Business communicators head for Jamaica

JOHN Robinson, Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica, will be one of the keynote speakers at the Canada Conference 2001 of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) at the Renaissance Jamaica Grande, Ocho Rios Jamaica, October 14-17.

The theme of the Conference is 'Beyond Borders', and seeks to focus on the new communication challenges of the "borderless world" in which we live. It will be the first time that the IABC Canada Conference will be held outside Canada.

Born in Toronto, Mr. Robinson grew up and went to school in Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto. He attended the University of Western Ontario, receiving the BA (Honours) and MA in History. He attended University College, University of London, England, where he completed Ph.D. studies in history.

A senior diplomat in the Canadian Foreign Service, John Robinson joined the Canadian Government in 1968 as a member of the Department of External Affairs. He has served in Geneva, Switzerland, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and twice in Kingston, Jamaica.

His assignments and experiences have prepared him for delivering key messages on how globalisation is a direct concern of every citizen in every country. At the IABC Canada Conference, he will be speaking on the topic 'Beyond Borders: The World Citizen.'

Each day the conference will feature keynote addresses by eminent speakers. In addition there will be workshops on the theme 'Beyond Borders.'

Michael Rudnik, whose IABC leadership spans two decades including the International Executive Board from 1996-2000, will lead one such workshop. His will be entitled 'Enterprise Portals and leading trends on the Web.'

Managing director of Groundswell Inc., Mr. Rudnik is described as an "industry pioneer" having developed the first portal for Xerox in 1994, long before the term 'intranet" was even coined. Through his company, Mr. Rudnik provides services in Web-enablement strategies, content management, governance, content architecture, portal implementation site maintenance, and end-user awareness and communications.

A number of other workshops and presentations will focus on the sub-theme of Information Technology including that of Shel Holtz, ABC, whose topic will be 'Site Lessons from the Web.'

Widely recognised as one of the leading authorities on the use of online technology to achieve communication objectives, Holtz as principal of Holtz Communication and Technology has consulted with organisations such as Sears, IBM, AT&T, Barclays Global Investors, Exxon, Allstate Insurance and Kellogg's. He is the author of the best-selling Public Relations book, Public Relations on the Net along with other books, manuals and articles.

IABC Canada Conference 2001 is being hosted by IABC Caribbean, which includes IABC members in the English-speaking Caribbean. Co-chairs for the Conference are Elaine Commissiong, immediate past president of the local association, and Marcia Erskine, who is the current IABC Caribbean president. Conference director-at-large who sits on the Board of the IABC Canada District 2 (Eastern Canada) is Gerry MacDaniel.

Some 300 IABC members worldwide are expected to attend the Conference.

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