Nikki, who has 15 years experience in the PR and communications industry, set up LJK Communications (formerly Peach Public Relations) in 2005. Beginning her career at Ardmore Advertising, she managed above-the-line communication campaigns for a number of core brands including Port of Belfast, Forestside Shopping Centre, Allianz Direct, Coca Cola and Cool FM.

She subsequently worked as an independent PR consultant, concentrating on PR and event management for several retail and consumer clients. Nikki currently provides strategic direction and management of a number of key consumer and corporate accounts and high profile events. These include Charles Hurst, Golden Wonder, The Merchant Hotel, Belfast City Council, Galgorm Resort & Spa, Belfast Visitor & Convention Bureau and Stena Line.

Nikki’s wealth of experience in the Northern Ireland media landscape and her dedication to exceeding client expectations every time ensures an excellent client and agency relationship.

Nikki graduated from the University of Ulster with a BA (Hons) in Business Studies specialising in Marketing. She currently sits on the Events Committee for MT4Uth (Music Theatre for Youth) and was previous Chair of the Events Committee of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ (CIPR) Northern Ireland.

Shona has been working in communications for sixteen years, advising companies ranging from start-ups to international brand leaders such as Avaya, BEA Systems, BT, Computer Associates, Cancer Research, IBM, Kumuka Travel and Microsoft. Prior to joining the LJK Communications team, Shona was European Communications Director for the Business Software Alliance in London. She also managed the European PR and events brief for the global technology organisation with personal responsibility for international and national media.

Shona leads a number of corporate and public sector clients at LJK Communications including Davy, Belfast City Council, Sellick Partnership, HCL, the Construction Employers Federation, Portadown 2000 and Wood NI. As well as driving successful PR and event management campaigns for clients, Shona also undertakes advocacy work when required, managing political outreach and wider stakeholder relationships on their behalf.

Shona is a graduate of the University of Ulster with a BSc. (Hons) in Communications, Advertising and Marketing and was International Marketing Student of the Year in 1994. She is Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and Charted Institute of Marketing (CIM) accredited.

Kerry joined LJK Communications in 2008 and has over sixteen years experience in the media and marketing world with a significant proportion gained at a leading national blue chip company, complemented by several years working as a PR consultant.

A highly experienced PR professional and skilled communicator, the foundations of her career were laid at Boots the Chemist, based at their head office in Nottingham. Over a ten-year period she managed the media relations of key Boots brands including No 7, 17, Soltan, Botanics and Designer Haircare. Her main media focus were national press and broadcast, involving daily contact with national press, monthly and weekly consumer magazines and business titles on a proactive and reactive basis.    Latterly, Kerry was involved with PR for Marks & Spencer in Northern Ireland.

Kerry uses her extensive experience to provide daily strategic guidance and to drive media coverage across a number of clients including Charles Hurst and Galgorm Resort & Spa and she organised the Construction Employers Federation Excellence Awards Gala Evening.

Kerry graduated with a B.A (hons) DIS in Business Studies from the University of Ulster.

Angela has been with LJK Communications since its inception in June 2005 and has been working in the PR industry for six years overall. She began her career with local consultancies Omnia Marketing Communications and Future Image working on international brands such as Clarins and bmi as well as public sector organisations like Causeway Coast and Antrim Glens, Carrickfergus Borough Council and the Community Foundation before joining the team at LJK Communications.

During her time at LJK Communications Angela has managed over 45 client campaigns and supported on a further 30 spanning both the consumer and corporate markets.

Angela’s experience includes managing high profile PR campaigns and events including the launch of Oliver Jeffers, Lost and Found book launch, The George Best Celebrity Golf Invitational, The Deluxe Group, Belfast City Council, Bryson Recycling, Open + Direct, local artist Terry Bradley as well as the global brand Auntie Anne’s Pretzels.

Angela currently manages accounts such as Galgorm Resort & Spa, The Merchant Hotel, Ibis and Ards Shopping Centre ensuring their media profile is at the forefront of the media’s news and lifestyle agenda.

Angela is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and was shortlisted for Outstanding Young Communicator in the 2009 CIPR Pride Awards.

With several years experience in the PR industry, Aine began her career at Frank PR in London before being offered an account management position at a corporate PR agency in Northern Ireland in 2006. She held this position for two years before joining LJK Communications as Account Manager in 2008.

Aine has worked on a number of successful PR campaigns spanning a range of corporate and consumer sectors including Whitemountain Quarries, TravelWise NI, Federation of the Retail Licensed Trade, Belleek Pottery and the World Premiere of Lord Attenborough’s ‘Closing The Ring’.

Working extensively across a variety of sectors has allowed her to gain vast media relations experience and forge strong contacts within the media across the island of Ireland.

Aine graduated from the University of Ulster with an MSc in Communications, Advertising and Public Relations.

Austin Hunter has worked in the media and public relations industry for 36 years. He began his career as a newspaper reporter in his native Tyrone before moving to the BBC where he was a television and radio reporter for 10 years. From there, he headed up the BBC’s Public Relations department. He was the Press Photographer’s PR Person of the Year in 1997 and was awarded the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Media Relations of the Year Award in 1998. In 2001, Austin became the Director of Media and Public Relations for the RUC and subsequently the PSNI. His strategy for communicating the change was recognized with a Public Relations of Ireland Award.  In 2004, Austin was appointed Editor of the News Letter and the following year the paper achieved its best circulation figures for eight years. He was also Director of Local Press Ltd, covering 11 titles in Derry and Donegal including the Derry Journal.

Austin is LJK Communications Senior Consultant. In this role, he works closely with the team to assist with innovative communications strategies to capture attention in Northern Ireland’s increasing competitive news media environment. He also provides senior counsel on speeches, media messaging for clients, editorial copy and crisis management.

John Keane is Chairman of LJK Communications and is Managing Director of sister agency Ardmore Advertising. John is one of fewer than 100 Fellows of the UK advertising industry's pre-eminent professional body, the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA). He achieved this during his 4 years on National Council and 2 years as Chairman for the UK Regions and for his contribution to best practice in the sector. With more than 20 years experience in the communication business based in both London and Ireland, John Keane is recognised as a media-savvy strategic thinker, never afraid to roll up his sleeves and fight to achieve the results our client's seek. With an Honours degree in Communications he readily admits an unrelenting lifelong passion for the communications sector.

John is renowned for his advertising agency’s pioneering work within the tourism sector in Northern Ireland; Ardmore has created campaigns for some of the biggest brands, including Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau, Stena Line, and Translink. John headed up the team who developed an innovative TV-led campaign for Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau, widely recognised for its contribution to year-on-year increases in tourists to the city, culminating in a record 6.8 million visitors and tourist expenditure of £324 million in 2006.