Farzana Baduel is a specialist in global strategic communications, with a focus on positioning organisations and nations on the international stage. She is the 2025 President-elect of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and Chief Executive of Curzon PR, an award-winning London-based strategic communications consultancy trusted by governments, corporates, and foundations worldwide to shape influence and deliver impact.
She serves as the Resident PR Expert at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, where she advises entrepreneurs and executives on global communications and reputation management. Farzana is a Chartered PR Practitioner and an honorary fellow of the CIPR. She has been recognised on the PRWeek Power List and was named among Provoke Media’s Innovator 25 for EMEA, highlighting her contributions to the communications industry.
Farzana co-founded the Asian Communications Network, which promotes diversity within the communications industry, and serves on the Steering Committee for Socially Mobile, a nonprofit supporting social mobility in the PR sector. She also co-hosts Stories and Strategies with Curzon PR, the world’s number one PR podcast, according to Goodpods.
Her board positions include trustee roles at The HALO Trust, protecting lives of those affected by conflicts, and Soho Theatre, a cultural organisation producing theatre, comedy, and cabaret in London. She believes in the power of storytelling for good and as a communication bridge to connect worlds.
PR is a dynamic tool that can be harnessed to build bridges between people, organisations and economies through the promotion of dialogue, understanding and trust - an invaluable asset in an increasingly fragmented and divided world.
FARZANA BADUEL
Farzana has helped a broad range of governments, large corporations and individuals to navigate the public relations landscape. She places particular emphasis on helping clients to get their messaging across and become more successful through clear, targeted strategy. She is also an expert in crisis communications and public affairs, using innovative, modern tactics to achieve maximum positive impact.
Farzana has given lectures, delivered masterclasses and mentored students around the world. Along with her role at the Oxford Foundry, her clients have included Saïd Business School and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
An engaging, insightful orator, Farzana has spoken at dozens of major industry events and given presentations for numerous international companies. Her keen observations on the PR industry, politics, technology and beyond mean she can talk on a large scope of subjects. These include branding, women entrepreneurs, sustainability and PR, and the pros and cons of working with controversial regimes.
A host of broadcasters and publications come to Farzana for her commentary on PR, politics and more. She has contributed to the BBC, Forbes, Al Jazeera and ITV, and written for The Guardian and PR Week. She also produces and presents the The PR Insider podcast.
Curzon PR’s CEO, Farzana Baduel has been elected as the CIPR’s 2026 President.
She will become President-elect in 2025, having stood unopposed in the 2024 election.
Discusses the implications of Brexit for UK business in a roundtable on TRT World.
Interviewed on Al Jazeera on PR consultants representing governments.
Provides commentary on a BBC World news story concerning violence
against women in South Asia.
Read Farzana’s thought-provoking views on the PR sector and a host of related issues.
