Newcastle academic elected President of the CIPR
Anne-Marie Lacey will lead the UK's professional body for public relations after being elected by fellow CIPR members.
8 October 2026
Anne-Marie, Senior Lecturer in Public Relations at Newcastle University, has been elected President-Elect of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR). She will take up the role of President in 2028 - the CIPR’s 80th anniversary year - becoming one of the leading voices representing the public relations profession across the UK.
Building a career in public relations
Anne-Marie graduated with a Master of Arts in Public Relations accredited by the CIPR. Following this she has built up extensive experience working in industry; with clients on both B2B and B2C campaigns, from small start-ups to international household brands.
She joined Newcastle University in 2018 as Associate Lecturer and dissertation supervisor. She is currently Senior Lecturer, supporting both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Longstanding connections with the CIPR
As a CIPR Fellow, she has sat on the Institute's Board of Directors and contributed to its recent syllabus review. Last year 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.
I want the CIPR to meet members where they are, now and in the future, and to be a professional home where people feel they belong.
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.
Anne-Marie commented:
‘Thank you to everyone who engaged in the election, shared their experiences with me and took the time to vote.
I’ve been a proud CIPR member and volunteer for more than 15 years and I’ve seen first-hand what we can achieve when we come together. I’m really excited to work with Dan during his Presidential year and with members, volunteers and staff across the Institute, building on the work already underway and the conversations I’ve had with people throughout the campaign.
I want the CIPR to meet members where they are, now and in the future, and to be a professional home where people feel they belong.
As Chief Volunteer, the President is there to represent our members and make sure their voices are heard. I said throughout the campaign that my approach would be ‘a little less me and a lot more we.' That’s the spirit I’ll bring to the role, and I can’t wait to get started’