Public Affairs News Awards 2011 and the winners are announced

The seventh annual Public Affairs News Awards were hosted by ITV Business Editor Laura Kuenssberg.

The awards were presented on 16 November in central London. The winners of the first 14 awards were decided by a 24-strong judging panel.

Consultancy of the Year – Hanover
In-House Team of the Year – The MS Society
Specialist Consultancy of the Year – Cicero Consulting
Outstanding Contribution – Kevin Bell
Consultant of the Year – Kevin Craig, PLMR
Rising Star – Individual (Agency) – Chris Bose, Lansons Communications
Rising Star – Individual (In-House) – Emma Boon, TaxPayers’ Alliance
Freelancer of the Year – Rhoda Macdonald
Best Agency to Work For – Open Road
Trade Body of the Year – EEF, the manufacturers’ association
Innovative Campaign of the Year – RSPCA for the Fairer Fillings campaign
Campaign of the Year – Private Sector – ‘A Fair Tax on Flying’ campaign
Campaign of the Year - Voluntary Sector – Royal British Legion for Write the Principles of the Military Covenant into Law campaign
Campaign of the Year – Devolved Administrations – Placing the Voice of the Child at the Heart of Children’s Hearings campaign

Two further award winners were decided interactively by the audience via personal keypads.

Whizz-Kids received the most votes for the award Party Conference Innovation 2011 and the audience members also opted for John Rentoul as the Political Tweeter of the Year.

PAN publisher, Dods, has embraced moving from the print publication of Who’s Who in Public Affairs to the digital launch of Dods People Public Affairs – the comprehensive online directory which contains more than 3,500 public affairs organisations with contact details. The website is growing in recognition within the sector and more organisations are listing their key contacts’ biographies.