By Staff Reporter WINDHOEK The Namibian Business Communicator of the Year award for 2006 was launched at a press conference last Thursday, with organisers calling for members of the public to submit nominations. The award was created to give recognition to business leaders who have grown their businesses through the creative use of communication. Nomination forms will be published in the media, and according to organisers anyone is welcome to make a nomination, as long as the necessary motivations are attached. Past winners of the award are Dr Leake Hangala 2002, Quinton van Rooyen 2003, Inge Zaamwani 2004, Kurt Johannessen and Jerry Muadinohamba 2005. Marlize Horn, Senior Manager Marketing and Corporate Communication Services of Bank Windhoek said: “Bank Windhoek believes in the power of communication, with our customers and amongst all stakeholders of the bank. “That is why we are proud to be one of the main sponsors of the Namibia Business Communicator of the Year and the Business Orators League for Secondary Schools.” “Metropolitan is one of the founding sponsors of this project and we are proud to have contributed to create awareness about the importance that communication plays in the workplace,” said Elsabe Horn of Metropolitan. The project is now in its fifth year and is still growing, according to promoter of the awards, Rian van Rooyen of Pro-Image. “Five years ago we started out with this project and through the generous support we have received from Metropolitan Namibia and Bank Windhoek, we were able to grow this project to include more categories and to assist in the development of life skills in the secondary schools,” he said. Judging criteria include looking at both internal and external communication methods and successes achieved, the use of creative communication methods and the person’s understanding of the role of communication. Communication methods like advertising play an insignificant role in the judging criteria. The awards function will take place on February 23, 2007. On that evening the awards for Best Public Relations Programme, Best Spokespersons in Private and Public sectors, as well as the winners in the Business Orators League for Secondary Schools will also be announced.