Women in PR appoints ten industry ambassadors

Women in PR (WIPR) has launched an ambassador programme to help promote its goal of greater equality and diversity across PR leadership teams and the wider industry.  

The group of ten female and male ambassadors have been chosen for their influence, and will provide resources, information and awareness across their networks of professional contacts. The role will not be about governance, which is still managed by an elected committee, but will provide a focus on spreading the overall aims of WIPR across the industry.

WIPR UK said: ‘While men have always been welcome as speakers and attendees at Women in PR events, this is the first time the organisation is welcoming men in an official capacity, recognising that we need male as well as female change agents.’

Bibi Hilton, president of Women in PR and MD at Golin, said: ‘Two-thirds of the industry is female, yet at board director level this drops to 42 per cent, according to this year’s PRCA PR Census. To close our above UK average 23 per cent industry gender pay gap in agencies and stop brilliant women leaving the industry, we have to increase the number and diversity of women in leadership roles and create a more equal workplace. This new ambassador programme will help increase the speed of change, and Women in PR is really excited to work with this group in 2019.’

Amanda Coleman, head of corporate communication, Greater Manchester Police, said: ‘I am saddened that in 2018 many women are still not receiving equal pay, feel prevented from getting where they want to be and have to fight for their position. But we all have a chance to make a difference and this is what I want to do as an ambassador.’

The full list of ambassadors is as follows:

Amanda Coleman, head of corporate communication, Greater Manchester Police

Evadney Campbell, co-founder, Shiloh PR

Jackie Cooper, senior advisor, Edelman

Joan O’Connor, PR director, Coca-Cola Europe

Nicola Green, director of corporate affairs, O2

Andrew Soar, freelance creative communications director

David Gallagher, president, international, Omnicom Public Relations Group

David Holdstock, director of communications, Local Government Association

James Coyle, head of PR, social media and CSR, Samsung Electronics UK

Tony Langham, co-founder and CEO, Lansons