Stephen Waddington

Specialist Speaker Stephen Waddington is an authority on the future of external affairs, public relations, media and the use of artificial intelligence.

Stephen is a professional advisor at Wadds Inc. and PhD researcher who supports agencies and in-house teams to develop management and advanced public relations capabilities. He is undertaking a PhD at Leeds Business School examining how public relations functions can achieve appropriate strategic recognition within organisations. His career background in engineering, journalism, and communications gives him a distinctive cross-sector perspective on the on-going evolution of the profession.

Stephen Waddington served as President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) in 2014, where he led a refocus on its charter principles, strengthening the Institute’s commitment to professional standards and to ethical practice. He co-founded Socially Mobile Community Interest Company with Sarah Waddington CBE to tackle long-standing diversity barriers in communications careers.

Stephen has written and edited more than ten books on management and public relations. His latest, in 2026, is the first practical guide to the adoption of AI in the communications sector. AI for Public Relations: A How-To Guide for Implementation and Management, co-authored with Ben Verinder was published by Kogan Page.

He also co-edits Exploring Public Relations and Management Communication with Ralph Tench, the leading international textbook for students now in its sixth edition. His professional development courses in communications management, leadership and critical thinking regularly sell out.

A major keynote speaker at industry conferences and corporate events, Stephen brings original PhD research and practical consulting experience to his presentations. He challenges audiences to confront the barriers preventing external affairs and public relations from being recognised appropraitely and fully at the management table. Stephen is driven by the conviction that evidence-based practice and strategic thought are the keys to elevating the public relations profession. You can contact Stephen Waddington via a Specialist Speakers agent on our international enquiry number, +44 0204 616 0868 regarding speaking and presentation in both in-person and virtual settings or you can email Stephen at info@specialistspeakers.com