The Women in Public Affairs network (WiPA) has announced that it has elected two co-chairs to replace outgoing chair Elizabeth Tomlin, who has now stepped down.
Kendal Sefton and Lucy Warren will jointly chair the executive committee, with Tomlin remaining with the organisation as part of the senior advisory committee.
Both Sefton and Warren have been involved with the network since January 2024, each holding two other roles before becoming co-chair.
Sefton was a member of the executive committee in 2024 and was head of events in 2025. Meanwhile, Warren was an operations officer in 2024 and head of campaigns in 2025.
Tomlin said: “The past 12 months have been some of the most rewarding and challenging of my professional career – and I’ve loved every minute. I’ve worked with and met some incredible people across the industry, and I know WiPA will continue to go from strength to strength.”
Alongside her role at WiPA, Warren is currently head of public affairs (campaigns) at the betting and gaming council, a role she has held since June 2025. She has political experience having been part of the Prime Minister’s operations team between May and July 2024 when Rishi Sunak was in office.
She was also part of current Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s leadership campaign teams in 2022 and 2024.
“So pleased to be taking up the role of co-chair of Women in Public Affairs (WiPA) for 2026, alongside the wonderful Kendal Sefton. Under our co-chairship, we hope to bring a bigger and better WiPA for our ever-growing network,” she said of her appointment.
Sefton is currently senior public affairs manager at Avanti West Coast, a role she has held since July 2025. She was also a stakeholder campaigns manager at Heathrow Airport between October 2024 and July 2025. Prior to this, she spent over three years at Field Consulting UK in a number of positions.
“The committee is entering its 14th year and going from strength to strength, with more than 3,000 members and networks across England, Scotland, Wales and Brussels,” said Sefton.
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to Elizabeth Tomlin, whose incredible work and leadership has driven WiPA forward over the last year and to our founders Ella Fallows and Laura Lotinga for their ongoing support,” she continued.
Alongside Tomlin, Victoria McNish, Nicole Wyatt and Vanessa Thomas are also stepping down from the committee. Meanwhile, Eve Frayling, Nele Gewert, Anne Perham, Fran Berry and Clio Batchelor have all been elected to the committee.
Photos provided by WiPA.