Leeds Met Professor Anne Gregory has been awarded the 2009 Stephen Tallents Medal by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

The award, which recognises outstanding achievements in and contributions to public relations, was presented to Professor Gregory at the CIPR Excellence Awards Dinner last night by Kevin Taylor, President of the Institute.

Professor Gregory, who was CIPR President in 2004 and serves on the Institute's Council, led the Institute's 2004 campaign to achieve Chartered status and she initiated and continues to edit the Institute's PR in Practice series of 17 books.

CIPR President Kevin Taylor said: "Anne's drive and leadership was instrumental in the Institute achieving Chartered status and this year will see further fruits of that campaign when the Institute creates its first individual Chartered Practitioners.  It is fitting to mark that milestone with this award to someone whose commitments to raising practitioner standards, to ethical behaviour and to professional recognition, has been a real driving force and inspiration."

Professor Gregory said: "It is a great honour to receive this most prestigious Medal and I'm both delighted and humbled. Chartered status was a milestone in the journey for the Institute, not its end.  I am pleased to see professionalism becoming increasingly important with education and training as the bedrock. In an age where communication defines everyone and every organisation, public relations has to be ready to step up to the challenge. The Institute is playing a vital role in that endeavour.