MATTHEW McKenna has been reappointed as chairman of the Wessex group of the Institute of Public Relations, which has more than 300 members in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Mr McKenna (32) is managing director of McKenna Townsend PR, a PR agency in Ringwood.

He said: "The last year has seen a period of consultation and planning for the Wessex IPR group.

"We developed a plan that would re-engage our membership and the result was a comprehensive programme that reflected our members' needs.

"An integral part of this plan is a newly developed PR training and events programme."

The programme includes:

Tops topics events focusing on a current issue affecting PR practitioners;

Craft class specific training events designed to improve PR skills;

Meet the media a series of opportunities to meet and learn about specific areas of the media;

Inside intelligence opportunities to go behind the scenes and get an insider PR perspective on various organisations and venues around the region.

During the last year, the Wessex group has developed closer links with Bournemouth University's PR degree course.

Key activities have included an event for PR students to meet PR practitioners, as well as talking to the students about media relations and setting a marketing assignment.

Mr McKenna said: "Over the next year, I would like to increase membership levels of the group and develop closer working ties with other business bodies, such as the Institute of Directors and the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

"We would also like to launch the rebranded PRide awards in 2004 which will recognise excellence in PR, marketing and advertising throughout Hampshire, Dorset and the IOW."