Valérie Carayol
Professor, Dr.

University of Bordeaux
ISIC, Institute for Information and Communication sciences
France

• Full Professor in Information and Communication sciences.
• Director of the research group MICA (Mediation, information, communication, arts).
• Director of the publication of the French academic review Communication & Organisation.

Why are you applying for this role?

I started to participate actively to Euprera activities in the early 2000s. I contributed with Inger Jensen to the scientific committees of Euprera Congresses for several years (enlarged board) and have participated in numerous conferences.
I would like, if you give me the opportunity to take on responsibilities within EUPRERA:

1. To promote a policy for scientific excellence for the association;
2. To promote research topics for our congress meeting societal concerns and social demands coming from civil society, governments or private companies;
3. To enable the development of collective publishing projects to ensure greater visibility of the association, including a reflection on open archives for Euprera.

I would be very honoured to be the first French person to take on responsibilities as director or president elect for Euprera. I think it could also give the opportunity to the French research community in organizational communication and PR research to join the association and the European dynamic we have built.

INP – Instituto Superior de Novas Profissões
Portugal

• Coordinator of the BA in Public Relations and Advertising
• Coordinator of MARPE Iberian Line, Portugal

Why are you applying for this role?

In 1985 I was looking for a BA and I asked for help to a pedagogical consultant. At that time I knew that I wanted something in the diplomatic field. So, she asked me why not corporative diplomacy. “What is that?” – I asked. – “Public Relations” – she replied. And so it was.
Since 1986 I’m in PR: I did my BA, two Masters and I am doing my PhD in PR, I teach PR, work on International PR field, and I am with MARPE since 1994. I remember CERP and the birth of Euprera, because I was there.
To this position I have the incondicional support of INP. INP was the first higher institute in Portugal with a BA in PR – in 1964, and was one of the foundation members of CERP and Euprera, as well as a founder of MARPE. INP always had a clear idea that for the development of the institutions it is necessary to be present on the international context.
INP philosophy is that there are moments in the lifetime of organizations when they must take an active part in the associations they believe in: it is now, again, the moment for INP to materialize that philosophy.

Professor, Dr.

Leeds Metropolitan University
UK

• Professor and Director Centre for Public Relations Studies

Why are you applying for this role?

My vision as a director of Euprera is to help develop it as the leading European voice for public relations education and research while building a solid bridge between the academy and practice. I want to see the Euprera Congress recognised as one of the premier research and educational conferences in the world, attracting the best papers, but also being inclusive of developing scholarship and the practitioner voice. It should be recognised as the source and supporter of new thinking and deliver outputs that transform the field and the practice. I have created a major Centre for research and also served as President of Europe’s largest professional body (CIPR). Under my leadership we achieved Chartered status and professional recognition in the UK. I currently serve on the Board of the Global Alliance and was a major player in the development of The Stockholm Accords. I therefore have demonstrated the ability to translate vision into reality and I would like to put that to the service of Euprera.

Associate professor

University of Bucharest
Faculty of Letters, Department of Communication and Public Relations
Romania

• Head of the Department of Communication and Public Relations, Faculty of Letters, University of Bucharest.
• Director of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Communication Sciences and Public Relations (CISCOREP), Faculty of Letters, University of Bucharest.
• Director of the Centre for Distance Education, Faculty of Letters, University of Bucharest.
• Vice-president  for Education & Research, Romanian Association of Public Relations Professionals (ARRP).

Why are you applying for this role?

I joined Euprera in 2004, and in the last three years I have contributed to its enlarged executive structure as project energizer, organizing in this capacity the Euprera annual Congress in Bucharest, 2009. As a statement of intent, I believe that the Association’s Board should concentrate on the following strategic options: increasing membership and participation, assuring high quality and visibility of the scientific events (symposia and annual Congress), encouraging shared European projects and thematic interest groups, publication of the book series, and orientation to international cooperation.

Ansgar Zerfass
Professor, Dr.

University of Leipzig
Institute of Communication and Media Science
Germany

• Full professor at the Department Communication Management and Public Relations.
• Director of the research European Communication Monitor.

Why are you applying for this role?

I am serving Euprera as an executive board member since the last period and would like to continue this engagement. My aim is to make our association more international, more attractive and more inclusive to academics and professionals from all over Europe. Today, Euprera is recognized as the premier platform for research and education. I would like to strengthen this by fostering joint projects and networking, by advancing our initiatives to support young researchers and scholars, and by establishing transparent processes, be it for financial management, roles and duties or planning of joint activities between members. My experiences in senior positions both in PR practice (for ten years) and at a major university will enable me to foster our association.