The Global Chamber of Business Leaders (GCBL) has appointed Ilke Platt, founder of Poiyah Media, as its Director of Communications. The GCBL is a coalition of governmental leaders, CEOs and executives, entrepreneurs, investors as well as business and industry leaders who share a common vision of sustainable well-being and growth of business in a disruptive and ever-evolving global economy.
According to a statement from Poiyah Media, Platt’s appointment is a first for Namibia. Platt obtained her Master’s and BA in Communications degrees through the University of Namibia, and is soon to finalise her PhD in the same field. She boasts close to 20 years in the media space as well as serving on several prestigious boards.
GCBL chairman Dejan Stancer stated that Platt’s ability to engage with various stakeholders in Namibia through the Office of the President in November last year with its Director of Global Chamber of Business Leaders Africa (GCBL), Shakemore ‘Shacky’ Timburwa, showed her ability to drive the narrative of GCBL on a global level.
“We were impressed with Platt’s strategic ability to communicate with all media houses, including that of the highest office in the country, to help synergise our partnership with various partners to drive our mission and vision. It was an easy decision to make based on her skills shown, as well as credentials that suit the profile for this task to drive and lead communications within our organisation,” he noted. Timburwa said Namibia has so many strategic partnerships and influence in all scales in industries, especially in driving the conversation around Green Energy, which the world is now focused on.
“My official visit to Namibia last year convinced my team that allowing Namibia to drive communication through Platt came as the best option to also allow other African countries to customise its message from a place that has so many natural resources and communities that have power and impact to change the world,” he added.
Said Platt: “We are delighted that we surpassed the expectations, and are now appointed as the Director of Communications for GCBL until the end of this year. It shows that service delivery is critical to maintain relevance and preference, even if it is in my private capacity. I look forward to this six-month term with GCBL, and look forward to other opportunities”.