Professor Robert Hinson Speaks At Warwick University Brand Africa Workshop

Prof. Hinson making his presentation

Robert Hinson, Associate Professor in the Department of Marketing and Customer Management, University of Ghana Business School has made a presentation entitled “Why the Muteness? Africa Speak, the World Listeneth” at Warwick University in the United Kingdom.

He was speaking at a Workshop on “Supranational Place Branding and Sustainable Development: Africa and the Post-2015 UN Development Agenda” at the Radcliffe House, University of Warwick, UK.

In his presentation, Professor Hinson observed that majority of the countries in Africa are not communicating comprehensively online. In concluding his presentation, he posed five provocative questions: What type of Brand Africa do we want? What will the unique selling proposition of Brand Africa be? What level of resource commitments do we need for a strong effective Brand Africa? Who will initiate the Brand Africa effort? and Who will oversee the nurturing, monitoring and evaluation of Brand Africa?
The workshop was a two day interdisciplinary research event jointly organised by Penelope Muzanenhamo and Dr. David Arnott (Warwick Business School); Professor Franklyn Lisk (Centre for the Studies of Globalisation and Regionalisation), Dr. Chris Browning (Politics and International Studies), and Dr. Andrew Hammond (Institute of Advanced Studies, United National Academic Impact Program).

The Keynote address was given by Mrs. Yvette Stevens, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations in Geneva. The aim of the workshop was to bring together researchers, policy-makers and practitioners with an interest in place branding, sustainable development and Africa-related areas to explore themes such as place branding and sustainable development, supranational place brands and sustainable development, as well as supranational branding and citizenry.

The Workshop participants came from across different units of Warwick University, UNCTAD, Warwick Local Council, and the University of Ghana Legon. A full set of photos from the Brand Africa Workshop can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/121003236@N08/" .