MAM
Singla’s signal boost as he steps up as ICCO Nextgen global co-chair
MUMBAI: From ESG charts to PR smarts, Aditya Vasan Singla is making waves worldwide. Aditya Vasan Singla, principal at Astrum, has been appointed co-chair of the 2025 ICCO Nextgen Board, a dynamic initiative by the International Communications Consultancy Organisation to empower young communications professionals and future-proof the industry. The announcement was made on 12 March 2025, marking a new milestone in Singla’s global leadership journey in strategic communications.
Joining forces with Karishma Hingorani (Middle East Public Relations Association – MEPRA), Singla will lead the diverse and global Nextgen board. The newly formed cohort includes Srishti Sharma (India), Rumyana Tancheva (Bulgaria), and Zahra Zakriya (UAE), reflecting ICCO’s strong focus on cross-border collaboration and peer innovation.
” I feel privileged to be offered this opportunity to collaborate with some of the brightest minds across the globe to aid the development of the NextGen talent and best practices for the global public relations industry. I believe it is crucial for us to collaborate and co-create solutions that push our industry forward, ensuring we are future ready and resilient.” said ICCO Nextgen Board co-chair Aditya Vasan Singla.
Astrum founding managing partner Ashwani Singla. “ICCO’s focus on the Nextgen talent is a step in the right direction to fuel excellence and attract the brightest minds as practitioners of strategic communications. I am delighted that Aditya is contributing to advance this laudable objective.”
The ICCO Nextgen Group is designed to attract, develop, and retain top-tier talent through research, knowledge-sharing, and real-world initiatives. As part of ICCO’s broader strategy, the board brings together emerging PR leaders to foster innovation and industry relevance in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Singla brings with him nearly a decade of experience in ESG and strategic communications. His resume spans major consultancies including PwC and ERM, where he steered multidisciplinary teams working with transnational giants across diverse sectors. His career kick-started in the Office of Cabinet Minister Piyush Goyal, where he was entrusted with political communications and policy research.
An alumnus of the London School of Economics (MSc in Environmental Economics) and Aberdeen University (MA in Economics and Geography), Singla also happens to be a seasoned global traveller, making his perspective even more globally nuanced—a perfect fit for the ICCO NextGen board’s international ambitions.
As the communications industry grapples with the demands of AI, authenticity, and shifting audience behaviours, ICCO’s move to place emerging leaders like Singla at the helm is a smart play because the future of PR isn’t just about messaging, it’s about mentorship, mission and momentum.
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Tawana Burnett to lead social and influencer jury at Abby Awards 2026
Meta’s Apac leader takes the reins for Abby Awards, adding flair to social content
MUMBAI: Tawana Burnett, Meta’s Head of Top Accounts and Agencies for Apac, has been named jury chair for the new social content and influencer ,arketing category at the Abby Awards 2026, powered by The One Club | The One Show.
With a 25-year career spanning the US, EMEA, Latam, and Apac, Tawana has worked on campaigns for some of the world’s biggest brands and leading advertising agencies. At Meta, she guides CMOs, business leaders, and agencies on harnessing digital and emerging advertising solutions to accelerate brand growth.
Before joining Meta, Tawana led award-winning product teams at Intuit, LeapFrog, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer, helping launch iconic products including QuickBooks, Listerine, Advil, and ChapStick.
A champion of diversity, she was featured in Adweek’s Women Trailblazers in 2019 for mentoring more than 15 women-led startups and for her work on the #biascorrect campaign that promotes women in leadership. She was also recognised in Ad Age’s Global Leading Women Class of 2023, The List in 2024, and served as juror for Spikes Asia and Mad Stars 2024.
Tawana has held leadership roles in the Singapore Inclusion Council at Meta, the IAB SouthEast Asia & India Board, and currently serves on the boards of IAA SEA and the Ronald McDonald House in New York City. Originally from New York, she now lives in Singapore with her husband and daughter.
The Abby Awards 2026, presented by The One Club | The One Show, will be held during Goafest 2026 from 20 to 22 May in Goa, celebrating creativity across the region.
