Committees and Task Forces

Home AboutWho We AreCommittees and Task Forces

IABC's international committees are a critical component of our governance structure. International committees and task forces help develop programs, represent members in decision-making and help further the goals of the board and the association at large. Serving on an IABC international committee is also a wonderful opportunity to gain leadership experience, refine skills and work hands-on with leaders around the world.

IABC has two different types of committees: board committees and programmatic committees. While all committees report to the international executive board (IEB) and work in alignment with the board approved strategy and budget, there is a difference. Board committees work as an extension of the IEB and carry out the work of the board. Some of these committees are chaired by a director from the board. Programmatic committees work closely with staff to develop programs, events, and initiatives that enhance value for members and the broader IABC community.

Click on a link below to see the current IABC volunteers who are giving their time to further the IABC mission.

IABC Board Committees

Ethics Committee

The IABC Ethics Committee is responsible for input to the IABC International Executive Board (IEB) on policy, standards, strategic development, education and monitoring in relation to ethical matters and upholding the IABC Code of Ethics.

Pamela Gole, SCMP | Chair
Jamie Anne Vaughan | Vice Chair
Judy Dobbs | Past Chair
Matthew Collis | Committee Member
Robert Williamson | Committee Member
Elvera Makki | Committee Member
Yemi Adeyemi | IEB Liaison
Conor Burton | Staff Liaison

Finance Committee

The committee's role is to review regular financial results: oversee preparation of an operating budget for the fiscal year adopted by the executive board; to annually review IABC's policy on reserves.

Tammy Nienaber | Chair
Adam Fuss | Committee Member
Thérésa Lee | Committee Member
Sam Sinclair | Committee Member
Linda Andross | Committee Member
Adam Rozenhart | Committee Member
Shan Chatoo | Committee Member
Alexia Malamis | Staff Liaison

Audit and Risk Committee

The committee's role is to act on behalf of the International Executive Board (IEB) to bring objective oversight to material aspects of the association's financial reporting, internal controls and external financial audit and identification, evaluation and (where relevant) mitigation of risks, by management, the IEB and its committees.

Karen Matthews | Chair
Jackie Fajt | Committee Member
Anthea Cudworth | Committee Member
Nancy Arab | Committee Member
Karen Matthews | IEB Liaison
Alexia Malamis | Staff Liaison

Programmic Committees

Professional Development Committee

The Professional Development (PD) Committee oversees IABC's professional development platforms and sets strategy with regard to IABC's educational offerings to members and non-members. The committee ensures that IABC's offerings are consistent and high-quality across platforms.

Denise Caesar | Chair
Melissa Corns | Vice Chair
Christine Breet, SCMP | Past Chair
Joe Bobbey | Committee Member
Jacob Robinson | Committee Member
Riana Sinden | Committee Member
Leah Gladu | Committee Member
Kurt Gallagher | IEB Liaison
Kristin Frankiewicz | Staff Liaison

Awards Committee

The IABC Awards Committee provides leadership and vision for the IABC Gold Quill Awards. It is responsible for ensuring that the Gold Quill Awards program is the leading awards program for business communicators, that chapters and regions have the information they need to align with the Gold Quill standards and processes and appropriate governance and strategic documentation are in place.

Tricia Wretham | Chair
Allyson Lambert | Vice Chair
Mandy Gibson, SCMP | Past Chair
Claire Lyness | Committee Member
Pam Edwards | Committee Member
Andrea Greenhous | Committee Member
Dierdra Yates | Committee Member
Zach George | Staff Liaison

Membership Committee

The purpose of the IABC Membership Committee is to advance membership retention and growth through the development of strategies that enhance the member value proposition and benefits for IABC members.

Andrew Morrison | Chair / IEB Liaison
Nkemjika Emezie-Ejinima | Committee Member (Africa)
Rachael Pearson | Committee Member (EMENA)
Ty'ya Pettis | Committee Member (United States)
Samantha Rae Ayoub | Committee Member (Canada East)
Christopher Saxby | Committee Member (APAC)
Cameron Zimmer | Committee Member (Canada West)
Zach George | Staff Liaison

Fellows Committee

The Fellows Committee is a regular standing committee of the Board responsible for evaluating annual nominations and making recommendations to the IABC Executive Board (IEB) for new IABC Fellows each year.

Brad Whitworth, SCMP, IABC Fellow | Chair
Theomary Karamanis, PhD, SCMP, IABC Fellow | Vice Chair
Rajeev Kumar, ABC, IABC Fellow | Past Chair
Anuja Kale-Agarwal | IEB Liaison
Conor Burton | Staff Liaison

Fellows Selection Sub-Committee

Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo | Member (Fellow)
Mark Schumann | Member (Fellow)
Vladislav Vasilev, CER | Member (Non-Fellow)
Wisdom Chapp-Jumbo | Member (Non-Fellow)

Fellows Engagement Sub-Committee

Amanda Hamilton-Atwell | Member (Fellow)
Sue Heuman | Member (Fellow)
Jennifer Wah | Member (Fellow)

Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC)

The GCCC, an independent initiative created by IABC, offers certification at various levels and promotes a common, global understanding of what constitutes professionalism and competence in communication.

Deb Hileman | Chair
Shel Holtz | Vice Chair
Bonnie Caver | Past Chair
Ann-Marie Blake | Secretary/Treasurer
André Oberholzer | Council Member
Ruxandra-Laura Bosilca, SCMP | Council Member
Waleed Bin Huzaim, SCMP | Council Member
Jyoti Khan, SCMP | Council Member
Peter Finn | IEB Liaison
Yenny Caceres | Staff Liaison

Program Advisory Committee

The Program Advisory Committee (PAC) works collaboratively with staff to ensure that IABC World Conference is a high-value professional development experience aligned to the needs of the global profession.

Daniel Paulling | Chair
Eduvie Martin | Vice Chair
Ashima Poddar | Committee Member
Astrid Greve-Spencer | Committee Member
Damilola Kadiri | Committee Member
Kane Errol Choa | Committee Member
Tanya Pikula | Committee Member
Rob Wozny | Committee Member
Valerie Gonzalez | Committee Member
Yvonne Grinam-Nicholson | Committee Member
Richard Kies, ABC | IEB Liaison
Emily Uligian | Staff Liaison

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee

The Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee is tasked to develop recommendations for how to integrate DE&I into the fabric of our organization and culture.

Traci West | Chair
Oluwatobi (Tobi) Oyedele | Vice Chair
Marilyn Settell, CMP, PMP, MAM | Past Chair
Smriti Krishna Kumar | Committee Member
Emma Stonham | Committee Member
Michael Liu | Committee Member
Simon Cavendish | IEB Liaison
Conor Burton | Staff Liaison

Task Forces & Short-Term Committees

Foundation Grant Selection Task Force

The IABC Foundation Grant Selection Task Force is a time-limited action team who conducts the evaluation, selection and recommendation of all IABC Foundation grants or scholarships. All recommendations are sent from the task force to the Foundation Trustees for final approval.

Heather Young | Chair
Chris Saxby | Committee Member
Sheri Morgan | Committee Member
Martina Samson | Committee Member
Zach George | Staff Liaison