The Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) has awarded Life membership to Claudia Macdonald in recognition of her incredible career and significant service over 30 years.
Macdonald, one of the country’s most senior professionals, is a leader, advocate and mentor for the industry, with a track record delivering award-winning campaigns for clients.
An AUT graduate, she kicked off her career as a journalist in Dunedin. A move to Auckland resulted in a move to public relations. In the mid 80s, Macdonald moved overseas for eight years, primarily working with corporate and financial clients for large UK multinational agency Shandwick.
She became involved with PRINZ in 1990 when she wrote the ‘Report’ newsletter publication for members.
In 1995, Macdonald was offered a role with DDB as their internal comms manager and established public relations offering, Mango, for the group in 2000.
She became a PRINZ Fellow in 2002 and her ongoing commitment to the profession includes awards judging, presenting at the APR seminar, and delivering a marketing communications professional development course.
Her work has been recognised in the many PRINZ awards she has won over the past two decades, including the 2016 Supreme Award for ‘Crave and rave – golden praise drives results for golden arches’.
Macdonald has also significantly contributed to the advertising agency. She was a founding member of the Communications Counsel PREScom committee.
In 2019 Macdonald was elected to the PRINZ Board, an appointment she still holds today.
Macdonald’s awarding of Life membership recognises her commitment, passion and service to ensuring the profession pushes boundaries.
Life membership is the highest accolade and previously awarded to just 17 recipients.
At the awards ceremony, PRINZ also inducted two new Fellows, both from the Canterbury region: Rachel Solotti and Karalyn van Deursen.
