North American Agencies Play Key Role as IPRN Global PR Network Plans Strategic Growth
CHICAGO: The International Public Relations Network (IPRN) celebrated its 30th anniversary with a convention held in Porto, Portugal. Around 50 members from 30 agencies gathered over four days to present case studies, share best practices, and discuss the future of the sector in light of changes in international politics and the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence.
Rodrigo Viana de Freitas was unanimously re-elected as executive president of the network for a second and final three-year term. Alongside Rodrigo Viana, the board members for the coming year were also elected: Ashwani Singla (India), Carina Almeida (Brazil), Ko Fujii (Japan), Michelle Mekky (USA), Nicole Capper (South Africa), and Philippe Beck (Luxembourg). The next IPRN meetings will take place in Rome (2026) and Tokyo (2027).
“It was an honor to join my colleagues from around the world in Porto to celebrate IPRN’s 30 years of connecting independent PR agencies and fostering global collaboration,” said Michelle Mekky, Founder & CEO of Mekky Media. “The discussions on AI and its impact on our industry were particularly insightful, and I’m excited about the opportunities for our North American agencies to leverage these advancements for our clients.”
Founded in 1995, IPRN now has its headquarters in Brussels, in a move aimed at bringing the network closer to European institutions. According to Rodrigo Viana de Freitas, “this step is fundamental to preparing the organization for the years ahead.” He adds: “The goal is to equip IPRN with management capacity to continue expanding into new geographies and to support members in generating international business with brands and institutions across all sectors.”
The North American presence within IPRN continues to strengthen, with a diverse group of agencies committed to delivering high-impact public relations services. North American member agencies include Akhia, Aurora Strategy, Channel V Media, High Results, JPA Health, Lopito, Ileana & Howie, Mekky Media and Wright On Communications. These agencies represent the best of independent PR, offering deep expertise and local market insights to clients seeking global reach.
Mayor of Porto welcomes the group
The annual meeting program included a morning at Porto Business School, an event partner, with two international keynote sessions: “Donald Trump’s Foreign Policy: Impacts on International Relations,” by Jorge Rodrigues, coordinator of PBS’s Geopolitics Observatory, and “Artificial Intelligence and the New World,” by Ricardo Ribeiro, Director of Digital Transformation at Banco Montepio and professor in postgraduate and MBA programs at various universities.
The group was also welcomed by the Mayor of Porto, another event partner, with a formal reception at Casa do Roseiral. On the occasion, Rui Moreira emphasized Porto’s cultural and international dimension, explaining the city’s transformation process over the past 12 years. The event concluded with the annual awards ceremony, where two North American agencies were honored. Lopito, Ileana & Howie (Puerto Rico) earned multiple awards for its Pancakes Against Breast Cancer campaign, including Campaign of the Year, Digital and/or Influencer Marketing, Integrated Campaign, and Media Relations. JPA Health (USA) was named Member of the Year.
About IPRN
The International Public Relations Network is a global network of independent public relations and communications agencies, with around 50 members in over 100 major cities and more than 30 countries across five continents. It represents all sectors of the industry and has a combined turnover of approximately USD 150 million, with over 1,000 staff and 4,000 clients across its member agencies.
For more information, please contact:
Michelle Mekky
michelle@mekkymedia.com
www.iprn.com
