CIPR President awards Sir Stephen Tallents Medal at 2015 AGM
Yesterday evening (Monday 13 July), the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) hosted its Annual General Meeting on board Brunel’s SS Great Britain, gathering together public relations professionals from across the South West and the rest of the UK, in Bristol.
Alongside the regular business of the meeting led by 2014 CIPR President, Stephen Wadington, which saw the adoption of the Institute’s first Integrated Report and its Financial Report (read Stephen's end of term report), Sarah Pinch, CIPR President 2015, presented the Institute’s prestigious Sir Stephen Tallents Medal to Chartered PR Practitioner Eva Maclaine, Chair of CIPR International.
I am delighted to award this medal to Eva, in acknowledgement of her contribution to the development of public relations, and her practice of the discipline, at the highest level.
Eva has been a member for more than 30 years, and in that time has worked so very hard to champion the ideas, aspirations and needs of members. She has been involved in the Greater London group, the Public Affairs group and since 2012 she has served as secretary and more recently as Chair of CIPR International.
At a time when PR is dealing with daily, global issues, her contribution through CIPR International and her own work is vital. Eva is an inspiration, a leader, a hard worker, a creative thinker, a mentor and a brilliant collaborator; she is someone I am honoured to call a colleague.
Eva and I share a commitment to the highest ethical standards for PR and our pursuit of urgently readdressing the gender pay gap. A strong advocate for members, she is also determined to challenge decisions – and come up with solutions.
It is an honour to have her on the CIPR Board of Directors, and to have served with her as a CIPR group chair, council member and now to have her as a Board member in my Presidential Year.
I am deeply proud and honoured to receive this medal. I now join a wonderful bunch of PR practitioners, many of whom I hold in the highest regard and in whose company I am so very proud to be included.
The best PR is about making a positive difference; a difference to yourself, to your client or employer and to society. That is what I shall carry on fighting for through the CIPR, which is taking strides towards making sure its members embrace professionalism at the highest levels.
Notes to editors
About the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR)Founded in 1948, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is the Royal Chartered professional body for public relations practitioners in the UK and overseas. The CIPR is the largest membership organisation for PR practitioners outside of North America. By size of turnover and number of individually registered members, we are the leading representative body for the PR profession and industry in Europe.
The CIPR advances professionalism in public relations by making its members accountable to their employers and the public through a code of conduct and searchable public register, setting standards through training, qualifications, awards and the production of best practice and skills guidance, facilitating Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and awarding Chartered Public Relations Practitioner status (Chart.PR).