There are 38 potential candidates lined up for positions on the 2014 Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Council. Successful council and honorary treasurer candidates will serve a two year term, while the president elect will serve three years as of 1 January 2015.

The elections are the first since CIPR members voted for governance changes in June. The new resolutions reduced the CIPR Council in size from 50 to 30 individuals, and created a board of directors with power to direct the affairs of the Institute. The changes are part of the Institue's move towards an increasingly professional agenda. 

Honorary fellows (HonFCIPR), fellows (FCIPR), and members (MCIPR) are invited to vote at the 2014 elections. All the available posts are voluntary, and Rob Brown FCIPR, managing partner of communications consultancy Rule 5, is the only candidate for CIPR president elect 2015 and will therefore be automatically elected to the role.

Rob Brown comments, “The practice of public relations is undergoing a significant upheaval. It has become obvious in recent years that PR needs to change to remain relevant. The CIPR has emerged as a trailblazer in modernising public relations practice in the UK and across the world and in raising standards of professionalism. I'm very honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead the Institute and continue that process.”

Sarah Pinch FCIPR will commence her term as CIPR president and Stephen Waddington MCIPR will serve as past president on both the CIPR board and the council.

Voting for the available roles will open on Monday 1 September and close on Monday 22 September 2014. Further information regarding the nominees is available to view on the CIPR website.