Seahorse Founder and Managing Director listed in PR Week’s 2023 Power Book

Seahorse Founder and Managing Director, Isabella Gornall, has been listed in PR Week’s Power Book 2023 - ‘The definitive guide to the brightest and most influential PR professionals in Britain’.

This interview first appeared in PR Week and can be found here.

Describe your 2022 in no more than five words.

Influencing change despite Westminster upheaval.

What has been your professional highlight of 2022?

Alongside recognition from PRWeek, Seahorse won BusinessGreen's Communications Agency of the Year Award for the second time in our four years of operating. It's wonderful to see my team and our clients recognised for their brilliant work and the impact of our campaigns.

What has been your favourite proactive PR campaign of the past 12 months? (Not one that you or your organisation has been involved in.)

RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts and National Trust led the Attack on Nature campaign in the autumn, which was superb. It was fast thinking and let to immediate government clarification and U-turn on its approach to nature conservation. A great example of organisations working together to effect change.

Which organisation or individual has managed reputation most poorly in the past 12 months?

It seems obvious to say the oil and gas industry but they do really need to get a grip on their transition and how they are communicating it. Understandably, industry and consumers simply don't believe most of their comms or commitments.

Has the ‘great resignation’ ended in PR?

Seahorse has happily managed to avoid the great resignation. Our team grew substantially in 2022 and I'm looking forward to more investment in our staff, which is my top priority.

Other than finding and retaining talent, what is your biggest challenge professionally going into 2023?

During this cost-of-living crisis, we are working to ensure that climate, nature and decarbonisation are at the forefront of the media and Whitehall's attention and that they are prioritised in each of the political parties' manifestos.

What are your biggest ambitions for 2023 – professional and personal?

We've hired the brilliant Chloe George as our new head of ESG and corporate sustainability with a background at BT and Barclays. I'm really excited to see how this new Seahorse practice develops alongside our specialist Ocean, Blue Economy, Energy and Clean Tech teams.