Dubai, UAE - 13 APRIL, 2017 – The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA), the region’s leading body for public relations practitioners, communication professionals and students, has today announced the appointment of Sabrina De Palma to the newly created position of Academy Director. The move supports MEPRA’s commitment to boost investment into training and development and build capabilities of industry professionals across the region, to help navigate the ever-changing communication landscape.

With more than twelve years’ communication experience in agency and in-house roles, Sabrina has previously worked across public relations and marketing strategy with large corporates, national sporting bodies, consumer brands and the not-for-profit sector. Her most recent post was for Hill+Knowlton Gulf as the Head of Health and Wellness, where she also led the training and development program for two years.

In her new role, Sabrina will work closely with the MEPRA board of directors, volunteer leadership and staff to carry forward the Association’s strategic training initiatives and its mission of advancing the industry and its professionals. Through a new and improved curriculum and accreditation model set to be launched later this year, the Academy will seek to provide education and training that is responsive to local industry needs aligned with global standards, and also provide an avenue for continuous professional development at every stage of a practitioner’s career.

Ray Eglington, Chairman of MEPRA and Group Managing Director at Four Communications said: “MEPRA is committed to driving growth and setting standards of excellence for the region’s public relations and communication industry, and training is fundamental to supporting that effort.” 

“As the industry continues to move at a rapid pace, with the changing media landscape, diverse range of channels and digital tools, the need to continuously develop skills and evolve is paramount for any communication professional to succeed today. Sabrina’s role is a major investment for MEPRA but an essential step if we want to expand our scope to truly support and advance the industry right across the region.” 

Commenting on her appointment, Sabrina said: “It is a fascinating period of change for communication professionals and I am honoured to be part of an organisation that is committed to help navigate the challenges and opportunities that follow,” she said.  “I am passionately committed to building on the success of the MEPRA Academy and ultimately support the advancement of the industry in the Middle East.”