Following the merger of the Association of Professional Political Consultants (APPC) members with the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), a new Public Affairs Board has commenced to establish a united and powerful voice for the organisation in the industry.

Francis Ingham, general director at the PRCA, says, “This is a defining moment for the public affairs industry. By creating one unified body, we will pursue our common goal of making the case for lobbying as a democratic necessity and as an ethical and professional practice more effectively than ever before. Those of us who campaigned for merger did so on the basis of clear commitments laid out in our [memorandum of understanding]. Those commitments will now be delivered speedily and in full, combining the best of both organisations.”
 
The new board consists of 1,871 practitioners, guided by a newly appointed executive committee leading it, connecting members of the PRCA Public Affairs and Lobbying Group with former members of the APPC. As a result of that, so far, 41 of 44 people that used to be members of the APPC who weren’t PRCA members, have been convinced and have become members of the PRCA. “The vast majority of those who opposed merger have decided to transfer their membership across from the APPC. This shows that the industry now wishes to make this merger work, and to make discord a thing of the past. Which is precisely what we shall do, starting today,” says Ingham.
 
The role the new board aims to fulfil is to fortify and safeguard transparency, establish high standards utilising a unified Public Affairs Code, and provide the public with insight that will enhance their understanding of public affairs and their effect on public life.

Paul Bristow, chair of the Public Affairs Board, says, “Our immediate focus must be on delivering the commitments made in the Memorandum of Understanding, signed by the APPC and the PRCA. Ensuring that we create a single unified code of conduct is our top priority. This will be discussed at the first executive committee meeting on Monday, 5 November 2018 and I hope that we can agree a sensible way forward to create the new unified code to cover all new members of the Public Affairs Board at the earliest feasible opportunity.”

Bristow adds that it’s important for the APPC’s strategy review to be considered by the executive committee. Though it lies outside the memorandum’s focus, it is something APPC members care about.

Paul Bristow, former chair of APPC, is the new chair of both the Public Affairs Board and its governing executive committee. Lionel Zetter, former chairman of PRCA Public Affairs and Lobbying Group, sits on the executive committee.

Lionel Zetter, former chairman of PRCA Public Affairs and Lobbying Group, says, “This merger represents a big step forward for the public affairs industry. The merged body will be a powerful voice for ethical standards, and the combined weight of the two organisations will ensure that the voice of public affairs is heard by all key stakeholders – including government and the wider PR industry.”

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