The Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management (GA) has announced the regional winners of the 2025 #NextInLine Changemakers’ Recognition Competition, with Filipino students earning three of the ten top spots in the Asia-Pacific category. The results were revealed during GA’s final Hero Web Conference on December 5.
The global essay-writing competition challenged students and young communication practitioners to respond to the theme, “How Can AI-Driven Communication Transform the World? From Information to Impact: Reimagining the Future of Ethical, Purpose-Driven Communication.”
Entrants submitted original essays examining how innovation, empathy, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence can advance ethical and human-centered communication.
The Philippines delivered a strong showing this year, with Khrysza Paras, Edmund Rhei Morada, and Jillian Barreiro recognized among the Asia-Pacific region’s most promising young communicators. They join a diverse roster of honorees from Indonesia, Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, and North America — all of whom received a Global Alliance Certificate of Distinction.
Ana Pista, APR, chair of GA’s Student and Young Practitioners Month (SYPM) 2025, praised the winners for their forward-looking perspectives. “We were truly blown away by their ideas as well as their passion for communication,” Pista said. “Their essays show that the next generation of communicators understands the critical role of responsible AI use in shaping ethical, human-centered solutions.”
2025 REGIONAL WINNERS
ASIA-PACIFIC
Khrysza Paras (Philippines)
Edmund Rhei Morada (Philippines)
Desak Ayu Bulan Trisna Aprilia Putri (Indonesia)
Nabilah Azzahra Putri Bastari (Indonesia)
Jillian Barreiro (Philippines)
Stephanie (Indonesia)
Priscilla Audric Kanabi (Indonesia)
Syfa Aulia Manezha (Indonesia)
Mumtaaz Qadhifa (Indonesia)
Adinda Silvia Maharani (Indonesia)
AFRICA
Aromaradu Salahudeen Salihu (Nigeria)
Azeez Sulaiman (Nigeria)
Benaja Nkemzikann (Cameroon)
Daryl Tchabat (Cameroon)
Elvis Miba Pengou (Cameroon)
Emmanuel Chiwila (Zambia)
Ikwuorgu Favour Eloho (Nigeria)
Jessica Gbedemah (South Africa)
Venant Axel Alima (Cameroon)
Ogunsemowo Moyinoluwa Elizabeth (Nigeria)
NORTH AMERICA
Amber Marthinsen (USA)
SOUTH ASIA & MIDDLE EAST
Tisha Jain (India)
Abhijit Rawat (India)
Divyangna Mehrotra (India)
Lamisha Akter Fiza (Bangladesh)
Komal Iyer (India)
Poshita Jain (India)
Pratibha Pandey (India)
Senjuti Paul (Bangladesh)
Shrida Trivedi (India)
Shrimoyee Sur (India)
Championing youth leadership in a rapidly evolving digital landscape
The #NextInLine Changemakers’ Recognition is a flagship initiative under GA’s annual Student and Young Practitioners Month (SYPM), a program designed to elevate youth leadership and cultivate ethical thinking among emerging communication professionals. Held across GA’s six global regions, SYPM encourages young practitioners to critically examine the impact of artificial intelligence on public trust, information flow, and the future of communication work.
GA noted that this year’s winning essays highlight a growing awareness among young communicators of the need to balance technological advancement with empathy, inclusivity, and accountability. As AI continues to influence how information is created and consumed, the organization emphasized its commitment to nurturing leaders who understand that technology must amplify — not replace — human values.
