advised businesses in Europe, the US and the Middle East on all aspects of corporate, financial and marketing communications. He holds a BA from the London School of Economics and an MPhil in Management Studies from Cambridge University. View Kamyar’s LinkedIn profile.
“High-quality communication is essential for organisations to build their brand, manage their reputation and grow their business, and to ultimately achieve a unique and positive impact on society.”
Term End Date: June 2023
Ed Kamrin, SCMP – Director | An innovator and collaborator, Ed Kamrin has served IABC in many key roles, including Gold Quill Committee Chair, PPR Region Chair, and San Francisco Chapter President. Kamrin heads a consulting agency specializing in communications that catalyze social and organizational change. He has worked with organizations from startups to large multinationals, focusing on technology, healthcare, and nonprofits, and has an active pro bono practice. He received an undergraduate degree, with high honors, from Swarthmore College and completed postgraduate studies in linguistics and business. View his LinkedIn profile.
“Communications professionals are your advisors and partners in solving problems, engaging audiences, and helping create a better, more equitable world. We bring a unique combination of business acumen, empathy, and innovation to our work. In an environment where communications channels are multiplying, and attention is scarce, we craft stories and messages that cut through the noise and achieve results. We don’t only create content – we also listen deeply and foster channels for dialogue. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved as a profession and know the best is yet to come.”
Term End Date: June 2025
Katie Macaulay – Director | With over 30 years’ experience in communication, Katie Macaulay is the owner and managing director of AB, the U.K.’s longest established internal communication agency, based in central London. Her specialty is helping organisations through change and transformation. Prior to her tenure at AB, Macaulay worked as a consultant, as well as in-house for Barclays, PWC and the London Stock Exchange. A regular speaker and presenter, she has spoken at two IABC World Conferences and at the Institute of Internal Communication and Chartered Institute of Public Relations. She also hosts a popular podcast in the U.K.—The Internal Comms Podcast—where she interviews business leaders and senior communication professionals to shine a light on new thinking in employee communication. View Katie’s LinkedIn profile and follower her on Twitter @Katie__Macaulay.
“Great organisations are built on great communication. But great communication requires more than the ability to speak, read and write. As George Bernard Shaw told us: “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion it has taken place.” Misunderstanding, misinterpretation and misinformation are rife. Especially now. Professional communicators use insight, imagination, and empathy to create lasting and meaningful bonds between individuals, groups and nations – bonds that have the power to change the world for the better. For communication that works, ask an expert.”
Term End Date: June 2023
K. Dawn Rutledge Ed.D. – Director | K. Dawn Rutledge will begin her tenure on the IEB this year, after serving on the Nashville (TN) Chapter Board and on IABC’s DEI Task Force. Dr. Rutledge has more than 20 years of diverse experience and has served in key communications roles in the media, non-profit, corporate, government, education, health care and entertainment sectors. Rutledge currently works as a project lead with the Vanderbilt Institute of Clinical and Translational Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she provides communication and community engagement consultation. Rutledge holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Tennessee State University, a Master of Science in Corporate and Organizational Communication from Northeastern University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Western Kentucky University.
Term End Date: June 2024
Wendy Snyder – Director | A new member of the IEB, Wendy L. Snyder is the chief of public affairs for U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) responsible for strategic communication counsel, planning, execution and alignment, media relations, and external outreach across the USEUCOM 51-country area of responsibility. She also leads news media assessments and addressing public sentiment and communication impacts as a result of adversary disinformation. Prior to arriving at USEUCOM, Snyder served as the director of public affairs for Commander, Navy Installations Command in Washington, D.C. responsible for internal and external communication for 71 Navy installations under 11 regions world-wide. She also previously served as the press officer for U.S. defense policy leadership focused on Europe and Africa matters under the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. Snyder has an undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Albany and a master’s in communication from San Diego State University. View Wendy's’s LinkedIn profile.
“Deliberate and effective communication is the key to maintaining trust and credibility with stakeholders and is an essential element for the success of any organization.”
Term End Date: June 2024
Matt Tidwell Ph.D. – Director | Matt is assistant dean for graduate and professional studies at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications. He is also a faculty lecturer and the program director for the Integrated Marketing Communications graduate degree program at the KU Edwards Campus. Matt is an experienced marketing communications professional with more than 25 years of industry experience working in health care, energy and technology companies. In 2018, Matt received the Arthur Lowell “Communicator of the Year” award from the Kansas City Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). View Matt's LinkedIn Profile.
Term End Date: June 2025
Jonathan Tremblay, CMP – Director | Living in Regina, Saskatchewan, Jonathan Tremblay is director of communication in the Government of Saskatchewan, where he has worked as a public servant for a decade. In addition to his work as a communication leader, Tremblay is a former journalist, having written or spoken on a variety of subjects for Le Soleil newspaper out of his native Quebec City, as well as for the History News Network, Radio Canada and Canadian Sailings Magazine. Tremblay served as chair of IABC’s Canada West Region (2017–2020), and president of IABC Regina (2014–2017). He also chaired the Advisory Council of the Royal Roads University School of Communication and Culture (2017–2020). Tremblay is a proud graduate of Laval University and Royal Roads University and has been a certified Communication Management Professional (CMP) since 2016. Championing the communications profession and the value we add to business is his passion.
“You have experts managing all variables of your business, including the communicators managing the human variables that contribute to your business objectives: employee engagement, customer behaviours, and your social license to operate. Using your communicators to their full, strategic potential is the key to matching and surpassing your competitors.”
Term End Date: June 2024
Staff Liaison:
Paige Schafer, Membership and Operations Coordinator