Gerry Davis has been Chief Executive of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland since August 2001 and, since then, has led the development of the Institute in the areas of education, continuing professional development and representation. He is also CEO of the PR industry trade body – the Public Relations Consultants Association and has been chairman of judging for the annual PR Excellence Awards for the past five years. Prior to entering the world of public relations, Davis spent a 4-year period as Chief Executive of the Irish Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management. Prior to this, he spent nearly 22 years as an officer in the Defence Forces serving overseas tours on UN peacekeeping duties in Lebanon, Israel and Syria and retiring early in the rank of Captain in June 1997.