Heather Leembruggen

Heather Leembruggen is Managing Director and owner of Communications Plus, marketing communications and conference / event management consultancy working with Australian and international organizations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree (Melbourne University), and her career experience includes senior management roles with Leo Burnett (1970-1976) advertising agency (1970-76) and as Co-founder & Vice Chair of Advertising Partners Australia (1976-87). Heather Leembruggen is a World Board Director and a Vice President of the International Advertising Association (4,000 members in 56 chapters worldwide) and has served in positions of IAA World Treasurer, VP for IAA World Congresses, VP Young Professionals worldwide and VP Elections. She is President & Chair of the IAA Australia Chapter. An advocate for fostering education and career development in marketing communications she conducts (since 1983) annual IAA youth programs and scholarship awards for upcoming generations in Australia and globally. Heather Leembruggen was awarded the IAA Medal for Merit in 1990 and in 1994 received the IAA Samir Fares Award in 1994 in recognition of career achievement and outstanding service in furthering IAA objectives and global advertising. She is the first woman and only Australian to receive this prestigious award to date. A firm believer in community responsibility, she is immediate past President & Chairman of United Way Australia and currently serves as a Director of UWA (since 1994), United Way Sydney (since 1990) and United Way Melbourne (since 2008). She served on the Global Transition Board for United Way Worldwide (2007/09). She is a foundation member of Chief Executive Women and Fellow of AICD.