Welcome to the Telum Spotlight, an ongoing series showcasing people working in the PR and Communications space, freelancers and those launching their own boutique agencies. Today we shine the Spotlight on Christine Quak, Founder and Owner of CQ Works PR.

By way of Introduction: I’m Christine Quak, Founder and Owner of CQ WORKS PR. Established in Singapore in 2015, CQ WORKS is a boutique agency specialising in public relations and marketing communications for F&B and Lifestyle clientele. With 23 years of experience, I have held senior management positions within international hotel chains and food & beverage entities.

First job: Marketing Communications Coordinator at Pan Pacific Singapore and worked my way up to Manager within a year.

One thing you would change about communications industry: Listen first, communicate next.

Most admired person: Taylor Swift. She has the world listening.

Most admired journalist: Wong Ah Yoke, who has recently retired from Straits Times, Singapore after 31 years as its Food Critic.

Advice to anyone starting out in comms: Know your way around and work your way up.

Essential daily reading: Online articles.

Favourite book: Schindler’s List.

Favourite film: Evita.

Social media app you can’t live without: Instagram.

Your proudest achievement: Setting up CQ WORKS eight years ago.

Quotable you: We are familiar with AQ, EQ and IQ. But in the field of communications, what’s important is CQ, or Communication Quotient. This means communicating good works effectively!