Thoughts, conversations and questions from throughout my campaign for CIPR President-Elect 2027
From membership and belonging to professional development, volunteering and the future of our profession, this is where I’ve been sharing what I’m hearing, thinking and exploring.
I don’t work in lobbying, so where do I belong?
What happens when the way we describe our profession doesn’t reflect the work you actually do? A reflection on identity, representation and feeling that the CIPR is your professional home.
Read:
If we’re really listening, what happens next?
Listening is easy to say. Doing something meaningful with what we hear is harder. So what does genuinely responsive membership look like?
We are the CIPR
The CIPR isn’t just an organisation or a membership number. It’s the people who learn, contribute, volunteer, challenge and support one another.
A story behind every name
Membership data can tell us who joins, stays or leaves. But behind every number is a person, a career and a reason why.
Volunteering: what we give, what we get, and what we could do together
Volunteers are a huge part of what makes the CIPR work. What could we achieve if we made it even easier for our volunteer community and HQ to work together?
Membership data can tell us who joins, stays or leaves. But behind every number is a person, a career and a reason why.
Logging vs. Learning
Professional development should be about learning, not simply collecting points. A reflection on CPD, what gets in the way and how we might think differently about it.
Chartership: Value as well as Volume
More Chartered Practitioners would be a good thing. But increasing the numbers matters alongside making sure Chartership is valued, recognised and something practitioners want to achieve.
I’d love to, but…
Sometimes the barrier to taking part isn’t a lack of interest. It’s money, time, location, accessibility or simply life getting in the way.
Short Snippets:
Does this look like PR to you?
Some parts of PR are more visible than others, and those images can become shorthand for our whole profession. What we say about PR externally should start with what the profession actually looks like in practice.
Is all ‘PR’ good PR?
Media coverage of our profession helps shape what future practitioners, clients, employers and the public think PR actually is. So when those stories fall back on “dark arts”, spin and manipulation, should we simply accept the coverage or challenge the way our profession is represented?
Volunteers have more to offer the CIPR than ‘just’ their time
Volunteers aren’t only helping the CIPR deliver activity. They’re close to their communities, hearing what members need and generating ideas about what could work differently. So how could we make better use of that insight when thinking about what comes next?
Success isn’t measured just by seniority
Progress doesn’t have to mean climbing a hierarchy. It can mean going deeper, moving sideways, working independently, changing direction or simply finding the place that’s right for you.
Watch:
Why I’m standing for CIPR President-Elect 2027
The video that started it all. My announcement and why I decided to put myself forward.
Why now?
Why stand for President-Elect at this point in my career? A little more about why now feels like the right time.
Get to know me
A bit about the person behind the campaign, my career so far and the experiences that have shaped how I think about the CIPR and our profession.
Come as you are
No agenda. No prepared questions needed. My drop-ins are an open space for CIPR members and non-members to come along, have a conversation and tell me what’s on their mind when it comes to PR and our profession.
What can you talk to me about?
Anything. What’s working, what isn’t, what you value, what frustrates you, or what you’d like the CIPR to think differently about.
And the conversations won’t stop with the hustings. My drop-ins will continue throughout the voting period because listening shouldn’t stop when the hustings ends.
Five Minutes With…
Joe Lane
From being my student to becoming a Chartered Practitioner, Joe and I have crossed paths at a few different stages of his career. We caught up about his journey so far, Chartership and an exciting trip to Singapore.
Emma Streets
From in-house and agency roles to launching her own consultancy, Emma and I talked about changing ways of working, what CIPR membership means when you’re independent, and the value of having a professional community around you.
Rose Self
From mentee to Co-Chair of CIPR East Anglia, Rose and I talked about her career, six years of volunteering, and the relationships, experiences and opportunities that can grow from getting involved.
Teela Clayton
Careers don’t always follow straight lines. Across two conversations, Teela and I talked about changing direction, social mobility, what success looks like, and what it means for a professional body to meet people where they are.
Want to know more?
You can find official information about this year's elections, including all candidates, key dates and details of how to vote, on the CIPR website.