Circle of Fellows #129 and #130: Meet The 2026 Class of IABC Fellows

*Circle of* *Fellows* departed from the discussion of communication issues, as we do once each year, to introduce IABC’s newest Fellows. Five new communicators join the Fellows community in 2026, spanning the globe from Canada (from which three of our Fellows hail) to South Africa and Australia. ## Part 1 ## Part 2 **Meet the Fellows** !https://www.firpodcastnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Diana-Degan-150x150.png**Diana Degan,** IABC Fellow, ABC, CAAP, BAAJ, is the founder of Diana Degan & Associates. Diana is an award-winning communication leader, educator, and strategic advisor whose 35-year career has strengthened communication practice, elevated professional standards, and advanced human-centered communication across Canada and beyond. She has led work spanning the full spectrum of the profession, from strategic planning, brand development, and integrated marketing communications to crisis communications, stakeholder engagement, internal communications, and accessibility-focused communication design. !https://www.firpodcastnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Catherine-Ducharme-150x150.pngFounder and Principal of Fluency Leadership, **Catherine Ducharme**, IABC Fellow, PCC, CLC,is a career communicator, certified coach, and facilitator with more than 35 years of experience in communication and leadership. She has held senior roles across public relations, corporate, internal, and marketing communication in industries, including high-tech and health sciences, grounding her work in deep, real-world expertise. Building on that foundation, Catherine now focuses on developing communication and marketing professionals to be exceptional leaders. !https://www.firpodcastnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Cyrus-Mavalwala-150x150.png **Cyrus Mavalwala**, IABC Fellow, ABC, MC, is a sought-after communication strategist who leads a team of trusted advisors that senior executives rely on to capture, own, and sustain mindshare with the people that matter most. After senior roles at global PR agencies, Cyrus founded Advantis Communications in 2002. Advantis’ proprietary frameworks operationalize AI, elevate social media, and deploy video as core drivers of thought leadership and influence, strengthening visibility and relevance. !https://www.firpodcastnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Andre-Oberholzer-150x150.png**André Oberholzer**, SCMP, FCSCE, is group head for corporate affairs at Sappi Limited, a global pulp and paper company with operations across South Africa, North America, and Europe. He is a member of the Group Management Committee. He chairs the company Brand Council, ensuring close alignment between corporate, service, and product branding. He also serves on the Sappi SA Social Impact committee and the Group Sustainability and Risk Councils. !https://www.firpodcastnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Sia-Papageorgiou-150x150.png **Sia Papageorgiou**, IABC Fellow, FRSA, FCSCE, SCMP, is one of the world’s most awarded communication strategists, with more than 60 accolades for excellence in strategic communication and leadership. Over three decades, she has worked across journalism, public relations, corporate communication, and strategic advisory roles in government, business, and the not-for-profit sector. She is the co-founder of the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence (CSCE), a global professional development and insights organization trusted by leading organizations worldwide. The post Circle of Fellows #129 and #130: Meet The 2026 Class of IABC Fellows appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.