'The pathway to Chartership gives me a clear, internationally recognised goal'

In this CIPR member spotlight we speak to Ivan Biošić, the executive director of Reborn Communications and an adjunct lecturer at Algebra Bernays University, who is based in Zagreb.

What does your current role involve?
I lead strategic communications, public relations, and brand management for clients across different sectors in Croatia. My work spans everything from developing integrated communication strategies and managing multi-channel campaigns to advising client leadership on reputation and stakeholder engagement. In parallel, I teach several courses at Algebra Bernays University, which allows me to bridge PR theory and practice daily.

What do you love most about working in public relations?
The strategic dimension. PR at its best is not just about communication. It is about understanding people, building trust, and shaping how organisations relate to the world around them.

I love the challenge of translating complex business problems into clear, meaningful communication that genuinely connects with stakeholders. I’ve worked in PR for eight years, and the fact that no two days or clients are the same keeps the work intellectually stimulating.

What's been the highlight of your career so far?
Building Reborn Communications from the ground up. Starting with nothing but a vision and turning it into a consultancy that now serves clients across multiple industries has been the most rewarding challenge of my career.

Every client relationship, every campaign, and every lesson learned along the way have shaped not only the business but also who I am as a communications professional.

There is something uniquely fulfilling about creating something from scratch and watching it grow into a trusted partner for organisations that rely on you for their most important strategic decisions.

How long have you been a CIPR member and what made you join?
I joined March, having long admired the CIPR as the world's only Royal Chartered body for public relations. The opportunity to work toward Chartered PR practitioner status was the decisive factor.

As someone who operates at the intersection of PR practice and academia in Croatia, I wanted to align my professional development with the highest international standards. The CIPR felt like the natural home for that ambition.

How does the CIPR support your career?
Even in my first days of membership, I can already see the value, as the CPD framework gives structure to professional growth that I was previously managing informally. The on-demand training, Resources Hub, and Influence online magazine provide a constant stream of current thinking.

Most importantly, the pathway to Chartership gives me a clear, internationally recognised goal to work toward. I am also looking forward to engaging with CIPR International and connecting with practitioners across different markets.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve been given?
Theory without practice is empty, and practice without theory is blind. This has shaped my entire career. It is why I run a consultancy and teach at a university simultaneously, why I pursue postgraduate studies while advising clients, and why I joined the CIPR. The best communicators never stop learning, and the best academics never lose touch with the real world.

'The pathway to Chartership gives me a clear, internationally recognised goal'

Read more interviews with CIPR members