The Channel Islands committee comprises the following people.
Executive Committee
Chair, Stephen Falla
Orchard PR
steve@orchardpr.com
01481 240 600
Steve Falla has worked in PR for 20 years and founded Orchard PR in 1996. He specialises in advising clients in the financial services and professional services sectors and has also trained and mentored many individuals in the Channel Islands communications industry. Steve has long been an active supporter of the CIPR and was a member of the President's working party for the CIPR 5th World Conference in 2008 and a member of the International Advisory Group. In 2009 he became the first Guernsey PR practitioner to be made a Fellow of the CIPR. He sits on the CIPR Membership Committee and is serving a second term as President of the Channel Islands Group.
Secretary, Gemma Long
Gemma is an account manager at Liquid and entered the public relations profession after a career in journalism, including a stint as news editor. She has expertise in local government communications and offshore financial services, having worked with institutions across the Channel Islands, Switzerland, London, Malta, Dubai and the Isle of Man. She also has international experience in consumer PR in the food import and retail industries. She holds a BA (Hons) in Journalism from the University of Lincoln, Masters in Journalism and International Relations from Bond University, Australia and the CIPR postgraduate diploma.
Committee Members
Emma Anderson
Emma Anderson is one of Orchard PR's senior public relations consultants. She worked as a journalist in the UK and Australia for nearly 20 years taking in Fleet Street, independent radio and international television news. For the past ten years, Emma has specialised in professional services communication and, as well as managing a significant PR portfolio, Emma trains Guernsey and Jersey organisations on effective communication including media and presentation skills.
Brooke de Laune
Brooke de Laune has a degree in public relations from Bournemouth University and has spent seven years in the communications industry.
Brooke joined Orchard PR as an account executive in 2007 before gaining valuable experience in London PR agencies - both as a work placement during her studies and since graduating - where she worked predominately across consumer lifestyle brands.
Returning to Orchard PR as a consultant in 2008 Brooke now manages a diverse portfolio of clients spanning the finance, consumer and retail sectors.
Sophie Winter
Sophie is a Senior Communications Executive at RBC Wealth Management. Her current role involves the delivery of internal communications, public relations and community & environment programmes across the UK and Channel Islands. She holds a degree in Media and Psychology from the University of Leeds.
Prior to working for RBC Wealth Management, Sophie worked in the Marketing department at Jersey Heritage and the University of Sunderland and in the Press Office at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Sophie and her husband live in Jersey and in her free time, Sophie enjoys photography and any opportunity to walk along one of Jersey's beautiful beaches.
James Filleul – MCIPR
With a degree in English Literature and Post-graduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism, James joined the BBC as a news trainee. Within three years he had become the senior journalist and overall news editor, before moving to become a producer/presenter with BBC TV.
In 2002 James left the BBC to set up the Channel Islands' first PR & Media Training agency, Direct Input (DI). Over the last ten years DI has become a successful communications agency with a reputation for providing insightful advice to clients in a variety of sectors.
James is now a Chartered Institute of Public Relations Accredited Practitioner and Approved Trainer, and has run media interview, and presentation skills, training courses for clients across the world, particularly in the Middle East.
In 2006 James co-founded and became the Communications Director of a 'virtual airline' flying a network of routes centered on the Isle of Man, called Manx2.com, and was responsible for all company communications. He sold his interest in the company in 2009.
James is now the Vice President of The Jersey Chamber of Commerce and the Vice-chair of the CI branch of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. He also sits on the Board of Jersey Business.
In 2011 James became the Editor of a new bi-monthly business magazine for Jersey, called Connect.
He has been awarded a Diploma in PR by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, achieving a 'Distinction' for his work on the social media tool Twitter, and its uses for PR.
Tom Bradshaw – PR campaigns manager, Specsavers Optical Group
Tom, 32, joined Specsavers in 2007 as regional press office manager in the UK and Ireland public relations department. Prior to that he spent three years working as a reporter at the Guernsey Press.
He was educated at Elizabeth College in Guernsey before gaining a degree in Geography at Leicester University. More recently he has completed post graduate diplomas in journalism and public relations.
Tom is married to his childhood sweetheart, Hayley. Outside work they are both passionate sailors, and when not out on their boat, Tom is writing about them as a freelance nautical journalist. He also tries to run a couple of marathons a year to keep the indulgences at bay.
Jo Delbridge – Chartered PR Practitioner, MCIPR, BA Hons
Specsavers Optical Group
jod@gg.specsavers.com
01481 233 735
As Specsavers Director of Public Relations, Jo has responsibility for the reputation of nearly 700 optical stores and hearing centres in the UK and Ireland. She was one of the first women in the world to be awarded Chartered PR Practitioner status by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations in 2009 and has twice been shortlisted for best in-house PR professional of the year by the PRCA in 2008 and 2010. Jo graduated from Kent University with an honours degree in English and American Literature and spent eight years as a journalist and sub-editor before joining Specsavers, where she has been for more than 15 years. Jo is a member of the CIPR, CIM, Women in Retail, everywoman, and Women in Professions (Guernsey). Born in Guernsey, Jo is married to Jim, who runs his own PR company LR&D. She has a teenage step-son, Jake, and a little black pooch called Poppy!
Natasha Egré – Director, The Refinery
Natasha Egré (28) was made a Director of The Refinery Marketing & PR agency in 2011. Natasha was educated at Bournemouth University and is a former journalist with print and broadcast experience. She manages the PR department and works with a vast portfolio of clients with particular expertise in sectors such as Law, Finance, Tourism, Celebrity, Construction and Hospitality. She has also worked extensively in the field of event planning, from corporate to public events. In the past two years Natasha has been the winner of CIM Best Brand Campaign and CIM Client Relationship Management campaign.
