The PRCA is pleased to announce that Emily Belton, Associate Director, BCW, has won the annual PRCA SEA Future Leader Award.

The award saw PR and communications practitioners aged 30 and under enter essays of up to 1,000 words, responding to the following brief: ‘Mental Health, Fear and Job Losses: What is the role of Public Relations during a Global Health Crisis? (Should PR professionals hide under a stone or should we find a middle ground in our roles in any given organisation?)’

Along with a trophy, Belton has been awarded a S$500 prize.

Francis Ingham MPRCA, Director General, PRCA, said: “I would like to congratulate Emily for winning the Future Leader Award this year. Her essay was thought provoking and creative and her win is well deserved. I would also like to congratulate everyone else who entered the awards – the quality of entries was extremely high, and they should be proud of themselves. Finally, I would like to thank the judges for their time and expertise.”

Emily Belton, Associate Director, BCW, said: “I am honoured to have been selected as the winner of the PRCA SEA Future Leader Award 2020. As one of the most prestigious awards for young PR practitioners in Southeast Asia, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to share my thoughts on the current challenges and complexities our industry faces. 2020 has been a very difficult year for all of us, but it has also shown us that our work as communicators is vital in addressing a myriad of challenges related to the pandemic. As I wrote in my essay, now is not the time for PR professionals to hide under a stone, no matter the type of organisation we work for or consult to. Now is the time for us to step up and shape positive public health outcomes in a climate of fear and uncertainty. I believe that we are exceptionally well-positioned to achieve this, and, most importantly, that it is our responsibility to do so.”

The PRCA SEA Future Leader Award saw young participants challenged to write a thought-provoking essay on the PR and communications industry in the region.

View the winning entry here.

ENDS

WHO WE ARE

The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) is the world’s largest professional PR body.

We represent more than 35,000 PR professionals in 70 countries worldwide. With offices in London, Singapore, Dubai, and Buenos Aires, we are a global advocate for excellence in public relations.

Our mission is to create a more professional, ethical, and prosperous PR industry. We champion – and enforce – professional standards in the UK and overseas through our Professional Charter and Code of Conduct. The Code compels members to adhere to the highest standards of ethical practice.

We deliver exceptional training, authoritative industry data, and global networking and development opportunities. We also manage the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO), the umbrella body for 41 PR associations and 3,000 agencies across the world, and LG Comms – the UK’s national body for authorities raising standards of local government communication.