Background 

During previous Presidencies, the IPA has established a number of Committees focused on “IPA Communications” (Website Editorial, Social Media, Wiki, Communications Advisory Board). In the previous administration, progress was made to regularize membership communications and expand the range of communication vehicles to embrace webinars and podcasts as well as regular social media posts.

The current IPA administration proposes to build on this work and integrate multiple independent approaches to communication through a single Communications Committee. The Committee would be composed of three subcommittees that focus on audience: 1) internal communication to members, 2) external communication with allied disciplines and to the general public, and 3) scientific communications. The Steering Committee will be composed of the overall Communications chair, the chairs of the three sub-committees, and the staff manager of communications who will be ex officio along with the Vice President and the Deputy Executive Director. The Steering Committee will focus on coordination/strategic alignment of approaches to communication. It will co-ordinate content across the IPA website, social media, Wikipedia, webinars and podcasts.

Mandate for the Communications Steering Committee

The IPA Communications Steering Committee will enable the collaboration and coordination of the following Communications Sub-committees:

• Membership Communications
• External Communications
• Scientific Communications

The IPA Communications Steering Committee is mandated to:

1. Steer and coordinate the work being done by the three sub-committees in the IPA Communications Committee;
2. Develop a strategic communications plan to be presented to the Board;
3. Audit existing communication channels and programmes;
4. Develop a work programme and evaluate alignment/success;
5. Ensure IPA Communications meet legal and ethical standards;
6. Work closely with IPA and others as needed to ensure their work is given a high profile both within the IPA and externally.

Ways of working and reporting

The IPA Communications Steering Committee will be expected to do most of its work electronically, using GoToMeeting, Zoom or other free-to-use communication systems. The committee, like all IPA committees, will be expected to be self-supporting for secretarial and other purposes. It will have access to the web and email support services offered by the IPA.

Any face-to-face meetings should take place, so far as possible, adjacent to IPA or regional congresses. The committee will provide a written report to the Board at six months, one year and then at least annually.

Composition of the Committee

The Communications Steering Committee will be composed of:

• a Chair;
• the Chairs of the Membership Communications Sub-Committee, External Communications Sub-Committee, and Scientific Communications Sub-Committee
• the IPA Vice President [ex-officio]
• the IPA Communications Manager [ex-officio, non-voting]
• the IPA Deputy Executive Director [ex-officio, non-voting]

The committee may request the appointment of other Consultants to advise on specific issues as needed. (Consultants will not be funded to attend in-person meetings.)

Budget

The committee will propose a budget during the annual IPA budget cycle.

Approved by the Board, August 2021

External Communications Sub-Committee

Mandate

The IPA External Communications Sub-Committee will ensure that IPA communication channels provide content which promotes psychoanalysis and its benefits to an interested public in language and style which is simple and accessible. 

The IPA External Communications Sub-Committee is mandated to:

1. Review and develop strategic approach for Social Media that includes consistent institutional messaging (logo, style etc.)
2. Review, then develop strategy, source, commission and maintain content aimed at external audience for the website.?
3. Curate psychoanalytic content, clinical and scientific, for the website
4. Review IPA Wikipedia pages.?

Ways of working and reporting

The IPA External Communications Sub-Committee will be expected to do most of its work electronically, using GoToMeeting, ZOOM, or other free-to-use communication systems. The sub-committee, like all IPA committees, will be expected to be self-supporting for secretarial and other purposes. It will have access to the web and email support services offered by the IPA.

Any face-to-face meetings should take place, so far as possible, adjacent to IPA or regional congresses.

Composition of the Sub-Committee

The IPA External Communications Sub-Committee will be composed of:

• a Chair;
• A member from each of the two regions not represented by the Chair;
• A member from the Asia-Pacific Region;
• An IPSO Candidate Representative;
• the IPA Communications Manager [ex-officio, non-voting];
• the IPA Deputy Executive Director [ex-officio, non-voting].

The sub-committee may request the appointment of other Consultants to advise on specific issues as needed. (Consultants will not be funded to attend in-person meetings.)

Budget

The committee will propose a budget during the annual IPA budget cycle.

Approved by the Board, August 2021

Membership Communications Sub-Committee

Mandate

The IPA Membership Communications Sub-Committee will ensure that communications to members are tailored to their needs.

The IPA Membership Communications Sub-Committee is mandated to:

1. Review, develop strategy for, source, commission and maintain both website content restricted to members and content of interest to members but open to the public.
2. Review and Develop Member Welcome Communications
3. Review Outreach Resource Library
4. Conduct a Membership Communications Engagement Survey
5. Produce an Annual Membership Report
6. Liaise with Committee Chairs to ensure reports on important projects and outcomes are communicated to members.

Ways of working and reporting

The IPA Membership Communications Sub-Committee will be expected to do most of its work electronically, using GoToMeeting, ZOOM, or other free-to-use communication systems. The sub-committee, like all IPA committees, will be expected to be self-supporting for secretarial and other purposes. It will have access to the web and email support services offered by the IPA.

Any face-to-face meetings should take place, so far as possible, adjacent to IPA or regional congresses.

Composition of the Sub-Committee

The IPA Membership Communications Sub-Committee will be composed of:

• a Chair;
• A member from each of the two regions not represented by the Chair;
• A member from the Asia-Pacific Region;
• An IPSO Candidate Representative;
• the IPA Communications Manager [ex-officio, non-voting];
• the IPA Deputy Executive Director [ex-officio, non-voting].

The sub-committee may request the appointment of other Consultants to advise on specific issues as needed. (Consultants will not be funded to attend in-person meetings.)

Budget

The committee will propose a budget during the annual IPA budget cycle.

Approved by the Board, August 2021

Scientific Communications Sub-Committee

Mandate

The IPA Scientific Communications Sub-Committee will ensure that an annual on-line programme of Scientific dialogue and exchange is implemented which gives a platform to IPA members and includes content suitable for a wider audience.

The IPA Scientific Communications Sub-Committee is mandated to:

1. Review existing programme of webinars and podcasts aimed at shared audiences;
2. Develop Strategy for/co-ordinate production of Webinars, Podcasts, Educational Exchanges, On-line Training;
3. Evaluate Proposals for use of new media;?
4. Develop and follow legal and ethical guidelines for IPA published content across all channels, working closely with Confidentiality Committee Chair.

Ways of working and reporting

The IPA Scientific Communications Sub-Committee will be expected to do most of its work electronically, using GoToMeeting, Zoom, or other free-to-use communication systems. The sub-committee, like all IPA committees, will be expected to be self-supporting for secretarial and other purposes. It will have access to the web and email support services offered by the IPA.

Any face-to-face meetings should take place, so far as possible, adjacent to IPA or regional congresses.

Composition of the sub-committee

The IPA Scientific Communications Sub-Committee will be composed of:

• a Chair;
• A member from each of the two regions not represented by the Chair;
• A member from the Asia-Pacific Region;
• An IPSO Candidate Representative;
• the IPA Communications Manager [ex-officio, non-voting];
• the IPA Deputy Executive Director [ex-officio, non-voting].

The sub-committee may request the appointment of other Consultants to advise on specific issues as needed. (Consultants will not be funded to attend in-person meetings.)

Budget

The committee will propose a budget during the annual IPA budget cycle.

Approved by the Board, August 2021