Poiyah media founder appointed to NUST Advisory committee

George Dinyando



Media and communications professional Ilke Platt has been appointed to the Programme Advisory Committee for the Bachelor of Communication Honours Programme, adding to her existing role on the Curriculum Advisory Board for Masters in Journalism and Media Technology at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).



Reflecting on the appointment, Platt described it as a “double role” she does not take for granted. “Being considered to share recommendations is an honour, and being appointed alongside bright and remarkable committee industry experts is a blessing,” she said.



With decades of experience in different areas such as broadcasting, corporate communications and public relations, Platt emphasised the importance of bridging the gap between theory and practice. “I wish to see the gap between theory and practical becoming narrower, so that we empower graduates to seamlessly transition into the corporate world aided with skills in the workforce.”



She also mentioned the evolving nature of the media landscape, noting that technology has transformed how news is consumed. “We’ve slowly but surely seen how we retrieve news mainly from our gadgets,” highlighting the need for media professionals to embrace trends such as digital PR, influencer marketing, and artificial intelligence.



Through her role at NUST, Platt hopes to use insights gained from mentoring young professionals to shape media education in Namibia. “We owe it to the next generation to guide what we could have done better when we were at varsity,” she said.



Platt said that her sons keep her motivated. “To be able to provide for them, to illustrate that work is about setting your mind to something you love and being able to achieve it, despite all the challenges that come with entrepreneurship, is possible when you are determined.”