WWPR announces 2026 Emerging Leaders Awards honorees
Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR), announced its 2026 class of Emerging Leaders Awards (ELAs) honorees. Now in its 16th year, the ELAs recognizes seven exceptional women, ages 25-35, who have distinguished themselves across government, nonprofits, agencies and the corporate sectors. Each honoree is recognized for outstanding professional achievement and contributions to the industry through mentorship, advocacy and innovative thinking.
“For 16 years, the Emerging Leaders Awards have recognized exceptional women who are shaping the future of communications and strengthening our profession,” said Charmaine Riley, president of WWPR. “This year’s honorees didn’t just meet the bar—they raised it. Their accomplishments reflect the importance of investing in rising talent, and we are proud to celebrate their contributions and welcome them into the Emerging Leaders community.”
The 2026 WWPR Emerging Leaders Awards Winners are (and left-to-right in photo):
- Small/Boutique Agency: Emily Tillett, Vice President, Jasper Advisors
- Mid-Sized Agency: Amanda Finney, Vice President, Reputation Management, Avoq
- Global & Large Agency: Nia Page, Chief of Staff of National Geographic Content, Office of the President, The Walt Disney Company
- Government: Casey Bell, Public Affairs Officer, Education with Industry Fellow at Google Public Sector, U.S. Air Force
- Trade Association: Julie Hirschhorn, Manager of Public Relations, American Academy of Family Physicians
- Corporate: Meaghan Delaney, Manager, Corporate Affairs, KPMG US
- Non-Profit: Ariana Perez, Manager of Public Relations, Children’s National Hospital
Winners were celebrated on June 25 at a reception at AT&T Forum in Washington, DC. The evening featured a keynote address from Julia Krieger.
This year’s final round judges included:
- Natalie Adler, 2025 WWPR Woman of the Year and Vice President, Public Impact and Resilience Communications, Fors Marsh
- Kirstin Garriss, Communications Director, URL Media
- Maureen Coelho, Senior Sales Director, KARGO
- Jonelle Henry, University of Florida Student Immersion Program Director, College of Journalism and Communications
The complete list of 2026 WWPR Emerging Leaders Awards finalists is available here.
