Communities
IABC Portugal Community
Community Lead and Advisor to the Board: Ana Magarida Ximenes
Ana is the President, Portugal, for Atrevia, Iberia’s largest Communication Agency. Ana Co-founded ATREVIA in 1999, and co-leads ATREVIA’s overseas international business development. With more than 20 years of experience, she assists clients in crisis communication, reputation and change management, lobby & public affairs, internal communication, community relations, brand & marketing management working with major category leaders.
Ana began her career as a journalist (in print, radio & television). She holds a Degree in Social Communications (Universidade do Minho) and a Business Management Degree (PDE) from AESE Business School. In 2009, she was elected one of the Most Motivating Persons in Portugal by Business School ISCTE. She speaks Portuguese, English & Spanish. Ana is based in Lisbon, PT.
IABC Netherlands Community
Community Lead and Advisor to the Board: Michael Nord
Michael Nord, SCMP, has been actively involved in IABC since 2007. Former Chapter President, Regional Chair, International Board Member and global Treasurer, Michael has served on numerous committees and is currently also member of the Intl Finance Committee. Michael hails from Denmark where he worked in-house in companies and organisations leading PR and communication activities. He has also worked in agencies specialising in tech and IT, leading PR and marketing projects.
Michael moved to Amsterdam in 2003 to pursue an international career. In 2006 he joined The Fifth Business, a specialised internal communications and change consultancy. He then worked for ERM as Client Services Director and left in 2021 to set up his own company. He currently works in an interim position as Shell’s Corporate Relations Manager for IT and Technology, based in The Hague. Michael has lived and worked in EU, the UK and the US.
IABC Belgium Community
Community Lead and Advisor to the Board: Ruxandra-Laura Bosilca, PhD
Ruxandra-Laura Bosilca, PhD is a senior social media and communications manager for the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium.
With over a decade of international experience, she has helped organizations across the public, private, and non-profit sectors communicate with clarity, confidence, and credibility.
In her free time, Ruxandra mentors young professionals from underserved communities, inspiring them to pursue successful careers in communications. She has lived and worked in five countries and is fluent in Romanian, English, French, and Spanish.
IABC EMENA Local Community Model for Growth
The IABC Local Community Growth Plan proposes a five-step framework designed to help members launch, build, and grow thriving local communities:
- Launch: Starting a local community should be easy. We suggest creating a dedicated WhatsApp group to serve as the central hub for communication and connection. This makes it simple for anyone to join.
- Build: Invite colleagues, friends, and fellow communications professionals to join the group and spread the word so that the group can grow organically.
- Meet: Organize regular, informal meetups, such as lunch, coffee, or cocktails to foster camaraderie and encourage networking.
- Recruit: Share information about IABC events, activities, and opportunities to highlight the benefits of joining the association.
- Grow: Once a critical mass has been reached, the local community lead can start organizing exclusive IABC events or activities with the support of the Whatsapp group, helping to retain current members and attract new members.
