June 30, 2026 PR News
Global Women in PR is inviting women working across PR and communications to share their views and experiences for its eighth Annual Index.
First launched in 2019, the GWPR Annual Index acts as a global benchmark tracking the progress of women in the industry, exploring issues such as flexible working, leadership representation, boardroom presence, career breaks, ageism, diversity and inclusion, and harassment in the workplace.
For 2026, the survey includes the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the PR industry, reflecting one of the most significant shifts currently facing communications professionals worldwide.
Susan Hardwick, Co-Founder of Global Women in PR, said: “For 2026, we felt it essential to look at the impact of AI. It is already changing the way PR professionals work, but we need to understand what that means for women’s careers, skills development, entry-level opportunities and future leadership. AI brings enormous opportunity, but we must make sure it does not create new barriers or widen existing inequalities.
“We are asking women across the global PR and communications industry to take a few minutes to complete the survey and add their voice. Every response helps us build a clearer picture of the industry today and supports GWPR’s ongoing work to champion more inclusive and representative leadership.”
The 2025 GWPR Annual Index revealed that while progress toward gender equality in public relations continues, it remains slow and uneven. The 2025 study found that male-dominated boardrooms had dropped from 61% in 2024 to 51% in 2025, showing steady improvement. However, 85% of respondents said more must be done to ensure women have greater boardroom presence.
Other findings from the 2025 Index highlighted persistent barriers, including caring responsibilities, inflexible working practices, lack of transparency around recruitment and promotion, the ongoing impact of career breaks, harassment in the workplace and a concerning reduction in visible DE&I commitments.
Loretta Ahmed, Co-Founder of Global Women in PR, said: "The Annual Index has become one of the most valuable tools we have for understanding the real experiences of women in our industry, and its global reach matters enormously here in the MENA region.The conversations we are having about flexible working, boardroom representation and career progression are universal, but the regional context shapes how they play out, and that is exactly why every voice from MENA counts.”
The GWPR Annual Index 2026 is open to women working in PR and communications across agency, in-house, freelance, independent and consultancy roles, with the findings to be published later this year. Click here to take part.
Prev
