DHR Communications

It’s been really busy at DHR Communications for the past few months, and there have been lots of exciting changes.  We’re delighted to announce an expansion of our staff team, as well as a number of new business wins.

Catherine Heaney, one of the founding Directors of DHR Communications, has taken over the company as Managing Director.  Catherine – who has 20 years’ experience in public relations, public affairs and politics – will now focus primarily on business development and the provision of high-level strategic communications advice to clients. 

Expanded Team

Joining our team is Leinster House veteran Tony Heffernan, who – in recent months – served as Campaign Manager for Michael D. Higgins’ successful presidential election campaign.  Tony is one of the most experienced political communicators in Ireland, having worked in the Oireachtas for almost 30 years.  He served as Assistant Government Press Secretary with the Rainbow Coalition Government from 1994 to 1997, and was Press and Parliamentary Director for the Labour Party for the past 11 years, working closely with three Labour Party Leaders over that time: Eamon Gilmore, Pat Rabbitte and Ruairí Quinn.  At DHR Communications, Tony will be responsible for advising clients on public relations and public affairs strategies.

We have also appointed Martina Quinn as an Account Director.  Martina has worked with the firm for almost five years, delivering PR services across a range of client accounts.  She has particular expertise in social media campaigns and project management, and has played a lead role in managing major initiatives and events for clients such as ESB International, Irish Aid, Trócaire, the South-East Regional Authority and drinkaware.ie.  Prior to joining DHR Communications, Martina worked at Fine Gael National Headquarters and with AONTAS, the national adult learning organisation.

Other changes at DHR Communications include the promotion of Lydia Ishak to Senior Account Executive and the recruitment of Emily Kelly, also in the role of Senior Account Executive.  Lydia has worked with us for three years, while Emily joins the team from 98FM, where she served as a reporter and news-reader.

Our staff team is now comprised of seven communications professionals.  Our company is chaired by former ICTU General Secretary and incoming Executive Director of the Kennedy Centre for Conflict Intervention at NUI Maynooth, Peter Cassells.  Peter will continue to advise on key client accounts at DHR Communications.

New Business Wins

In the past two months, DHR Communications has successfully tendered to provide PR, public affairs and consultation management services to a number of high-profile public sector agencies, including the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, Irish Aid and Skillnets.  Other new business wins include contracts with Young Social Innovators, the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Philip Lee Solicitors, City & Guilds and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

There’s been a number of exciting developments in DHR which we will be announcing soon. In the meantime, we’ve been keeping busy with various client projects.

Yesterday, we assisted Ballymun Youth Action Project‘s launch of two reports; one on a conference they held recently and another on youth perception of drugs and alcohol use in Ireland.

Earlier in the month we supported Clúid Housing Association‘s announcement of a new national contact centre and work positions.

Threshold also launched its annual report for 2010 and called on the government to prioritise sustainable housing solutions over emergency accomodation and street services.

The Simon Cumbers Media Fund student scheme’s roadshows are being rolled out in various colleges and universities in Ireland. So far we have been to University of Limerick, Independent Colleges, Dublin Businsess School, NUI Galway and Cork IT.

Looking ahead, we are working on the Immigrant Council of Ireland‘s 10th Anniversary Celebrations which will be held in mid-December.

So a brief summary of our work this month. Check here soon as we will be making major announcements soon.

Bob Jordan, CEO and Aideen Haydeen, Chairperson of Threshold at the launch of their 2010 Annual Report.

We’ve been busy since September began. First, we had the deadline for the Simon Cumbers Media Fund 2011 winter round and, on top of this, we also announced a student scheme just last week. The scheme is open to third-level media students in Ireland and successful applicants will have the opportunity to travel to a developing country to produce their project while receiving guidance and mentoring from the Irish Times Foreign Affairs Editor, Paddy Smyth and Newstalk Producer, Susan Cahill.

The Immigrant Council of Ireland has also been busy with a number of events. We managed the publicity for their Racism Report – ‘Taking Racism Seriously’ launch, the Pathways to Parental Leadership toolkit launch and a briefing with the Scandinavian police force on the impact prostitution legislation has had on Sweden and Norway.

Minister Jan O'Sullivan; Paddy Smyth, The Irish Times and Susan Cahill, Newstalk pictured at the launch of the Simon Cumbers Media Fund Student Scheme

In addition to this, we also launched the DARE2BDRINKAWARE.ie 2012 round and worked with the Digital Hub, for the ‘Best in Show‘ graduate internship competition. Other projects that we worked on included Active Retirement of Ireland’s annual national bowls tournament in Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

So that’s a quick round-up of our work over the past month.  For more information on what we do on a day-to-day basis, check out our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.