Yesterday the CIPR announced six new Fellows, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Institute and the public relations industry.
Fellowship is the highest member grade of CIPR membership and is awarded exclusively by the Fellowship Nominations Committee (FNC).
This Q&A series profiles the latest CIPR members who’ve been appointed Fellows. Following yesterday’s post with Alastair Ross FCIPR, today’s Q&A features Head of Communications at Thurrock County Council, Ashley Scott-Wilcox FCIPR.
Lives: Rochester, Kent
Drives: Depends on the day and the weather
Most trusted media brand: Guardian
Career highlight: My council magazine Your Camden winning awards and a residents survey saying it was their preferred source of information on council services – it was a hard slog to get there but a great team pulled together
Favourite campaign of the past ten years: I’m usually sold on a John Lewis campaign
Campaign you’re most proud to have worked on: A Camden Council election campaign – helped buck the trend and increase turnout about national average
How do you explain what you do to your friends and family? I help people understand what local public services do and how they can help. I tell stories and make issues interesting and mean something
Favourite social media platform & why?: Twitter – others come and go – Twitter provides news, knowledge, contacts and entertainment like no other
Form of communication I would ban is: Not ban completely but don’t send an email when sat opposite me!
Favourite restaurant: Oki Nami Brighton
If I hadn’t worked in public relations, I’d have: Done something legal or studied law at university
Professional role model: Admire many people I’ve worked for such as Emma Marinos and Paul Inglefield
When not at work I’m: At the gym, walking the dog, eating out and drinking decaf coffee with friends
One piece of advice for an aspiring practitioner: Even what seems like the strangest idea is worth exploring as it might spark something creative that turns out to be big – whatever crazy idea you have, explore it.
To find out more about CIPR Fellowship, visit the website.
Keep an eye out for tomorrow’s Fellows Q&A, featuring Martin Horrox FCIPR.
