Progress Communications was founded in 1996 by Antonina Ni Dhuinn FPRII MMII DipCAM (PR). http://ie.linkedin.com/in/antoninanidhuinn
Antonina has a proven track record of providing professional public relations and marketing support services to both national and regional clients, which spans over 33 years.
Antonina has worked across a broad range of sectors including the corporate, consumer, tourism, retail and pharmaceutical/health sectors but with particularly extensive experience of working with the agribusiness and food sectors.
The versatility of services provided is demonstrated by the diverse demands of the Progress Communications client portfolio, with clients which ranged from The National Dairy Council (NDC) to Bayer CropScience.
The team managed the National Stronghold Veterinary Pet Care Awards on behalf of Pfizer Animal Health for 9 consecutive years. Examples of clients for whom projects have been successfully completed over the years, include Veterinary Ireland, Teagasc, An Bord Bia, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford Tourism, The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association amongst others.
Prior to founding Progress Communications, Antonina was a senior public relations consultant with a Dublin based agency for over a decade.
In this capacity she managed and implemented public relations and media campaigns for clients ranging from international pharmaceutical companies such as Upjohn and MSD Agvet, to local interest groups and including household names such as Cadbury Ireland, Premier Dairies and Procter & Gamble.
Her work for the 50th Anniversary of Dunnes Stores featured what was arguably Ireland’s largest ever singular consumer and corporate promotion up to that point in time.
Antonina has managed media relations and press offices for events such as Horizons – the international food and drinks exhibit held in the RDS in June 1996; and the busy press office at the National Ploughing Championships for a number of consecutive years.
Professional Recognition – PRII Fellowship
In December 2004, Antonina received the honour of Fellowship of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) – the professional body representing the public relations standards and education in Ireland.
Fellowship is granted by the PRII National Council to those who have made a significant contribution to the development of the PRII and/or profession; who hold a senior position within the profession; and who have been full members of the PRII in good standing for a continuous period of not less than ten years.
Antonina served as a member of the PRII National Council for seven years and was Honorary Treasurer for six years. She supported the co-ordination of conferences, training workshops and publications for the profession. When time permitted, she acted as an External Examiner in public relations for the National Syllabus managed by the PRII at that time in 8 different colleges.
Professional Qualifications – Top Graduate
In the 1980’s Antonina was a graduate in public relations from the Dublin Institute of Technology/College of Commerce winning the Marketing Opinion Award for the top public relations graduate award.
She subsequently studied public relations and communications with CAM (The Communications Advertising & Marketing Foundation, UK) winning the Roger Haywood Award for the CAM top public relations candidate in Ireland and Great Britain. Antonina has attended numerous CPD workshops and training events throughout her career and completed the PRII Certificate in Social Media Communication.
Professional Interests
Antonina has been a full member of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists for over three decades and has been actively involved in the co-ordination of Guild events ranging from workshops to its international conferences through IFAJ (The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists). She was Secretary of the Southern Guild for three years up to 2019.
Antonina has been member of the Marketing Institute of Ireland since the start of her career and was on the South Eastern Council of the Marketing Institute or Ireland for four years.
