PRINZ brings extensive PR & Comms experience into its leadership team 

PRINZ is proud to have two experienced public relations professionals joining the PRINZ Committee, bringing decades of industry leadership to the table. Leigh Harris FPRINZ and Jill Dryden FPRINZ have been appointed as co-opted members of the PRINZ Committee and Jill has been elected to the Chair of the PRINZ College of Fellows.  

Leigh Harris and Jill Dryden bring a combined 70 years of experience across public relations consultancy, stakeholder engagement, crisis management and strategic communications. Their appointments come at a time of significant change for communications profession and Leigh and Jill will help strengthen the Committee’s strategy as it looks to the future.  

PRINZ Committee Chair Celia Crosbie comments “I’m delighted to welcome both Jill and Leigh to the PRINZ Committee. They bring a wealth of experience, sound judgement and a deep commitment to the profession. Their perspectives will strengthen our governance and help ensure PRINZ continues to serve and support communications professionals across Aotearoa.     

“I also congratulate Jill on her election as Chair of the College of Fellows. Her leadership, knowledge and longstanding contribution to public relations make her exceptionally well placed to lead and champion our Fellows community.” 

Leigh Harris is co-founder and Managing Partner of Convergence Communications, an independent public relations and strategic business consultancy she has led for more than two decades.  

A Fellow of PRINZ, Leigh is an experienced communications practitioner who works at the intersection of reputation, business strategy and complex issues. Over her career she has advised organisations across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, from emerging businesses through to some of New Zealand’s best-known companies and individuals.  

As co-owner, Leigh has helped grow Convergence from its Christchurch roots into a nationally represented consultancy, while remaining closely involved in client work. Convergence is a previous winner of the PRINZ Supreme Award and received two Gold Awards in 2026. Leigh brings to the PRINZ Board the perspective of a long-time practitioner and business owner, and a strong interest in the future of the profession. 

Jill Dryden has almost 40 years of experience in public relations and has held senior practitioner, managing director and shareholder roles at some of New Zealand’s best known consultancies, including Porter Novelli, Star Public Relations and Network Communications.  

She has worked with many of New Zealand’s largest organisations, advising and assisting them with corporate relations, issues management, crisis communications and stakeholder engagement. Recently Jill has enjoyed applying her communications experience to her passion for sport, supporting High Performance Sport New Zealand and Sport NZ, and major events like 2018 Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup 2011. She has won numerous international and national PR awards including the PRINZ Supreme Award.   Asked what she would do if she had her time over again, Jill’s answer is simple: PR. She brings a love of PR, a long term perspective on its practice and a keen interest in fostering the profession’s role and growth in a time of great change. 

Leigh Harris and Jill Dryden join the elected PRINZ Committee members Celia Crosbie, Travis Logan, Cherish Wilkinson, Leigh Catley and Perzen Patel. The Public Relations Institute of New Zealand looks forward to working with Leigh and Jill as PRINZ continues to refine their strategic direction and champion the PR and communications profession in Aotearoa.