I volunteer as it is a chance to give something back to our communications community

By Natasha Renaud, IABC/Toronto VP Volunteers

Interview with IABC/Toronto volunteer Ian Darragh, member of IABC since February, 2005.

Where do you work? IBM Canada

For how long? Two years in July

Title: Editor-in-Chief. I manage IBM Canada's external English and French websites.

Why volunteering with IABC? A lot of people have helped me over the years. This is a chance to give something back to our communications community.

Your best communication projects to date:Organized a travelling photo exhibit and multimedia presentation on landmines, and what they do to children in countries like Angola, Afghanistan and Cambodia. This was in support of the treaty to ban landmines. Another memorable project was relaunching the IBM Canada website with a new look and feel in 2004.

What do you like best in your job? I like figuring out ways of bringing folks together who have never talked to each other before, and getting them to climb out of their silos and work together on a communications project. I get to work with colleagues from around the world--from Australia and China and to Ireland and Slovakia. I find cultural differences intriguing.

Wine or beer? I'm a big fan of Canada's micro-breweries. I like sampling ales and lagers made with spring water and organic ingredients.

New York or Paris? Next to Toronto, my favourite city is Prague. Much of the historic core is closed to cars. Canadian cities should consider doing the same.

Where are you from? Originally from Montreal.

Favourite IABC event? I like the munch 'n' mingle events, where we get to swap war stories and compare notes.