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PRCA announces new Co-Chair and members of the Equity and Inclusion Advisory Board
The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) has today announced the appointment of Janita Lakhanpal as Co-Chair of the Equity and Inclusion Advisory Board (EIAB), alongside six new Board members. They join current Co-Chair Ishtar Schneider and an outstanding roster of returning industry leaders dedicated to championing diversity and inclusion within the PR industry.
The Board works collaboratively to form partnerships and support agencies, organisations, and individuals already driving equity and inclusion initiatives, while identifying opportunities to accelerate meaningful, industry-wide progress. This approach ensures focused use of resources, avoids duplication, and maximises the impact of volunteer efforts.
In addition to its strategic workstreams, the EIAB also delivers thought leadership and practical insight through the Sparks by PRCA dedicated podcast series, spotlighting industry leaders and changemakers, sharing lived experiences, and exploring actionable solutions to the most pressing equity and inclusion challenges facing the profession today.
New EIAB Members (2026)
- Jenny Manchester, recent Head of Communications at the Centre for Ageing Better
- Jo Wallace, Senior Director of Communications – EU, UK & APAC at Amazon
- Kyla Brinkley, Director Executive Thought Leadership and Social Media at Real Chemistry
- Kayleigh-Anne Soryal, Communications Partner at love comms
- Nicole Yost, Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs at British Heart Foundation
- Sarah Lloyd, PR Strategist at IndigoSoul PR
Returning EIAB Members
- Alex Pearse, Executive Director at Golin
- Amy Hayer, Global Communications Partner – EMEA, USA and Asia Pac at Hanson Search
- Edward Tan, Account Director, Marketing Communications at 5654 & Company
- Ethan Tuxford, Director, Brand & Head of Edelman EQUAL UK
- Ishtar Schneider, EIAB Co-Chair
- Janita Lakhanpal, Director of Business Development at Ketchum (Co-Chair)
- Jared Meade, Founder and Principal at Rayne Strategy Group
- Kuldeep Mehmi, Corporate and Financial Communications at Edelman Smithfield
- Mark Wainwright, Digital Director at Headland
- Mary Whenman, Director, Group Communications at British Business Bank
- Matt De Leon, Managing Director, Managing Director at Richmond & Towers
- Michael Phillips, Head of Communications at Havas Media Network UK
- Mike Petrook, Communications Lead at Herbert Smiths Freehills Kramer
- Victoria Harrison-Cook, Head of Media at Transport for London
The Board also farewells longtime member Andy Lane who recently passed away. Andy was an active member and co-lead of the neurodiversity and mental health workstream. The Board will be dedicating the publication of the Understanding Inclusion research report in Andy’s honour – which lifts the lid the experiences of people in the industry with neurodiversity, disability or differing religious beliefs for the first time.
Key Workstreams:
- Gender
- Social Mobility
- Neurodiversity
- Mental Health
- Disability
- Age/Multigenerational Workforce
- LGBTQIA+
- Religious Beliefs
Ishtar Schneider, EIAB Co-Chair, said:
I am thrilled to welcome Kyla, Jenny, Jo, Nicole and Sarah to the Equity Inclusion Advisory Board and Janita to the newly created Co-Chair role. Inclusion necessarily needs consistently new and different perspectives, expertise and insight which is what each of our new members brings to this work. They join a strong lineup of veteran members who share a deep-rooted commitment to shaping a more open PR industry that reflects the communities we operate in. Communications play a vital role in building trust, combatting disinformation and bridging divides – work that is more important now than ever. I’m looking forward to seeing the strides we make together in 2026 and beyond.
Janita Lakhanpal, EIAB Co-Chair, said:
This role is deeply personal to me and rooted in why I do this work. At a time when inclusion demands action, not just intention, I’m proud to step into this position alongside Ishtar and to work closely with Sarah Waddington and the PRCA to accelerate meaningful progress across our industry. We are backed by an exceptional group of advisers whose expertise and lived experience give the EIAB real authority and insight. Together, we have the mandate and the momentum to reset expectations for inclusion and raise the standard across our industry. I’m grateful for the opportunity and ambitious about what we will achieve together.
