PR
★ PresidentMichael Meier
Senior PartnerAfter studying in Germany and the US, Michael Meier worked as an economics journalist in London, before becoming a PR officer for a large Swiss electronics group.
In 1989 he met Eugen Schindler and Jean-Claude Parent, the founders of the advertsing agency Schindler Parent, which he subsequently joined as Group Head Copywriting and quickly moving on to become consultant and managing director. Today, Michael Meier is the sole MD of Schindler Parent, with offices in Meersburg and Pforzheim and one of 4 shareholders in the company. Michael Meier has been president of the international agency Network E3 for 6 years. Further, he has won many national and international awards.
Judy Lewis
Judy Lewis is Co-founder and Partner of Strategic Objectives, Canada’s most award-winning public relations agency. A respected communications and public relations strategist, Lewis provides senior counsel and insight-led creative PR solutions to many of Canada’s and the world’s leading brands and organizations.
She is an innovator of blockbuster brand PR, social media and digital solutions and has led many of the agency’s award-winning programs that have earned national and international recognition including the United Nations Grand Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Relations; numerous IABC Gold Quill Awards; and CPRS ACE Awards’ Most Creative Campaign of the Year and Digital Campaign of the Year. Judy has been named CPRS ACE Award PR Professional of the Year and is the recipient of both, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Canada and the Communications Industry.
Edward Zhang
Edward has over 16 years exposure in corporate and marketing communications, including 4 years senior position in the world leading independent PR agency Ruder Finn. Now he is leading his own business -ZEN.EST, one of the most recommended local PR agencies in China. In his position, he provides strategic consulting and advisory services to many top brands, such as Volvo Group, Volkswagen AG, Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren, Maserati, Doosan Infracore, Wirtgen and JLG, so as he has accumulated affluent experience in automotive, construction equipment and manufacturing industries. Edward is a native Chinese speaker who is fluent in English. He holds an MBA from China’s top business school – China Europe International Business School (CEIBS).
Julie Gresse
New Business Development Director
Madworld
SOUTH AFRICA
Over the past decade Julie has eked out a name for herself as a born networker with the ability to identify synergistic marketing opportunities for brands- and capitalize on their potential. Starting out as a qualified Motion Picture Art Director, she has used her natural talents of resourcefulness, creativity, and dynamism to make an impact in marketing, from concept development to campaign and event executions with measurable results. As brand ambassador and new business development director for Cape Town agency MADWORLD, she is well-conected with South Africa´s media, bloggers, celebrities and well-known personality in the marketing, fashion, entertaiment and tourism industries.