The Institute can also confirm that its Council has elected Paul Compton Chart.PR, MCIPR and Naomi MG Smith Chart.PR, FCIPR to the CIPR’s Board of Directors. Both will serve a three-year term from 2027 to 2029.

Anne-Marie is a Senior Lecturer in Public Relations at Newcastle University. A CIPR Fellow, she has sat on the Institute's Board of Directors and contributed to its recent syllabus review. She received the 2025 Sir Stephen Tallents' Medal for her service to the CIPR and her advocacy for professionalism, Chartership and qualifications.

She won the Outstanding Young Communicator Award at the 2014 CIPR North East PRide Awards and went on to win it nationally at the CIPR Excellence Awards in 2017. She has since judged both awards at regional and national level.

Anne-Marie will serve a three-year term on the Institute’s Board of Directors, from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2029. She will act as President-Elect in 2027, President in 2028, and Past-President in 2029.

Statement of the Returning Officer 

Two contested elections took place, for President-elect 2027 (two candidates for one position), and for Board Members 2027-29 (five candidates for two positions). 

At the close of voting at midday on Monday 28 September 2026, the results were as follows: 

President-elect 

• Total number of ballots issued: 9,441
• Total number of votes cast: 824
• Turnout: 8.7% 

The vote was conducted under the Single Transferable Vote system, which produces mathematically the same result as 'First Past the Post’ when two candidates are standing for one position. 

I declare that the elected candidate is Anne-Marie Lacey 

The full table of results and calculations is available on request. 

Board Members 

• Total number of ballots issued: 23
• Total number of individual voters: 14
• Turnout: 60.9%  

The vote was conducted under the Single Transferable Vote system, using ERS97. 

I declare that the following are duly elected: 

• Paul Compton 

• Naomi MG Smith 

Two candidates are standing for election as the CIPR's 2027 President-Elect:

• David Hamilton Chart.PR, FCIPR - Executive Director of Engagement, Marketing and Communications at the British Film Institute (BFI)
• Anne-Marie Lacey Chart.PR, FCIPR - Degree Programme Director and Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University

The successful candidate will serve as President-Elect in 2027 before becoming CIPR President in 2028 and Past-President in 2029. Candidate statements are available to read on the CIPR's website, and a virtual hustings will take place on 15 September from 12:00-13:00 BST where members can pose questions to David and Anne-Marie.

Five candidates are standing for two seats on the Institute's Board of Directors, for a term running from January 2027 to December 2029:

• Hajira Amla Chart.PR, MCIPR
• Adam Barrett MCIPR
• Paul Compton Chart.PR, MCIPR
• Aimee Postle Chart.PR, Dip CIPR
• Naomi MG Smith Chart.PR, FCIPR

Voting in both contested elections opens on 16 September 2026 and closes on 28 September 2026, with results expected on 1 October. Eligible CIPR members will receive voting instructions by email from Mi-Voice, the Institute's electoral services provider.

Eleven candidates stood for election to the CIPR Council. With fewer candidates than available seats, all eleven have been elected unopposed and will serve a term running from January 2027 to December 2028:

• Bridget Aherne Chart.PR, MCIPR
• Peter Campbell Chart.PR, MCIPR
• Catherine Condie Chart.PR, FCIPR
• Shaun Gibbons Chart.PR, MCIPR
• Andrew Hesselden MCIPR
• Lisa James Chart.PR, MCIPR
• John Mayne Chart.PR, MCIPR
• Paula McNulty Chart.PR, FCIPR
• Lorna Muir MCIPR
• Samantha Seewoosurrun Chart.PR, FCIPR
• Samantha Wilding Chart.PR, MCIPR

• Register for the virtual hustings on September 15, 12:00-13:00BST.
• Read the candidate's statements.

The nomination period for all three bodies runs from Wednesday 29 April to Friday 22 May 2026, closing at 17:00 BST. Elections will take place in September 2026, with all terms beginning on 1 January 2027.

President-Elect 2027

The President-Elect serves as first deputy to the President, beginning a three-year term in January 2027: one year as President-Elect, one as President, and one as Vice President.

The President is the most visible leadership role in the Institute, representing the CIPR to government, media, and the wider industry.

Board of Directors

Board members serve a three-year term commencing January 2027 and hold legal responsibility for the governance of the Institute. The role offers substantial non-executive governance experience, with exposure to financial oversight, risk, and long-term strategy, and is a valuable route into wider trustee and director positions.

The Institute’s latest skills assessment identified a need for experience in governance, equity, diversity and inclusion, and digital or cyber security. To stand for election, candidates do not need to be CIPR members, or to have prior experience as a director or trustee.

Council

The Council advises the Board on the Institute's strategic direction. Those elected will serve a two-year term, from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028.

Serving on Council gives members direct input into policy, professional standards, and strategy, alongside a peer network that spans sectors and career stages. Council meets four times per year for three-hour sessions, with a mix of in-person and online meetings.

• Learn more about CIPR elections
• Find out more about serving as President, a Board Director, or on Council

Three candidates are standing for election as the CIPR's 2026 President-Elect:

• Dan Gerrella
• Graham Goodkind
• Aileen Thompson

The successful candidate will serve as President-Elect in 2026 before taking on the role of CIPR President in 2027. Voting opens today, Friday 3 October and closes on Friday 17 October at 17:00. All eligible CIPR members will receive voting instructions via email from Mi-Voice, the Institute’s electoral services provider.

Elections for the CIPR Board’s 2026-2028 term have also concluded, where 14 candidates stood for three vacancies. The 25 members of the CIPR Council were eligible to vote, with the count conducted using the Single Transferable Vote, as stipulated in the regulations.

The following were duly elected and will serve as Board Members from 2026-2028:

• Noha Al Afifi
• Alex Malouf
• Jennifer Robson

• Hustings took place on Thursday 2nd October via Zoom. Log in to watch the recording.
• Read the candidate statements.

The review aims to align the Institute’s governance structures with its strategic ambitions and ensure the CIPR is sustainable for the future. It is the first time in a decade the PR body has consulted its members on its governance as it looks to modernise its Board and Council and enhance transparency, diversity, and inclusion by attracting a wider range of voices and experiences into its elected positions. The proposed changes to the CIPR’s governance will take place across four key areas:  

• Board of Directors  
• Nominations Committee  
• The President’s Role
• Council  

As part of the review, the CIPR has launched a governance consultation survey, seeking to make its members' voices and views heard across the four proposed areas of change.

• Find out more about the governance consultation.  
• Take part in the governance consultation survey by Thursday 29 February.  
• See the Q&A video below to understand more.

The new Board comprises senior public relations professionals from a range of award-winning consultancies and in-house teams.​ All three Honorary Officer positions are held by women for the first time in the Institute's 70-year history.

Honorary officers:

• President: Emma Leech Found.Chart.PR, FCIPR
• Vice President: Jenni Field Chart.PR, FCIPR 
• Vice President: Sarah Hall Chart.PR, FCIPR

Elected members:

• Stuart Bruce Chart.PR, FCIPR
• Lindsey Collumbell Chart PR, FCIPR
• Eva Maclaine Found.Chart, FCIPR
• Amanda Pearse MCIPR
• Steve Shepperson-Smith Chart.PR, MCIPR

Co-opted members:

• Shirley Collyer MCIPR
• Ronke Lawal
• Avril Lee MCIPR

The programme also serves as a valuable platform and networking opportunity for women in business to explore topics of boardroom diversity, resilience, and empowerment among accomplished peers.

Chartered Practitioners are invited to quote code: CIPR22 to claim a discount of up to 22% on the cost of the course. Chartered Practitioners enrolling in the course will also gain a year's membership for The Womens Director Network complementary (usually priced at £499+VAT).

• Download the course brochure (PDF)
• Contact Calvino Elliot or call 0161 804 8643 for further information

New CIPR President, Jason MacKenzie Found.Chart.PR FCIPR has co-opted Colin Byrne, CEO, UK and EMEA, Weber Shandwick and Keith Coni, Head of Insight and Evaluation, Government Communications Service (GCS) to the board for a second year.

The 2017 Board line-up boasts a wealth of public relations expertise and experience, comprising members from across the UK. Board members represent the full spectrum of the UK's public relations workforce, with some members working as independent practitioners and others for award-winning consultancies and in-house teams.

Honorary officers:

• Jason MacKenzie Found.Chart.PR FCIPR – President
• Sarah Hall Chart.PR FCIPR - President Elect
• Rob Brown FCIPR – Vice President
• Simon Thompson FCIPR – Honorary Treasurer

Elected members:

• Stuart Bruce FCIPR
• Lindsey Collumbell Chart.PR MCIPR
• Kevin Taylor FCIPR
• Paul Wilkinson FCIPR

Co-opted members:

• Colin Byrne
• Keith Coni