Uncategorized

Arriving in New York City on Sunday, I was immediately taken aback by the sheer size and volume of the place. It is a phenomenal city to behold.

I was met and given a tour of the new office space, in Battery Park, close to the most southernmost tip of Manhattan Island and located on the 26th floor of a skyscraper, by Senior Vice President, GLOBALHealthPR at Spectrum, Tim Goddard.

Tim gave me a tour of the very sleek, modern office, which offers a magnificent view over Battery Park, while also offering the chance to see the Statue of Liberty from the office balcony.

Leaving the office, Tim took me to visit the 9/11 memorial pools, and museum, which, although a somewhat heavy experience, allowed me to get a real insight into how that tragedy has shaped the New York City of today.

On Monday, I spent my first day in New York office, and was privileged to meet with many of the team, as well, as allowing me to participate in the BioPharma Monthly Team meeting, and to discover lots about the different brands and companies that the BioPharma team works with in the USA.

And, later in the day, I had a phone call to discuss the Consumer Science Practice with Senior Vice President, Darby Pearson. Unlike much of the biotech and pharma-specific work done by Spectrum, the Consumer Science Practice focuses on telling the scientific story of certain consumer products.

This was very interesting to discuss with Darby, and, I was able to offer my feedback and insight around some of the campaign ideas and suggestions that her team is working on, which was a real privilege.

Although the day flew in, it was fascinating to see the New York Office as it came to life, and it’s been really nice to get to meet with some of the team. I look forward to what the rest of the week has in store.

Mark is participating in the GLOBALHealthPR Professional Exchange Program representing exclusive Australian partner, VIVA! Communications. The Program aims to enhance the connectivity of GLOBALHealthPR agencies through collaboration, best practice sharing, and insights into the drivers that affect health and science communications in different markets worldwide, and to build professional relationships with other GLOBALHealthPR personnel around the globe.

About Mark: Mark Henderson is Queensland Branch Manager at GHPR Australia partner, VIVA! Communications. To follow his experiences on the GLOBALHealthPR Professional Exchange Program online, use #GHPRConnects to join the conversation and follow all of the 2016 exchange programming.

VIVA! Principal, Kirsten Bruce and Managing Director, Paul Jans, are beginning to pack their bags in preparation for an exciting trip to GLOBALHealthPR’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), in Mumbai, India from February 17 – 19, 2016. GLOBALHealthPR, for which VIVA! Communications represents Australia exclusively, is the largest, independent partnership of health and science communication agencies, worldwide.

This year’s AGM, to be hosted by MediaMedic Communications co-founders, Priti Mohile and Dinesh Chindarkar, is set to attract partners (mainly agency Principals and founders) representing 42 countries from the GLOBALHealthPR partnership worldwide (including the Americas, Europe and APAC).

Themed ‘Be the Change, Chart our Future,’ the 15^th GLOBALHealthPR AGM will be staged at St Pauls Institute of Communication Education, Mumbai.

While not only preparing for her first trip to India, including undergoing a course of vaccinations, Kirsten is also gearing up to present the outcomes of VIVA!s local and international award-winning, patient advocacy communications campaign, Helping to #saveaHUSlives at DigiSights – MediaMedic’s annual digital seminar for the Indian pharmaceutical industry, scheduled for one day prior to the AGM.

Meanwhile, Paul, who is well acquainted with the wonders of India (this will be his 21^st trip to the country, albeit the last was in 2004), is thrilled to be immersing himself back into the Indian culture, and to be participating in a robust and productive AGM, sharing IP and best practice with his fellow partners from around the world.

“This will be the sixth GLOBALHealthPR AGM that I’ve attended. I’ve been to Washington, Sao Paolo, Lisbon, London, and also hosted an AGM with my VIVA! colleagues in Sydney in 2014. Given the recent, significant growth and global account wins that GLOBALHealthPR has witnessed, I look forward to teaming with our partners at this year’s AGM, sharing best practice, and to developing growth strategies for 2016 and beyond,” said Paul.

We wish Kirsten and Paul a safe trip to Mumbai and look forward to sharing various highlights of this year’s GLOBALHealthPR AGM with you.

This blog post comes to you from our Australian partners, VIVA! Communications