iia Communications Activies and Initiatives in 2024
This year the iia continued to strengthen communications efforts by investing in the resources to manage and enhance this core activity in-house. A strategic communications plan was drawn up during 2023 which has been implemented consistently throughout 2024 with several initiatives, activities, and publications now available for members and non-members to see.
Communications projects include:
Publications
Spearheaded by iia Working Groups, 2024 saw the publication of several documents and initiatives to serve various segments of the radiation processing industry:
- Eb/X Systems and Suppliers Database
- Roadmap to an Electron Beam or X-Ray Center for Industrial Applications document which can be used in conjunction with the above database
- An Introduction to Low Energy Electron Beams document
- ‘Global Healthcare and Nuclear Power’ article published in the May 2024 edition of Nuclear Engineering International
- ‘WINS/iia Methodology for assessing the effectiveness of security arrangements at gamma irradiation facilities’ revised version, original document published in 2021
Additionally, we have translated the iia Membership Brochure and three of our technology factsheets for the Chinese community. These can be found on the Chinese Language area of the iia website.
Looking to 2025, the iia has plans for more publications including the following:
- Guide for Assessing Cybersecurity Programs at Gamma Irradiation Facilities’ (Q1)
- ‘Cybersecurity Best Practice for Gamma Irradiation Facilities’ (Q2)
- An article highlighting the importance of gamma irradiation in the medical device press (Q2/3)
- Re-publication of ‘Low Energy Electron Beam Factsheet’ to include iia brand design (Q1)
Website Updates
The iia website has continuously improved over the last year to make it as valuable as possible for our members. Recent improvements include:
- Updated Information Hub, with the majority of this content only available to iia members
- New Chinese Language area of the website to be more inclusive to our Chinese members
- Added Search function for easier website navigation
- Enhanced About Us section of the iia website to improve understanding of the organisational structure, initiatives, and work of the iia
2025 will be a great opportunity to update and refresh the website further to suit current needs, including (but not limited to); updating the messaging, further improving the navigation/usability of the site, removing unused/excess content, and reviewing the informational content to make sure it is up to date.
The iia LinkedIn has been an important addition to our communications efforts in 2023/4. Initial strategic objectives were to improve the quality of visual branding, improve the consistency and regularity of posts, and ensure the content is of interest to iia members and the wider radiation community. This objective has been achieved with the follower count growing to over 1350, and follower interaction improving over time. The most significant growth and activity from followers was in promotion and during the IMRP 2024 conference. Using LinkedIn proved to be an effective tool for IMRP 2024 marketing, and was noted to be a contributing factor towards the success of the conference.
In 2025 the iia LinkedIn will continue to evolve while maintaining the consistency already in place. We plan to introduce new content types and shift focus to providing more useful and outward-facing content for our followers.
Communications for Chinese Members
As previously mentioned, the iia has added a Chinese language area to the iia website and has translated four highly used iia publications. 2024 also saw the launch of the iia WeChat which has content entirely in Chinese and focuses on industry news and iia updates. Peng Wei (iia China/Asia Representative) hosted two webinars for our Chinese audience, the first was focused on introducing the iia and our work to those who may be less familiar with our work, and the second webinar outlined the plans for IMRP 2024 – details about both webinars can be found here.
In 2025, we will continue to develop the iia WeChat to include new types of content, ensuring it will be a valuable and informative resource for our Chinese audience. Additionally, we anticipate hosting more webinars, translating more iia publications into Chinese, and launching new initiatives to strengthen engagement and improve member benefits.
Other activities and further plans for 2025
Digital Membership Pack: In the upcoming year, all members, both existing and new, will receive a Digital Membership Pack. This comprehensive resource will detail the benefits of membership and provide practical guidance on how to maximise the value of being part of our community.
Webinars: For 2025 we will increase the use of webinars to engage and share with our community. A series of 6 webinars is planned and under development. Whilst we will cover technology topics, we also plan regional webinars with local focus and content.
For any further enquiries or information about iia Communications, please contact Katherine Comben (iia Communications Executive) at kcomben@iiaglobal.com.