PPA selects inaugural Next Gen Board

The PPA says sixteen aspiring under 30’s have been chosen from across the industry to work in tandem and collaboratively with the main PPA board to help shape the future of the specialist interest media sector.

The PPA initiative was announced in March this year, and is part of its strategy to encourage more inclusivity of younger and more diverse voices across the special interest media sector. Each cohort will be in situ for 18 months and the successful candidates all have a minimum of three years’ industry experience. The first board meeting will take place in July, added the PPA.

The successful candidates include Jo Gallacher, editor, HR magazine - Mark Allen Group; Rebecca Taylor, commercial content manager - William Reed Business Media; Maliha Shoaib, editorial associate, Vogue Business - Vogue Business; Lauren Pulling, products & insight director - Collingwood Advisory; Gift Egbedi, brand marketing & communications manager, Beano studios - DC Thomson; Gina Dawson, head of audience development - Future; Michael Sidhu, data analyst - Immediate Media; Beth Crane, affiliates director - Immediate Media; Neve Trinder, diversity & belonging coordinator - Hearst UK; Lauren Briner, marketing manager, The Week – Future; Aliya Itzkowitz, senior consultant - FT Strategies; Navdeep Pal, studio manager - Haymarket Media Group Ltd; Eden-Olivia Lord, deputy editor, Heat World and Closer online - Bauer Media; Charlie Robinson, commercial management accountant- New Scientist; Josephine Judd, commerce picture editor, GQ - Conde Nast; Jade Burnett, senior conference producer - Faversham House.

The PPA says the Next Gen Board assessment interviews took place on 15th June 2023, and included Jane Wolfson, PPA chair of the Next Gen Board, with shortlisted candidates invited to interviews with Chris Duncan, CEO UK Publishing, Bauer; Nina Wright, CEO, Harmsworth; Ridhi Radia, head of ED&I, Immediate Media; Amer Safir, chief editor, The Review of Religions; Amy Ellis, head of rights & permission, PLS; Sophie Eke, chief marketing officer, Arc; Robbie Booker, head of diversity & belonging, Hearst UK; Jackie Scully, executive editor, Think Publishing; Stuart Forrest, global SEO director, Bauer Media, Celia Macmillan, director of people & communications, Haymarket and Sophie Griffiths, editor and chief purpose officer, TTG Media.

Wolfson will Chair the board and will be joined by Adrian Newton commercial director, New Scientist; Jackie Scully, executive director, Think; Stuart Forrest, Global SEO director, Bauer; Sophie Eke; Chief marketing officer, ARC and Sajeeda Merali, CEO PPA as mentors for the Next Gen Board members.

Jane Wolfson, chief commercial director, Hearst UK commented: “What an inspiring group of candidates. We had representation from across business and consumer media, as well as a wide range of job roles. It’s going to be an absolute pleasure working alongside them and I think we are all going to learn a lot. I can’t wait to hear their opinions and ideas for the future of our industry.”

Sajeeda Merali, CEO, PPA commented: “This initiative has been hugely welcomed by the industry and we are delighted that so many people applied. The Next Gen Board is just one example of the work the PPA is doing to disrupt long standing structures and ensure younger and more diverse industry voices are helping to shape the future of the sector.”