THE COMMUNICATOR – June 2007
PRIA (SA) State Office: c/- 96 Melbourne Street, North Adelaide SA 5006
Ph: 08 8267 6888 Fax: 08 8267 6822
Email: pria@micwar.com.au
For more up-to-date industry news, information and monthly webinars – go to
www.pria.com.au
Message from the President – Phil Martin
The PRIA (SA) Annual General Meeting was held at Michels Warren on Monday 2 April from
6pm. I would like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing State Council members Rob Ball,
Jayne Correll and Jill Freer for their efforts and contributions. On the upside, we are happy to
welcome and introduce Edna Bates, Communication Consultant, Children, Youth and
Women’s Health Service; Tim Hughes, Principal, Hughes Public Relations; and Skana Gallery,
Manager, Business & Economic Development at the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters,
for joining the State Council.
Dr Edna Bates
Edna began her career in public relations in May 1999 when she joined the Women’s and
Children’s Hospital as Media Liaison Officer on a short term contract. She quickly
demonstrated her communication skills and won a permanent position as Public Relations
Officer.
Coming originally from a strong science research background but with a Graduate Diploma in
Communications and a Diploma in Business (Marketing), Edna was ideally suited to take up
the role of Research Communications Manager at the Hospital in 2001, a role created to help
medical researchers publicise their research findings to the general public and boost funding
for research. She is currently a Communication Consultant for the Children, Youth and
Women’s Health Service of which the Hospital is a part. Her role focuses predominantly
around corporate communications, maintaining and building on corporate identity and major
event management.
Tim Hughes
Tim is the Principal of Hughes Public Relations and has more than 20 years experience in
journalism and public relations with the ABC, The Advertiser and in several Adelaide-based
and international public relations consultancies.
Since establishing Hughes Public Relations in 1992, his skills and those of the consultancy’s
12-strong professional team have been consistently sought by organisations spanning
infrastructure, banking and finance, manufacturing, food and hospitality, property and Local
and State Government sectors.
Skana Gallery
Skana obtained her Masters degree in Public Relations from Bond University in 1998 and
started work in Brisbane as law firm Hunt & Hunt’s Marketing Coordinator.
However, she soon felt the pull back to her home town Adelaide, where she landed the role of
Public Relations Adviser for the City of Campbelltown in 2002, the first person to hold that role
at that organisation. This gave her the opportunity to mould and build the role over four years
to the point where the Council agreed to augment it by employing a graphic designer/website
coordinator.
In December 2005, Skana moved to her current role as Manager, Business & Economic
Development at the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters. Also a relatively new role at that
Council, it involves marketing and promoting local businesses as well as working to ensure
that the area facilitates successful business, thereby attracting more business into the area
and increasing employment opportunities for the area.
STATE COUNCIL NEWS
GROWING MEMBERSHIP
The Public Relations Institute of Australia is a professional body, designed to deliver to you, as
an individual, benefits to support you professionally, and to build a better industry and develop
and promote communications and public relations.
However, the Institute is only as strong as its members, so it is vital for the growth of the PR
and communications industry that you become a member of the Institute.
There are a number of grades of membership, which recognise your qualifications and
experience.

Associate - Up to 5 years full time experience or up to 3 years full time experience with
an accredited degree.

Member - Over 5 years full time experience or over 3 years full time experienced with
an accredited degree. Additionally, applicants for full membership will need to be
nominated by two Members or Fellows of the Institute to receive this grade.

Student Membership -You qualify as a student member if you are enrolled in a full or
part-time tertiary communication course and DO NOT work full time in a
communication-related role.
If you are joining for the first time, please enter the names of two members you know who can
support your membership nomination. If you do not know a member please leave these fields
blank - you will be contacted by someone who can discuss your membership and can
nominate you.
For further information on joining, please visit the national website www.pria.com..au
INTERCOMM NEWS
Intercomm had a great start to 2007 with record numbers at their first event including some
students from UniSA’s new Bachelor of Public Relations course. The panel discussion ‘A view
from the 4 corners of PR’ featured experienced PR practitioners including, Dalice Kennedy
(Hughes PR), Nat Bradford (formerly at The Adelaide City Council), Paul Tierney (ABB Grain)
and Heather McCulloch (Royal Society for the Blind). The audience enjoyed hearing about the
fun and challenging aspects of being a public relations practitioner in a variety of sectors.
Intercomm’s next event will be a speed networking event and will be held on June 12.