IABC EMENA 2024-25 Board
Monique Zytnik (Germany)
Chair
Monique Zytnik is an award-winning, global internal communication leader based in Berlin, Germany. She’s worked internationally, presented on best-practice communication at world conferences, and guest lectured at universities. Her campaigns have been recognized by Gartner, Mumbrella CommsCon, and the Digital Communication Awards. She regularly shares her knowledge through communication industry publications and podcasts, drawing on her in-house and consultancy work with organizations including ebay, DHL Group, SBS Radio Australia, and the LEGO Foundation. She is the author of Internal Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence published by Business Expert Press, May 2024.
Simon Cavendish, SCMP® (United Kingdom)
Vice Chair
Simon is an internal communication, change and engagement consultant, and has been actively involved in IABC since 2019, most recently serving as Past President of the UK & Ireland chapter. Since 2007, Simon has worked with a diverse range of global and multinational organisations in more than 20 countries, across four continents. Never happier than when he’s supporting change programmes – the more complex, the better! – Simon has worked with, among others, E.ON, Transport for London, Freshfields, Springer Nature, and IKEA. Simon is based in London, UK.
Karen Matthews (Spain)
Past Chair
Karen Matthews is the Associate Director, Engagement at RMIT Europe. She has over 20 years of experience as a communications practitioner in industry, higher education, government and the not-for-profit sector, working in Australia, Vietnam, Spain and Canada. In addition to her current role as Past Chair, she serves as a Regional Director on the IABC International Executive Board. She has previously served on the IABC World Conference Planning Advisory Committee and in 2023, she received an honourable mention as an IABC Rising Leader of the Year. Karen has a BJourn and a BBus (PR) from QUT in Australia and an M.A in International Studies on Media, Power and Difference from UPF in Spain. Karen is based in Barcelona, Spain.
Gloria Walker, ABC (United Kingdom)
Secretary-Treasurer
Gloria is an Associate Lecturer at the London College of Communication. She’s an experienced communications consultant in both internal and external communications. Positions both in-house and in agencies have equipped her with wide perspective of the role of communications. Experienced in research and planning work, as well as implementation. Interested in project work that uses communications effectively to achieve business goals. She has a MA in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently serving as Secretary-Treasurer for both the region and the UK & Ireland chapter. Gloria is based in London, UK.
Nicholas Bruneau (Portugal)
Board Director
Nicholas Bruneau is a senior communication consultant with a focus on social impact communications. He has worked for intergovernmental agencies from the UN, World Bank, and EU, as well as nonprofits, associations, and media groups. During his career, Nicholas has led global campaigns on international development, education, sustainability, and climate change issues. His recent book, “Engage with Impact: Five Steps to Transform Your Digital Communications,” is a leading digital advocacy guide. Nicholas is Canadian and works from his home office in Cascais, Portugal.
Isabel Onaba (Saudi Arabia)
Board Director
Isabel is a Communications Manager at Bechtel Corporation overseeing internal and external communications for the company’s vast portfolio of projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She has a demonstrated +13-year track record in strategic planning, stakeholder relations, media relations, content development, public speaking, internal and external communications. Isabel has worked in both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors in Kenya, Uganda, Canada, and most recently the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She is passionate about stewardship initiatives and empowerment of early career professionals. Isabel is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Suzie Towne, SCMP® (France)
Board Director
Suzie is a strategic communications specialist for RWS’s Regulated Industries business unit. She has 15 years of international business communications experience spanning global internal and change communications, crisis and issues management, marketing and content management, and executive communications in the language services and localisation industry. She is currently the BU’s sustainability subject matter expert and an advocate for RWS’ Green Agenda. Suzie started her career in the newspaper industry as a journalist in the UK then spent time teaching English in Vietnam prior to settling in France. A native English speaker, Suzie also speaks French, Spanish and some German, holds a degree in modern languages and a postgraduate diploma in newspaper journalism. She is based in Paris, France.
Chared Verschuur-Ballo (The Netherlands)
Board Director
Chared (she/her) is an inclusive leadership and communication consultant (Good Comms) with 25+ years of international experience in media, communication and leadership. She has worked with teams in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas, covering topics such as DEIB, employee experience, culture change, SDGs and STEM. Chared holds master’s degrees in Corporate Communication (Erasmus University Rotterdam) and Development Communication (University of the Philippines), and professional certificates in social justice (University of Cambridge) and behavior change (Monash University). She is also a certified change coach and LEGO® Serious Play® facilitator. Based in Pijnacker, The Netherlands, she is fluent in Filipino, English and Dutch and speaks some Spanish.