The International Public Relations Network (IPRN), one of the world’s leading networks of independent public relations and communications agencies, brought together around 40 CEOs and senior executives representing 30 member agencies from more than 20 countries for its 2026 Annual General Meeting in Rome.
Hosted over four days in the Italian capital, and organised by INC – Istituto Nazionale per la Comunicazione, IPRN’s member agency in Rome, the event provided a platform for agency leaders from across the network to discuss the future of communications, exchange best practices, explore international business opportunities, and strengthen collaboration among independent agencies operating across five continents.
A key milestone of this year’s meeting was the introduction of 10 new member agencies from Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania and South America, further strengthening IPRN’s global presence across five continents. Among them is Vision360 PR & Communications, the first Egyptian agency to join the network, expanding IPRN’s presence in the Middle East and North Africa region.
The new members were formally welcomed during the AGM, reinforcing the network’s continued growth and commitment to fostering cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Complementing the network’s continued expansion, the AGM marked the unveiling of IPRN’s new visual identity and redesigned website, https://iprn.com/. The rebranding reflects the network’s evolution over the past three decades and reinforces its commitment to providing a modern, dynamic platform for its growing global community of agencies.
“The launch of our new identity marks an important step in IPRN’s development,” said Rodrigo Viana de Freitas, President of IPRN. “It reflects the strength of our network today and our ambition to continue expanding our international reach while helping members create new opportunities for collaboration and business growth across markets.”
The AGM programme featured discussions on some of the most pressing issues shaping the communications industry. Among the keynote speakers were Professor Mario De Caro, UNESCO Chair in Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and Practical Wisdom at Roma Tre University, who explored the impact of artificial intelligence on truth, trust, and responsibility, and Stefania Fanari, CEO HR Executive, who addressed the challenges and opportunities of attracting and developing the next generation of talent.
“As an Egyptian member of IPRN, we greatly value the opportunity to exchange knowledge and insights with communications professionals from around the world. At a time when Egypt’s communications landscape continues to evolve alongside global trends, access to diverse perspectives and international expertise is increasingly valuable,” said Yasmine Farag, Founder & CEO, Vision360 PR & Communications. “The conversations during the AGM highlighted how changing market dynamics, emerging technologies and evolving stakeholder expectations are reshaping our industry, reinforcing the critical role of international collaboration in addressing emerging challenges and opportunities.”
Throughout the meeting, participants shared successful case studies, industry insights and perspectives on the evolving role of public relations in a rapidly changing global environment. The event reinforced the value of international cooperation and knowledge exchange among independent agencies facing increasingly complex communications challenges.
The meeting concluded with the annual IPRN Awards, celebrating excellence in communications and recognizing outstanding campaigns, agency achievements, and member contributions from across the global network.
IPRN Awards 2026 Winners
Corporate PR
• Kindness Week – PR Service (Lithuania)
Consumer PR
• X Peng Entering the Polish Market! – Public Dialog (Poland)
Digital and/or Influencer Marketing
• UNHCR: The Broken Recipe – INC (Italy)
Policy Advocacy and Public Affairs
• Moms Want It Too – Crest Communications (Czechia)
Crisis Communications
• Transformation in Telecommunications – Oxygen (Luxembourg)
ESG, Social Impact and CSR Communications
• Moms Want It Too – Crest Communications (Czechia)
Integrated Campaign B2B
• Coca-Cola FEMSA: Operations in Action – Spotlight on People Who Make It Happen – Textual Comunicação (Brazil)
Integrated Campaign B2C
• Moms Want It Too – Crest Communications (Czechia)
Member of the Year
• TDUB (Germany)
Agency of the Year
• INC (Italy)
Campaign of the Year
• Moms Want It Too – Crest Communications (Czechia)
