Judges’ panel for 2022 PRISM Awards is announced
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The 2022 PRISM Awards saw 250 entries, of which 140 will receive awards, distributed among a mix of agencies and individuals. “It is a huge scaling up of the PRISM Awards, resulting in more winners this time around,” comments Tebogo Ditshego, President of event organiser the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA). “Our aim this year has been to broaden the democratisation of the awards, where first-time entries are winners.”
Tebogo says he is excited about the new Public Sector Award, which seeks to encourage PR and Communications Practitioners in government and State-owned enterprises to pursue excellence in their campaigns. He adds that the diverse and experienced 2022 judges’ panel adds a high degree of credibility to the PRISM Awards.
Independent auditors were brought onboard to ensure that the judging process was fair for all entrants and ultimately the deserving winners. Entrants were also invited and taken through the judges and auditors’ report in the interests of full transparency.
The Chief Judge of the 2022 PRISM Awards is Willem S. Eksteen, Chief Executive of Stone. Willem is a former Managing Director of South African Tourism (SAT) for the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden region, based in London. He promoted South Africa as a tourism destination in the most substantial global source market.
Willem has subsequently driven the strategic approach and engagement for several national and international organisations, creating an incomparable skillset and unrivalled experience in various fields. Before joining SAT, he was the Managing Director of the multidisciplinary integrated marketing and communication company FKICP, headquartered in the UK, with operational offices in the UK and the US.
“The quest for excellence, value impact, and unquestionable integrity should always be guiding principles in the PRISM Awards when recognising the achievements in our industry. The awards must set a high benchmark to aspire to and should not be a mere confirmation of entry exercise. The PRISM Awards also provide a platform to contribute wider than our benefit. We must raise standards, empower the next generation of professionals, and continually add value to the society where we have the privilege to work,” says Willem.
The following 2022 PRISM Awards judges are profiled below:
Caroline Smith
Caroline has over 25 years’ experience and is Head of PR at Flow Communications. “I am always in awe by the end of judging the PRISM awards – communications in South Africa are often world-class. And for those who have the courage and commitment to enter the awards, I salute you,” says Caroline. She is particularly excited at this year’s broad spectrum of diverse judges, including clients, media people, and practitioners, which resulted in such a transparent auditing process.
Oscar Tshifure
Oscar is a results-driven business development and PR specialist with 15 years’ experience. Currently completing his MBA, Oscar is also a member of the Academic Advisory Committee for the Integrated Communications Department at Tshwane University of Technology.
Oscar notes that the overall quality of the entries was amazing. “The PRISM Awards will only grow from strength to strength to make them the pinnacle in the PR industry in and Southern Africa.” He highlights the fair judging criteria applied to rate each entry.
Renay Tandy
Renay was an award-winning trade journalist before co-founding NGAGE in 2006, a niche agency specialising in industry that has become known as #TheAgencyForIndustry. With more than 18 years’ PR experience, she is a recipient of the PRISM Best PR Professional in Media Liaison Award, while NGAGE itself has a number of PRISM and MEA Market Awards under its belt.
As a first-time judge of the PRISM Awards, Renay says: “It was a good experience to be on this side of the fence and to experience the process from start to finish. Some of the entries this year showed exceptional creativity during a very challenging period which saw most companies cut marketing budgets and pull back because of the pandemic.”
Renay adds that a handful of entries stood out for her. “The most important aspect for me was bringing the results back to business and to show how the campaigns actually made a difference. Lots of coverage and creativity is great, but it is the actual business results that make entries stand out for me.”
Kesagee Nayager
Kesagee is the Marketing, Communications, and HR Executive for the Bombela Concession Company, which operates the Gautrain system in Gauteng. She is a PRISA-accredited PR professional. Kesagee serves on the Council for Children of the Dawn. She has served on the PRISA Board and as Chairperson for the PRISA Accreditation Committee. Her many achievements include being named winner of the Top Women Awards 2018.
“It was a great privilege and an honour to be a chief judge. We received world-class entries that were so well coordinated and presented it made our work all the more challenging and exciting. Well done to each and every individual involved in the different campaigns – your work forms the bedrock upon which our industry is built!” says Kesagee.
Thando Xaba
Thando’s many hats include being 2022 Programme Manager for the International Federation of Liberal Youth Female Leadership. She was a 2021 Burson Cohn & Wolfe Africa Starting Blocks Academy alumnus, a Friedrich Naumann Foundation Africa ‘Check Your Freedom’ TV programme series host and a PRISM Young Voices 2021 Young Judge.
Thando says that the 2022 PRISM Awards entries “show that organisations are really working hard to contribute to the advancement of the PR and communications industry during the pandemic and post-pandemic era.”
Madelain Roscher
Described as the #PRguru by her peers, Madelain is CEO of PR Worx, a full-service marketing communications agency she established in 2001. With 25 years’ in-depth industry experience, PR Worx is also one of the highest awarded PR firms in Africa.
Her knowledge of the sector is put to good use to develop commercial strategies that are impactful and generate a maximum measurable return on investment. Her responsibilities include strategic business development for her own firm, Status Reputation Management Consultancy. As a proudly African-owned and managed consultancy, she believes it is her duty – as much as it is up to governments – to change the destiny of the continent.
Thabisile Phumo
Thabisile is an accredited PR and Communications Specialist with 25 years’ experience in communication and stakeholder engagement. She is past President of PRISA and a member of the Executive Committee of the World Communication Forum Association. Currently she is the Executive Vice President and Head of Stakeholder Relations at Sibanye-Stillwater.
Sibonsile Ngubane
Sibonisile is a Senior PR Specialist, Spoken Word Artist, Motivational Speaker, and the Top 2 finalist of SABC 1’s Reality Leadership Show ‘One Day Leader’ S6. In 2018 she was named Ditshego Media’s Employee of the Year and awarded the CEO’s Leadership Award the following year. In 2019 she was honoured as one of the Top 5 Young Professionals in the Media and Advertising industry in South Africa at the Accenture Rising Star Awards. She is currently the Senior PR Honcho of PR and Communications at Orchard on 25.
For more information about the 2022 PRISM Awards, visit: https://www.prism-awards.co.za/.
The full 2022 PRISM Awards judges’ panel are:
- Simone Carter, University of Johannesburg
- Thandi Chaotsane-Moticoe, Purple Room Consultancy
- Lauren Chavez, King James Group SA
- Jennifer Clark, Hill & Knowlton
- Laura Cooke, Multichoice Connected Video (Showmax)
- Tsholofelo Dihutso
- Rob Garden, Levergy
- Themba Hlengani, Hlengani & Assoc
- Nicky James, Tribeca
- Tracy Jones, Positive Dialogue
- Fareez Joulay, Eclipse PR
- Vista Kalipa, On Point PR
- Ruiter Keletso, IIE
- Thabani Khumalo, Danone
- Emma King, The Friday Street Club
- Suzanne Koshiaris, We Worldwide
- Nomshado Lubisi
- Sinethemba Mabuyakhulu
- Tshepang Mabuza, IIE
- Lara Magnus, Orange Ink
- Thembisile Makhanya, IIE
- Minkateko Maluleke, IIE
- Tom Manners, Clockwork Media
- Rhodé Marshall, FleishmanHillard
- Mbali Maseko
- Tshegofatso Masote
- Phuti Mathapo, Capricorn Municipaliity
- Retshedisitswe Matlabe, IIE
- Lerato Matsaneng, Sanlam Investments
- Pheliswa Mayekiso, JSE
- Sabelo Mbuku, Transport Education & Training Authority
- Jacki McEwen, Founding Partner, Eclipse
- Phumelelo Mhlanga, IIE
- Troy Mocheko, Eclipse PR
- Tshidi Modikoane, Kwambele Social Marketing
- Mokgadi Molamodi, IIE
- Oreratile Moletsane, IIE
- Victor Moreriane, Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development
- Moleboheng Motsoane, IIE
- Nikki Munsie, IAS
- Carmen Murray, Mobitainment
- Laureen Nonhlanhla Mxoli, Unilever
- Kesagee Nayager, Bombela
- Simbongile Ndlangisa, Melenial
- Andisa Ndlovu
- Sane Ndlovu, IN.PR
- Nelisa Ngqulana, PR Trends
- Vongani Ngwenika
- Ntombi Ntanzi
- Andre Oberholzer, Sappi
- Shirona Patel, Wits University
- Lulama Philiso, Liberty
- Thuli Phiri, The African Storytellers
- Brittany Preece, Cerebra
- Elvis Presslin, Fundi Communications
- Thato Rahube, IIE
- Melanie Ramjee, Tutone Communications
- Ngwako Ramohlale
- Cheryl Reddy, Eclipse PR
- Paul Reynell, Paddington Station PR
- Bonnie Robinson, The Reputationalist
- Madelain Roscher, PR Worx
- Darren Sandras, One-eyed Jack
- Sergio Santos-Van Vuuren, MSL South Africa
- Themba Sepotokele, Media
- Kerry Sheehan
- Neli Shuping, GCSI
- Iris Sibanda
- Caroline Smith, Flow Communications
- Lerato Songelwa, Hill & Knowlton
- Faiza Steyn, Provincial Government, Western Cape
- Renay Tandy, NGAGE
- Nicola Tarr, Business Unit Director, Tribeca
- Reatile Tekateka, Multichoice Africa
- Natalie Themistocleous, FleishmanHillard
- David Tshabalala, Slaying Goliath
- Kevin Welman, ByDesign Communications
- Thando Xaba, University of Johannesburg
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About PRISA
Established in 1957, the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA) is the only professional body for public relations and communication practitioners recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). PRISA provides SAQA recognised accreditation, training and representation for professionals, corporates and consultancies in the public relations and communication management sector throughout the Southern Africa region and has registered practitioners in Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, and South Africa.
PRISA promotes the common interests of public relations professionals and best public relations practices public relations through its code of ethics, dialogue with stakeholders and contribution to curriculum development in institutions of higher learning. In terms of curriculum development, after a robust analysis, PRISA provides endorsements for tertiary institutions that offer courses in public relations and communication-related fields.
Furthermore, PRISA formally recognises professionals and consultancies with certification and accreditation of registered individuals, corporates, consultancies, academics and by the endorsement of qualifying educational institutions.
PRISA provides professional development programmes and Continuous Professional Development workshops for the benefit of registered members and the public relations profession.
PRISA is a founding member of the Global Alliance for Public Relations & Communication Management (GA) and a member of the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO). The Institute initiated the formation of the Council for Communication Management (CCM) in South Africa.
SAQA has recognised PRISA as a professional body since November 2011, and PRISA plays a leading role in uniting professionals and driving transformation. As the recognised public relations and communication management leader in southern Africa and beyond, PRISA provides the Southern African industry with a local professional advantage.
PRISA Contact
Polello Mowela
Executive Assistant to PRISA President
Phone: (011) 326 1262
Email: polello [at] prisa [dot] co [dot] za
Web: www.prisa.co.za