London, 07 March 2013

CIPR Public Affairs Group creates new Young Professionals group - Sarah Buckley elected Chair

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ (CIPR) Public Affairs Group has created a Young Professionals group and elected Sarah Buckley MCIPR, Public Affairs Manager at the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW), to take on the role as the group’s first representative and co-ordinator.

The new group will work as a sub-group supporting the existing CIPR Public Affairs committee and was created to represent and offer support to public affairs practitioners who are at the beginning of their careers.

Sarah will lead the group to work on tasks including engaging with universities to promote public affairs, organising events on best practice and career development and regular networking events.

I’m thrilled and honoured to take on this new role of representing the CIPR Public Affairs Young Professionals group. I look forward to working with the main CIPR Public Affairs committee and colleagues at Russell Square to organise a new programme of activities to keep the CIPR as a visible presence which promotes the professional nature of modern public affairs, and provides a voice for a new generation of practitioners.

Sarah Buckley MCIPR, Public Affairs Manager at the Institute of Chartered Accountants

Due to the increasing size of membership of CIPR Public Affairs, we faced a challenge in having high-level conversations with senior professionals, and at the same time, providing a worthy platform to assist future practitioners in their professional development.

Public affairs has changed considerably over the past decade, and will continue to do so at a rapid rate. Part of this change has happily seen the increased representation of women across the board, both in agencies and in-house, and with that in mind, I’m delighted that Sarah has been voted in as Chair of our new group. I’m confident she will do a great job working alongside the CIPR Public Affairs committee to ensure our future leaders have a voice in leading our practice.

Simon McVicker MCIPR, Chair of CIPR Public Affairs

Practitioners who want to join the Young Professionals group should contact group secretary, Vernon Hunte, at ciprpasec@gmail.com.

Notes to editors

About the CIPR

Founded in 1948, the CIPR is the professional body for public relations practitioners in the UK. With 10,000 members involved in all aspects of PR, it is the largest body of its type in Europe. The CIPR advances the public relations profession in the UK by making its members accountable through a code of conduct, developing policies, representing its members and raising standards through education and training.