CHICAGO, July 2, 2021 — The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) chair, Bonnie Caver, named both Zora Artis, GAICD, SCMP, FAMI, CPM, and Neil Griffiths, ABC, Chart.PR, IABC Fellow as recipients of the 2021 Chair’s Award. The awards were announced during the Excellence Gala at IABC’s World Conference this week.
Artis was honored for her contributions to IABC’s strategic plan – Stronger Together IABC25 – where she facilitated member journey mapping, SWOT research, and strategic alignment.
“Zora is a strategic leader who asks the hard but right questions to help organizations reach their goals,” said Caver. “Her dedication to the future of the communication profession has set IABC on a path to lead globally at a time where our environments are rapidly changing, and alignment is essential.”
Griffiths led the IABC Diversity, Equ(al)ity, and Inclusion Task Force, which focused on both the nominations process of IABC committees and board leadership as well as providing a comprehensive plan for DE&I to be infused into the DNA of the organization.
“Neil’s leadership in DE&I has put IABC on a journey to adjust how we listen, operate, and advocate,” said Caver. “Equally important, he has created channels for open dialogue that we can build upon as an association to guide communication professionals globally as they lead DE&I strategy within their organizations.”
Zora Artis Background:
Zora Artis, GAICD, SCMP, FAMI, CPM, is Australia’s leading alignment, brand and communication strategist, working with boards and executives to unlock value in their organizations, people and brands to drive performance and connection. She is the CEO of Artis Advisory and co-founder of The Alignment People, the Immediate Past Chair of the IABC Asia Pacific region, Vice Chair of the IABC World Conference 2021 and a member of the IABC Strategic Planning Task Force. Zora is a past director of the IABC International Executive Board (2016-2019), past president of the IABC Victoria Chapter, past chair of the IABC Audit/Risk Committee, Ethics in a Box Task Force, and Policy Review Committee, as well as a past member of the GCCC, and other IABC committees.
Zora has almost three decades in business, marketing, communication, advertising and branding, and has worked with a breadth of private, public and non-profit organizations, including AB InBev, adidas, Aurecon, AusNet Services, AIA Australia, A2 Milk Company, GSK, LendLease, Weir Group, Marsh and the Victorian Government. She is a certified company director, marketing practitioner, strategic communications management professional as well as a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute.
Her campaign and communications work has been recognised globally with multiple IABC Gold Quill Awards. She is also a judge for the IABC Gold Quill Awards, Australian Marketing Institute Awards, IAP2 Core Value Awards, and Cannes LIONS Awards for Effectiveness. Zora is the also the recipient of the 2020 IABC Regional Leader of the Year and 2015 IABC Chairman’s Awards.
She’s also a mum of two wonderful sons and a rather cute Cavoodle called Rusty who has a tendency to join her for Zoom or Teams calls.
Neil Griffiths Background
Neil Griffiths, ABC, Chart.PR, IABC Fellow is Global Head of Diversity, Equality & Inclusion at ERM, the world’s largest sustainability consultancy, where he is responsible for the global DE&I strategy and engagement plan. Neil’s background is varied, having spent the better part of 20 years in a series of external, brand, strategy and internal communication roles, before moving into the DE&I space. Neil has held leadership roles in a number of public, private and non-profit organizations.
In the volunteer space, Neil has held multiple leadership positions within the IABC and the Company of Communicators (CoC), which is one of the City of London’s modern Livery Companies. Volunteer highlights include being a member of the inaugural Global Communications Certification Council, Career Roadmap Committee member, Chair of the 2018 IABC World Conference (Montreal), Past Chair of IABC’s EMENA region and, as at November 2020, Junior Warden of the CoC.
Neil is a recipient of the IABC Regional Leader of the Year and Rae Hamlin Awards. In 2019, Neil was named IABC Fellow, the highest honour bestowed on an IABC member.
Together with co-author Deborah Hinton, Neil has published two studies on the current and future state of the communication profession and advocates for channeling your best communication self regardless of where and how you work.
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About IABC
IABC is setting the global standard for communication professionals. A diverse, international association connecting communication professionals with the people and insights necessary to drive results, IABC brings together the profession’s collective disciplines. IABC programming, delivered locally and globally through chapters and regions, includes certification and awards to provide communications benchmarks for business executives. Focused around the Global Standard (ethics, consistency, context, analysis, strategy and engagement), IABC helps guide careers and advance the profession.