The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has announced that 18 of its members have been awarded fellowships in recognition of their outstanding work in public relations, service to the CIPR and personal achievements within the profession.

According to the CIPR, “Fellows play an important role in promoting professionalism and best practice in the field of public relations, contributing to the institute's working groups, panels and consultations for the benefit of the industry as a whole”.

“It is an honour and a privilege to recognise these senior practitioners as new fellows of the institute,” said CIPR president and fellow Paul Mylrea. “They join an incredible resource of knowledge and experience of public relations and business practice, providing a unique insight into the profession and the issues facing communicators around the UK.”

There are currently 316 fellows of the CIPR with nominations considered and awards granted twice yearly by the Institute's Fellowship Standing Committee. The full list of new fellows can be found at the bottom of this page.

Meanwhile, in other CIPR news, the institute’s North West group has announced the launch of its annual PRide Awards, which recognise excellence in PR and communications in the region.

PR professionals, teams and agencies will have the chance to battle it out for one of the 27 gold awards that will be presented at a stylish ceremony at the Hilton Hotel, Deansgate, Manchester, on 23 November 2011. The deadline for entries is 18 July.

To find out more and to enter, visit www.prideawards.co.uk.

The CIPR’s new fellows:

• Matt Appleby (managing director – public relations, Golley Slater)

• Lisa Bradley (managing director, Pegasus PR)

• David Budge (owner, Budge PR)

• Caroline Cecil (director, Caroline Cecil Associates)

• Robert Colmer (group CO2 communications manager, Royal Dutch Shell)

• Tom Curtin (director, Curtin & Co)

• Max de Trense (owner, Carteret Communications)

• James Harkness (partner, Harkness Kennett)

• Iain Hutchison (group communications and brand manager, Element Six)

• Sally Keith (principal, ‘in her own write’)

• James Knight (independent practitioner)

• Quentin Langley (PR People Bank)

• Caroline Rawlinson (director, Vivid)

• Kevin Ruck (co-founder, The PR Academy)

• Joanne Sweeney (senior consultant, dcp pr)

• Anthony Swing (retired)

• Susan Stewart (director of corporate communications, University of Glasgow)

• Natasha Tobin (director, Russell Square Communications)