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GWPR Australia

GWPR Australia names 2026 mentoring scholarship recipients

GWPR Australia (GWPRAus) has announced Anastasiia Nazarenko of Palin Communications and Sophie Budzevski of DEC PR as the recipients of the 2026 GWPRAus Mentoring Scholarships, marking an expansion of the program following the success of its pilot year.

Launched in 2025, GWPR said the scholarship program was created to address a gap in leadership development for early to mid‑career women in PR and communications, a cohort that's responsible for leading teams and client outcomes, yet overlooked by traditional mentoring programs.

Delivered in partnership with Beaumont People and BlueChip Communication, the scholarship provides recipients access to Beaumont People's six‑month LEAD Program, a personalised, strengths‑based leadership initiative combining one‑to‑one mentoring, strengths assessments, coaching, masterclasses, and peer connection.

Carden Calder, Chair of the GWPR Australia Mentoring Program, said: "The strength and volume of applications made it clear there is significant demand for leadership development at this career stage, which is why we decided to expand the scholarships to support two emerging leaders this year.

"We congratulate the 2026 scholarship recipients and thank all applicants. The calibre of applications and level of engagement are a clear signal of how strongly this program resonates across the industry."

(Pictured: Anastasiia Nazarenko and Sophie Budzevski) 

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Alex
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Alex Malouf sets up new comms advisory in Riyadh

Narrative Shapers has launched in Riyadh, offering communications advisory services, media and communications training, and event support across the Gulf. Founded by Alex Malouf, an industry veteran who has worked across the region for 25 years, the advisory was formed to help executives, founders, or officials in the Gulf region tell their story internationally.

“This region has such powerful stories, of change, of growth and of transformation, and we owe it to tell those stories to the wider world, so that audiences globally can know more about all the positive developments which are happening here. Narrative Shapers will help with bridging this gap, so that we can raise awareness of the success of national initiatives such as Vision 2030," said Alex.

"The more that the world understands this region and its people, the more opportunities will arise in areas such as foreign direct investment, in foreign real estate ownership, and inbound tourism."  

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PRCA APAC announces 2026 Corporate Affairs Forum and Gold Standard Awards

PRCA APAC has launched the 2026 editions of the Corporate Affairs Forum and Gold Standard Awards.

This year's theme, "Navigating the Unscripted: Public Affairs in a World Without Playbooks", will explore how organisations can navigate uncertainty amid geopolitical shifts, technological disruption, and changing public expectations. The forum will bring together leaders across corporate affairs, public affairs, government relations, and communications through panel discussions, fireside chats, and presentations.

The Gold Standard Awards 2026 will be held on 15th September 2026. The awards recognise industry excellence and achievements across corporate affairs, public affairs, and government relations, including areas such as media relations, stakeholder engagement, crisis management, and CSR. The awards are open to agencies, corporations, NGOs, and government organisations.

Further details on the forum and awards are available online. 

GO
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GO Communications grows client portfolio

 GO Communications has been named to manage PR and communications duties for Food & Drinks Malaysia by SIAL 2026 (FDM 2026), further strengthening the agency’s portfolio in the events and exhibitions sector.

Scheduled for 21 to 23 July 2026 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), the exhibition marks its fourth edition in Malaysia following its debut in 2023. Under the appointment, GO Communications leads strategic communications efforts to elevate the platform’s positioning as a key industry event that brings together trade, innovation and talent within the food and beverage ecosystem.

Henri Tan, Exhibition Director South East Asia of Comexposium, said the appointment comes at a time when the exhibition continues to strengthen its presence in Malaysia and the wider Southeast Asian market.

Meanwhile, Peter de Kretser, CEO of GO Communications, added that FDM 2026 represents an important platform that drives meaningful conversations, partnerships and opportunities across the food and beverage industry.

GO Communications has previously managed communications for major events, including Defence Services Asia (DSA) and the World Congress on Innovation and Technology (WCIT).