The association will host the first in a series of Equal Access Network events at Ketchum's London offices on Thursday 20 September.

Cornelius Alexander, CIPR fellow and chair of the Institute's diversity working group, said: "My hope is that the Equal Access Network can be a place where people studying or working in PR, who are affected by, or are interested in issues relating to diversity in employment and representation, can meet and establish lasting and useful links with fellow practitioners.

"Improving diversity within PR is an important issue for the future of our profession and the CIPR wants to bring together people who want to make a difference. If we go on recruiting most of our practitioners from the same part of society we are in danger of reducing our effectiveness as communicators and overlooking a wealth of potential talent."

Registration for the event is free of charge for both CIPR members and non-members. For more information and to register, click here.