BNU’s Inaugural Lecture Series returns with The Performance and the Person: Women’s Experiences in PR Work

Buckinghamshire New University is pleased to announce the return of its inaugural lecture series beginning in Autumn. The series will consist of three lecture events running through to Summer 2026 and will enable the University to come together to give conferment to academics who have achieved the accolade of Professorship and Associate Professorship. 

The series will begin with Professor Sarah Williams, Pro Vice Chancellor (External Collaborations) at BNU, delivering her lecture on The Performance and the Person: Women’s Experiences in PR Work.   

In this lecture, Sarah will explore the complex identity work embedded in public relations roles, examining the dual aspects of performance that define the profession, stating: 

“On one level, PR practitioners engage in visible, literal performances – media relations, events, presentations, and public appearances. On a deeper level, however, they navigate the subtle, ongoing performance of professional identity. This lecture draws on Goffman’s dramaturgical lens to explore how individuals present themselves within organisational and societal expectations”.

Central to this exploration is the concept of the ‘person’ – the human experience that exists behind the professional façade. For women in particular, this tension is heightened by gendered expectations round the emotional labour, authenticity, and professional presentation in communication fields. 

The lecture will reflect on how the above dynamics shape not only the practice of PR but also the personal and professional identities of those who inhabit it.

Sarah is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, an Accredited Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, a Certified Management and Business Educator and a fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Prior to her time at BNU, Sarah was the Interim Director of the Business School at the University of Wolverhampton where she previously held other management positions as Associate Director of the Business School, Head of Department of Marketing, Innovation, Leisure and Enterprise, and Principal Lecturer for Student Experience. 

On public relations, professionalism and the lived experience in public relations, Sarah said: “I find it interesting because traditional management theories of public relations tend to overlook the lived experiences of practitioners in the field, especially women and those from marginalised communities. My research aims to shine a light on hidden practices to build a picture of what the lived experience of working in public relations looks like”.

The lecture is open to the entire university community as well as members of the public, is free to attend, and will take place on Wednesday 8 October at 4pm. If you would like to attend, please register via this link.