Exactly four weeks from today, health communications executives from over a dozen countries will gather in Sydney, Australia for the 14th annual GLOBALHealthPR Annual General Meeting (AGM). Chaired by Spectrum, GLOBALHealthPR is 
the largest privately-held organization dedicated exclusively to science and health communications worldwide. Our partners at VIVA! Communications will host the meeting, and we can’t wait to attend.
It’s fitting that our host country this year is the birthplace of such indispensable health discoveries as the ultrasound, cochlear implant and plastic corrective lenses (the reason eyeglasses don’t shatter as they did in the old movies). Fun Aussie Fact: Did you know that something you are probably using right now – wi-fi – was invented in Australia in the early 1990s? The country has a track record of being a hub of creative scientific thinking, and the 2014 AGM is sure to be no exception.
Why We’re Here
Our three-day AGM is a chance for our partners to hear updates on the progress of each partner firm and the GLOBALHealthPR network as a whole throughout the year. As one global team, it is a chance to re-visit the principles that unite us, share best practices, and explore the latest in healthcare trends.
Why I Can’t Wait
For me, this is a time to revisit the collective highs and lows of the year by reflecting on our accomplishments and responding to the challenges ahead. Just as challenges are not limited to the confines of one country, our partnership is rooted in the mutual understanding of the nature of our work and how it flows across borders and languages. It is an opportune time to listen to our partners, discuss goals, and to chart the course for the next year.
What am I most looking forward to? It’s hard to keep it to just one thing. My top five are:
- The chance to energize our partnership by reuniting with old colleagues and meeting new ones;
- To reaffirm our commitment of providing best-in-class science and health communications solutions on a global scale;
- To refine how we communicate our brand;
- To explore new concepts, trends, and places (hey, it is Australia after all!)
- To share the latest trends with the world (look for our eye-catching GLOBALHealthPR 2014 trends report, coming soon)
A Round-the-Clock, Round-the-World Commitment
What is it that inspires us to take phone calls at midnight (Sorry Paul!), or to cross continents for pitches and medical congresses? Ultimately, I think all partners would agree it’s the shared spirit of client service and the passion we have for improving people’s lives through science. You, too, can participate by following @GLOBALHealthPR and interacting with us at #AGM14 on Twitter.
Are you ready to pack your bags?