Today the PPA announces the selection of its inaugural Next Gen Board. Sixteen aspiring under 30s 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.

The successful candidates are:

Jo Gallacher, Editor, HR magazine – Mark Allen Group
Rebecca Taylor, Commercial Content Manager – Retail Week, William Reed
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 Next Gen Board assessment interviews took place on 15^th June 2023, and included Jane Wolfson, PPA Chair of the Next Gen Board, with shortlisted candidates interviewed by panels including: 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; Richie 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; Stuart Forrest; Sophie Eke; and Sajeeda Merali, CEO PPA as mentors for the Next Gen Board members.

Jane Wolfson, chief commercial officer, 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.”