IAA hosts Leadership Forum in Colombo:

Unique event for advertising stakeholders

Hiran H. SENEWIRATNE

The International Advertising Association (IAA), Sri Lanka Chapter will host the second IAA Leadership Forum in Colombo, held tomorrow, at the Cinnamon Grand.

This is a unique forum for all advertising stakeholders, which will have several presentations focusing on the future of the advertising industry, IAA Sri Lanka Chapter President Ranil de Silva said.

De Silva also serves on the worldwide Board of the IAA said that this forum aims to provide insights into the marketing communications industry to propel Sri Lanka’s industry to world class standards.

It will include several insightful presentations focusing on the future of the industry talking about its issues this year’s forum, he said.

“I am certain that this year’s sessions will be beneficial to the leaders in our industry as we have truly world class people lined up to make presentations at the event,” he said.

De Silva also the Managing Director Leo Burnett said that an exclusive study conducted by the Research Consultancy Bureau (RCB) on the youth of Sri Lanka titled “3rd Place - Sri Lankan Youth” will be in the spotlight as the first presentation of the day to be made by the RCB’s Ravi and Janaki Bamunusinghe.

The study, commissioned by the IAA, is an invaluable exposition of youth in places other than home, school and office.

Two foreign speakers Michael Conrad, former Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett Worldwide, and current President of the Berlin School of Creative Leadership, and Richard Dale Planning Director of Leo Burnett Worldwide will deliver presentations at the event.

Dale received shining reviews for this presentation when he made it at Cannes 2007 this year will focus on the development of creative leadership, judgement, inspiration and collaboration to create quality ideas that inspire enduring belief, he said.

The International Advertising Association (IAA), headquartered in New York, was founded in 1938 to champion responsible marketing.

The IAA, with its 56 chapters in 76 countries, is a one-of-a-kind global partnership whose members comprise advertisers, media, advertising and public relations agencies, media companies, and academics.

The IAA is a platform for industry issues and is dedicated to protecting and advancing freedom of commercial speech, responsible advertising, consumer choice, and the education of marketing professionals.