Tuesday 9th September – Today, Women in PR (WiPR), in partnership with PR Week, has revealed the mentor and mentee matches for the 2025-2026 mentoring programme.
Following a rigorous selection process, 22 female communications professionals have been paired with a senior industry leader, for mentorship over the course of the next year.
The scheme empowers female talent to navigate key challenges women still face in the workplace. From breaking barriers to promotion to building confidence in their own leadership – the aim is to support women to succeed as they take the next step in their career.
In addition to one-to-one mentoring, mentees also have access to Clifton Strengths analysis, sponsored by Ketchum. The analysis identifies an individual’s natural talents and offers guidance on how to develop them into key leadership strengths.
The successful mentees were selected by a judging panel consisting of representatives from the PRCA Equity Inclusion Advisory Board, UK Black Comms Network, and PR Week, alongside WiPR committee members.
Reflecting WiPR’s mission to advocate for greater diversity and numbers of women in communications leadership roles, this year’s cohort of mentees is one of the most representative in terms of geography, expertise, and lived experience. Eight mentees are based outside of London, 11 are from an ethnic minority background and the age range spans over two decades. The impressive line-up of talented mentees also hold a mix of in-house, agency and freelance communications roles, covering a variety of sectors.
2025-2026 Mentor/Mentee matches
Mentee | Mentor | |
1 | Alice Clarke,
Communications Manager, NHS Confederation |
Effie Kanyua
Founder, LILA Assistant and We Are Warriors PR |
2 | Amy Dowling,
Head of Communications, TUI UK&I |
Clara Biu
Head of Consumer Communications, Allwyn UK |
3 | Anna Lewis,
Freelance PR Consultant |
Sarah Henderson
Managing Director, PrettyGreen |
4 | Chloe Hampton
Strategic Communications Consultant, ERM |
Liz Treversh
Managing Partner, Global Consumer, Finn Partners |
5 | Claire Newmarch,
External Communications Manager, The Very Group |
Lauren Pogson
Head of Communications, EVRI |
6 | Daisy Souster
Public Relations Specialist, Daisy Craydon PR |
Vishnee Sauntoo
Freelance Practitioner |
7 | Dingile Kasote
Senior Account Manager, WDM Entertainment |
Chris Allen
Managing Director, Pitch Marketing Group |
8 | Elizabeth James
Account Director, Words+Pixels |
Jo Chappel
Executive Creative Director, Harvard |
9 | Gemma-Louise Bond
Corporate Affairs Manager, PwC |
Emily Luscombe
Partner and EMEA communications agency lead, ERM |
10 | Jessica Keating
Senior Communications Manager, University of Cambridge |
Mary Hinks-Edwards
Communications & Government Affairs Director, EU Partnership Markets, GSK |
11 | Juli Suazo
Global Issues & Communications Assistant Manager, Unilever |
Angela Balakrishnan
Executive Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs, Information Commissioner’s Office |
12 | Liva Emmatty
Senior Account Director, Clarity Global |
Shayoni Lynn
Founder, Lynn |
13 | Lou Loxley
Senior PR Manager, Raspberry Pi Foundation |
Jenny Mowat
CEO, Babel PR |
14 | Naomi MG Smith,
Senior Consultant (Digital & Insights), FTI Consulting |
Doyel Maitra
Corporate Affairs Director, Retail Banking, NatWest |
15 | Quianru Kang
Marketing Manager, JD Consultancy |
Kirsty Leighton
Founder and Group CEO, Milk & Honey |
16 | Rachael Phillip
Head of Communications and Marketing, 10,000 Interns Foundation |
Koray Camgöz
CEO, Taylor Bennett Foundation |
17 | Rum Gill
Senior PR Manager, Eversheds Sutherland |
Rachel Roberts
Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Leopard Co |
18 | Sascha Gill-Chugh
Senior Communications Manager, Global Partnerships, International Rescue Committee |
Surinder Kaur
Head of Corporate Media, BAE Systems |
19 | Sophie Mocton
Account Manager, Technology London, Edelman |
Orla Moran
Managing Director, Consumer & Brand, Burson |
20 | Sophie Wilson,
Founder and CEO, Tuesday Media |
Lee’ann Kaufman
CEO and Founder, iSeePR |
21 | Tara Bell
Senior Consultant, Coldr |
Laura Gillen
UK Managing Director, We. Communications |
22 | Yvonne Luu
Director, ESG and DEI, Purpose Union |
Addy Frederick
Group Head of Corporate Affairs, Admiral Group |