60 seconds with Camilla Flatt
Date: 09/02/2009
Camilla Flatt, Head of africapractice’s Corporate Citizenship Practice, goes 60 seconds with gorkanapr.
What was your first job?
Communications officer for a youth empowerment NGO based in Bangkok, Thailand - World Youth Peace Summit.
If someone at a dinner party asks you what you do for a living, what do you say?
I head the corporate citizenship practice for a communications consultancy that promotes responsible investment and development into Africa.
What advice would you offer someone starting out in the industry?
My company works in a very specific area of the industry - PR for our clients around sustainability issues in Africa. My advice is twofold. Firstly, never underestimate the international appetite for news and debate about sustainability issues. And secondly, to understand what repercussions a message can have on changing behaviour, for better or worse.
What do you demand in your colleagues?
A sense of humour and confidence.
If you could change one thing about PR what would it be?
I would like to see more recognition within the industry about its role to support sustainable development. How the media portrays Africa, for example, heavily affects investment flows into the continent. And educational PR campaigns can have hugely positive effects on reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence.
Which column/journalist/commentator is a MUST?
George Monbiot in the Guardian and TED (for inspiring speakers).
What characteristic do you dislike the most in people?
Arrogance
What was the one thing you hated doing at school?
Waking up at 5.30 AM for the school bus to be followed by sitting in Bangkok traffic for one hour.
If you weren't in PR what would you like to do?
Run my own chain of holistic healing spa retreats.
If you represent Britain in the 2012 Olympics, what sport would it be at?
If they introduced contemporary jazz dancing, I'd change my office into a dance studio to train. Failing that, badminton!
If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be with and why?
Without sounding cheesy, I have a huge admiration for people who live their whole life for a cause bigger than themselves like Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Nelson Mandela. If I had to choose one, it would probably be the Dalai Lama because I am fascinated with Tibet and the religion.
What's your perfect weekend?
Anything involving sea, barbeques, friends, family and sun.
What hobby would you learn/take up if you had the time?
Break-dancing – to supplement my Olympics training!
What would be your mastermind subject?
The role of multinationals in sub-Sahara Africa’s development, post-independence.
Finally - on each line are two choices - pick one....
The Two Ronnies, Morecambe & Wise
A Good Book, A Good Walk
Sun, Snow
Woody Allen, Dave Allen
James Bond, Indiana Jones
Brown Sauce, Ketchup
Robbie Williams, Will Young
Crossword, Sudoku
