Boards & Committees
PRCA Membership Committee
The Membership Committee is chaired by the Honorary Vice-President and made up of 5 to 15 Professional Members.
The purpose of the Membership Committee is to:
- Assess eligibility for Company Membership;
- Allocate the appropriate voting rights to each Company Member;
- Decide on removal of Membership for non-payment of any subscription or levy due from a Member;
- Hear appeals further to the appeal rights set out in the Bye-Laws, from a Member following a decision of the Standards Committee
- Approve appointment of PRCA Fellows
PRCA Management Board
The Management Board is made up of 11 Directors, 2 of which are independent of the Industry. All are listed on Companies House.
The Directors are responsible for the management of the Association’s business, for which purpose they may exercise all the powers of the Association. The Management Board shall consult the Professional Boards and Advisory Boards on strategy and annual plans.
The Management Board, on a recommendation from the Nominations Committee, will appoint:
- a CEO who will report to the (Management) Board Chair; and
- one of the Directors to be a Treasurer who will oversee the financial performance of the Association and will present quarterly management accounts to the Management Board.
An annual budget and business plan will be agreed by the Management Board and its approval will effect delegated authority to the CEO and Secretary for its execution.
Standards Committee
The Standards Committee comprises a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 15 members with a majority (including the chair) chosen from outside the Industry.
The purpose of the Standards Committee is to:
- Determine the Codes of Conduct;
- Determine the procedure, whereby any complaints under the Codes of Conduct are to be investigated.
- Decide upon any such complaints and impose, where appropriate, any sanction
PR & Comms Board
Prior to the PRCA Governance Review in 2023, the PR & Comms Board was known as the PR Council. The former council consisted of 70 members. Under the new articles and bye-laws, the maximum number for the PR & Comms Board is 30.
The role of the Professional Boards is to consider what should be best practice and promote these (including through Network Groups), inform the education and development activity of the
Association and to promote the standards in the various Codes of Conduct to all involved in the Association, and to the wider world in which the Industry exists.
Public Affairs Board
In 1994, five consultancies established the APPC as a self-regulatory body, with its own Code of Conduct, a publicly-available register of clients, and a complete ban on any financial relationship with politicians. In October 2018, APPC members voted to merge the organisation with the PRCA.
The Public Affairs Board is the body that oversees the work programme and promotes standards in public affairs.
The role of the Public Affairs Professional Board is to consider what should be best practice in the industry and promote this, inform the education and development activity of PRCA and promote the
standards in the various Codes of Conduct to all involved in the Association and externally. The Board will work with the PRCA Staff Secretariat to determine and deliver the PAPB work programme. The
PAPB will comprise of 14 people with reserved spaces for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and a space for a member of the NextGen Public Affairs Group.
PRCA Race and Ethnicity Equity Board (REEB)
Following the PRCA Governance Review in 2023, the PRCA Race and Ethnicity Equity Board (REEB) became a permanent Advisory Board under the new structure.
Founded in July 2020, REEB exists to create both immediate and long-term proportional racial equity within the PR and communications industry.
REEB is Chaired by Strategic Communications Consultant Barbara Phillips FPRCA. Its purpose is to ensure the PRCA – as well as the broader PR industry – adopts a best practice approach to ethnic and racial inclusion.
The Board is practically involved in bringing about change within the industry. It is made up of a wide range of practitioners who through both personal and professional experience are well placed to advise and guide members (individuals and organisations) on achieving race and ethnicity equity.
The Board is open to collaborate with like-minded groups who are working towards a similar outcome – within the PR and communications industry. It is within the Board’s remit to utilise existing contacts and make initial approaches (through the Chair). The Board uses data and outputs from collaborative partners as part of its recommendations to members.
Equity & Inclusion Advisory Board
The PRCA Equity & Inclusion Advisory Board (EIAB) aims to lead on setting benchmarks and determining what ‘great’ looks like around Equity & Inclusion for the PR Industry, fostering and building an inclusive industry through increasing visible representation to reflect the societies in which we operate across all sectors and disciplines.
The EIAB collaborates, builds partnerships and supports agencies/organisations/individuals who are already doing exemplary work in EIAC priority areas. This helps to ensure we are not duplicating focuses effort, using the time of our volunteers efficiently and also use our limited resources wisely.
The EIAB will approach all work through the lens of intersectionality. Regional representation and perspective should be embedded in all the work we do.
Education Advisory Board
The objectives of the Education Advisory Board is to support the PRCA Training & Apprenticeships team objectives by proactively informing and providing non-binding strategic advice to the in-house team on trends, policies, and future planning relating to education in the PR and communications profession.
- Act as a forum for discussing ideas (blue-sky thinking) and best practice related to education in the industry within the UK regions (solely England for apprenticeships).
- Advise the teams on the most pertinent support resources to develop in accordance with the overall mission, such as support for employers hiring under-18s, or neurodiversity.
- Proactively inform on topical industry trends, i.e. emergence of tech (such as AI), that might be useful for course content and growth plans of the in-house PRCA team.
- Inform the teams on general industry concerns and needs that might prove relevant to education in the industry, i.e. issues with hiring skilled staff, or specific skill-needs.
- Support in future proofing the PRCA by advising the teams on their plans for future growth, using critical thinking and analysis.
- Advise on ways the teams can capitalise on the need for lifelong learning and ongoing CPD for the different educational groups.
Global Advisory Board
The Global Advisory Board, comprised of internationally recognised PR leaders, was established in September 2021 to work closely with the PRCA’s International Director and provide strategic direction to the PRCA as it expands its footprint in established and emerging PR markets around the world.
Following the PRCA Governance Review in 2023, the Global Advisory Board became part of the policy structure within the Association.
Since the AGM in 2023 the board has restructured and appointed new members.
The PRCA Global Advisory Board reflects our considerable and growing international footprint, and will aim to:
- Regularly discuss PRCA’s international plans.
- Hear from our board members, asking them to input on how we can best serve members around the world.
- Be an open forum for discussion and idea sharing. Looking at global challenges and opportunities, and how we can support the industry globally.
- Sharing common learnings and professional best practice across borders to drive further advancement and understanding of the communications sector around the world
PRCA Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is made up of two Honorary Officers, Chair of Management Board, Chairs of both professional boards and the Chairs of Advisory Boards.
The purpose of the Steering Committee is to:
- Hold and exercise the General Council’s retained powers on policy, the establishment of Sub-committees, Professional Boards, Advisory Boards, Networks, Interest Groups, and regional activities.
- Act on behalf of General Council as the body that scrutinises the work of the Management Board.
- Approve any amendments to the Governance Bye-Laws.
- Determine the maximum levels of subscription or other levy for each class of Member for the forthcoming year.
- Act as the point of co-ordination across the Association
Climate Advisory Board
Mission: to help public relations and communication professionals understand the opportunity around the climate crisis, for organisations/brands/businesses to future-proof and put people and planet at the centre of strategies and decision-making. To ensure practitioners are aware of ethics and governance.
Why? Public relations and communication professionals are in a unique position to advise, protect and amplify. We have a 360-degree view of an organisation and can help influence change. We can also stamp out untruths, innovate to solve problems and once again, have a positive impact.