VIVA! Communications clinched the highly coveted and contested Best Small Consultancy of the Year gong at the 41^st annual Public Relations Institute of Australia’s (PRIA) National Golden Target Awards (GTAs) in Sydney last night (November 9, 2017).

The nation’s crème-de-la-crème of PR practitioners flocked to the iconic Opera House to celebrate the most outstanding PR campaigns of the past 12 months.

Staff from VIVA!s 15 year-strong agency, headquartered in Sydney, with a branch on the Gold Coast, awaited the much-anticipated announcement by event MC, film, TV and radio personality, Shane Jacobson, before being crowned the award winner.

VIVA!s Principal and owner, Kirsten Bruce took to the podium to express her sincere thanks to all members of staff, present and past, for their invaluable and indefatigable contributions over the past 15 years.

“Wow! This is an absolute honour and career-defining moment.

“This achievement represents the culmination of hard work invested by all members of Team VIVA! over the past 15 years, who so generously, and collectively have built VIVA! into a leading Australian health + wellness communications agency,” said Kirsten.

“I started this agency on a wing and prayer 15 years ago. And from little things, big things grow.

“My sincere thanks to the PRIA judges for recognising VIVA!s significant contribution to the Australian communications industry. My team and I will remain forever grateful,” Kirsten said.

According to VIVA! Communications’ Managing Director, Paul Jans, the agency defeated some fantastic, diverse and equally deserving competitors to clinch the top gong.

“We are delighted to have won Australia’s Best Small Consultancy of the Year award at the National PRIA GTAs.

“I genuinely believe our independence, specialisation in health + wellness, unrivalled passion and dogged determination to make a tangible difference to the lives of Australians is what sets us apart,” said Paul.

“We look forward to continuing to deliver best practice work for our clients for years to come.”

Kirsten further extended her sincere congratulations to all National GTA 2017 finalists.

“We are extremely privileged to be positioned among the nation’s most credentialed PR agencies and grateful to those who continue to inspire us to reach new heights.

“Thank you to the many PRIA judges who worked tirelessly behind the scenes this year to assess, recognise and award the nation’s best-in-class communication campaigns and agencies,” Kirsten said.