Harris PR Welcomes Queenslyn Arubi as Third DEI Bursary Recipient

Harris PR welcomes the third recipient of its annual Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Bursary, marking three years of an initiative designed to open new pathways into Ireland’s public relations and communications industry. 

Delivered in partnership with the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) and Open Doors Initiative (ODI), the bursary combines a paid nine-month internship at Harris PR with a place on the PRII Diploma in Public Relations, creating a supported pathway into the profession for talented people from backgrounds that remain underrepresented within the industry.

This year’s recipient, 23-year-old Marketing graduate Queenslyn Arubi, will join the award-winning agency this September while undertaking the PRII Diploma in Public Relations. Through practical agency experience, professional education and mentoring, the programme aims to help broaden access to the industry while supporting a more diverse and representative future for PR and communications in Ireland.

Commenting on the announcement, Sonia Harris Pope, Founder & Managing Director of Harris PR says:  “When we launched the DEI Bursary three years ago, our ambition was to create a genuine pathway into PR for talented people who might otherwise find it difficult to get that first opportunity. Three years on, that ambition remains just as important, but we have also seen first-hand the value that different experiences, perspectives and backgrounds bring to our agency, our industry and ultimately to the work we do for our clients. 

We had an exceptionally strong response to the bursary this year, and Queenslyn really stood out to us. She has already gained valuable communications experience, but what impressed us most was her curiosity, determination and genuine commitment to building a career in PR. She spoke very openly about the challenges she has faced trying to secure that first permanent opportunity, but rather than becoming discouraged, she has continued to learn, seek advice, develop new skills and find ways to make herself a stronger candidate. That resilience and willingness to keep learning really resonated with us. 

Queenslyn is at an exciting point in her career. She has the talent, enthusiasm and foundation to become an excellent PR professional, and we believe the combination of hands-on agency experience at Harris PR, structured mentoring and the PRII Diploma can help her turn that potential into a long-term career in the industry. Just as importantly, we know that Queenslyn will bring her own perspective, ideas and experiences to Harris PR, and that we will learn from her too. 

We’re incredibly proud to welcome Queenslyn to the team and to continue working alongside the PRII and Open Doors Initiative to make our industry more accessible. Ultimately, our hope is that initiatives like this become less necessary because access to opportunity in PR is genuinely open to everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.” 

Queenslyn Arubi, a 23-year-old Marketing graduate from Maynooth University, has been selected as the third recipient of the Harris PR DEI Bursary. 

The eldest daughter in a first-generation Nigerian family, Queenslyn graduated in 2025 and has since been working to establish a career in public relations. She brings relevant industry experience, including a year-long placement with Tourism Ireland in Copenhagen, where she supported communications and publicity activity across the Nordic markets and worked with journalists, influencers and agency partners. 

Despite this experience and her academic achievements, securing that first permanent role in the industry has proved challenging. The experience has strengthened Queenslyn’s determination to pursue a career in PR and her belief in the importance of creating pathways that ensure talent from underrepresented backgrounds has the opportunity to enter and progress within the profession. 

Commenting on the award Queenslyn Arubi, Harris PR DEIB Bursary Recipient says:  “I started this application questioning whether I was the kind of person this bursary was intended to support. I recognise the privileges I have had, but I also know what it feels like to be one of the only Black people in the room and to rarely see people who look like me represented in the profession I want to enter. 

“Since being awarded the bursary, there’s one phrase I keep coming back to: ‘underrepresentation does not equal underqualification’. There are so many talented and highly qualified people from ethnic minority and other underrepresented backgrounds who have the ability to succeed, but who can still face barriers when it comes to accessing opportunities and getting their foot in the door. 

“For me, initiatives like this aren’t about creating opportunities for people who are underqualified. They’re about recognising talent that might otherwise be overlooked and giving people the opportunity to show what they can do and reach their potential. 

“This month marks one year since I graduated. I’ve spent that year wondering when I would finally get the opportunity to start my dream career in PR that I’ve been working towards, and now I’m here. I’m incredibly excited to join Harris PR, complete the PRII Diploma and begin the next chapter of my career.” 

PRII CEO Laura Wall commented: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Harris PR and Open Doors Initiative for a third year. At PRII, we are committed to ensuring that Ireland’s PR and communications profession reflects the diversity of the society it serves. The bursary combines education with practical industry experience, giving recipients not only the opportunity to gain a recognised qualification but also the confidence to develop their own career in PR. We look forward to supporting Queenslyn throughout her journey and seeing the contribution she makes to the industry." 

Jeanne McDonagh, CEO, Open Doors commented: “It’s fantastic to see this partnership enter its third year and to see another talented individual being given the opportunity to build a career in PR. We know that talent exists across every community but it’s opportunity that isn’t always distributed equally. It’s programmes like this that show employers the difference they can make when they take a proactive approach to inclusion. We are proud to work again with Harris PR and the PRII on this programme and wish Queenslyn the best of luck for the year ahead."