Bradley voted IPR 2006 president

Tom Williams, PR Week UK, Friday, 20 August 2004, 12:00am,

The Institute of Public Relations has elected Tony Bradley as president for 2006. He has vowed to make education and improved standards the cornerstone of his tenure.

Bradley, who is a partner at Newcastle-based firm Bradley O’Mahoney Public Relations, said he would ‘fight to raise standards and perceptions of the industry’, adding that he was also keen to raise the profile of the IPR’s regional members, two thirds of whom are based outside of London.

‘Regional PR is seen as the Cinderella of the industry, but some of the best PR is being done in the regions,’ Bradley said.

He added that he would seek ways to improve PR education, expanding on his work as chair of Sunderland University’s programme approval panel, where he has helped to set up a PR course.

But Bradley, who was elected unopposed, said much of his role as president would be a continuation of work done by Chris Genasi – who takes the presidency next year – and current president Anne Gregory.

‘We have seen the public’s perception move away from the idea that we are a smoke-and-mirrors industry,’ Bradley said. He will serve throughout 2005 as vice-president to Genasi.