Campaign Collective Founder Member, Simon Francis, has been elected chair of the PR and Communications Council at the PRCA, the world’s largest a trade association for the public relations industry.
The PRCA Council is the formal mechanism for the Association to consult with the industry’s most senior practitioners on the issues PR and communications faces. It also acts as a think-tank for the industry; informs the PRCA’s strategic priorities; and produces helpful commentary, advice and best-practice guidance for PR and communications professionals.
Julia Herd, from PR agency Five In A Boat and former global communications chief at Deezer was elected vice-chair.
Simon campaigned on a platform to build on the work the PR and profession has been doing to improve ethics, diversity and standards.
He commented:
Underpinning the Council’s work on ethics, diversity and standards must be a step change in demonstrating the positive social impact the profession has.
The PRCA Council has made bold steps in agreeing a definition for social impact, but we need a dedicated drive to move this agenda forward.
As part of the social impact agenda, we will be encouraging PR and communications agencies to “buy social” from social enterprises in 2020.
Demonstrating our social impact will improve recruitment and retention, ensure we are talking the language of board rooms and procurement teams and show to the public that we are a globally aware, responsible profession.
Thank you to fellow members of the PRCA for supporting me in the election and I look forward to building on the work of the 2019 Council.
The first ever analysis of the social impact of PR and communications agencies revealed that 80% of practitioners have helped meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
In addition, three quarters have encouraged workplace diversity with two-thirds involved in genuine corporate social responsibility programmes.
Francis Ingham MPRCA, Director General, PRCA, said:
Congratulations to both Simon and Julia for their election victories. Both had strong manifestos, and I’m sure they’ll drive the Council’s agenda and impact forward in 2020.
I would also like to thank Amanda Coleman and Jessica Ozdemir for their tireless work leading the Council this year.