Thursday 13th November 2025 - 12:00pm-1:00pm
Overview
Successful public relations consulting depends not only on strategy and expertise, but also on the quality of relationships consultants build with their clients. Drawing on recent ethnographic research within New Zealand’s consulting industry, Dr Deepti Bhargava and Dr Petra Theunissen (Auckland University of Technology) explore how public relations consultants use empathy, politeness, humour, and tactful communication to balance professional expertise with relational harmony when offering critical advice. The study highlights the role and value of interpersonal skills and relational work in public relations practice.
This webinar will unpack real-life examples of how consultants navigate complex interpersonal dynamics, from offering critical advice to managing power imbalances, and reveal why sophisticated interpersonal and emotional intelligence skills are central to sustaining long-term consulting relationships.
Join us to discuss how these insights can inform relationally intelligent public relations practice in today’s evolving communication landscape.
Your presenters are:
Dr Deepti Bhargava
Dr Deepti Bhargava is a Senior Lecturer and Academic Advisor in Public Relations at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). She teaches across several courses, including the student-led PR consultancy Outside the Square, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Her research explores diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), digital communication, artificial intelligence (AI), work-integrated learning (WIL), and the skills and relational dynamics that underpin effective public relations practice, particularly client–consultant relationships and strategic communication planning and evaluation. Deepti is an Accredited Member and Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ), where she recently served as Chief Examiner for its Accreditation Programme (2021–2023) and has contributed to several committees. Before joining academia, she worked in public relations, feature writing, and advertising.
Dr Petra Theunissen
Dr Petra Theunissen is Associate Professor at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) where she teaches public relations and communication. She is an accredited member of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (APR), an Advance HE Senior Fellow (SFHEA) and NMAS-accredited mediator, registered with the Resolution Institute. She holds a DPhil in Communication Management from the University of Pretoria, an MA (Communication Studies) (cum laude) from University of Johannesburg, and a Master of Law (with distinction) from AUT. She serves on advisory and editorial boards, including Elsevier’s Public Relations Review, and is widely published in public relations and communication, including the co-authored book Relationship Building in Public Relations. Prior to joining AUT, she worked in public relations and communications.
