The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has announced the creation of a Future Leaders Forum.

Bringing together PR practitioners aged 30 or younger from all regions of the UK, the forum will provide input into the CIPR’s policy and professional development activities.

Participants will also have access to mentors through the regional CIPR networks and will connect with local PR students and other young PR practitioners, offering support and sharing ideas. It will also link into the CIPR’s Diversity Working Group to address issues of diversity facing the PR profession.

The end of September 2010 will see the group meet for the first time to set their agenda.

Having already demonstrated a commitment to excellence and best practice, the 2009 finalists in the Outstanding Young Communicator category at the regional CIPR PRide awards and the national CIPR 2010 Excellence Awards, have been invited to kick off the forum. Leading the group will be director of Pickle Jar Communications and chair of the CIPR Education and Skills sector group, Tracy Playle.

She said: "This forum is close to my heart – I'm excited to be leading such an important initiative. We work well with early stage practitioners and students, but we are keen to ensure tomorrow’s leaders have a voice and a mechanism to influence PR policy and other issues that impact the future of our profession."