We sat down with our newest director, Imogen, to talk about her promotion and time at firstlight.

Congratulations on the promotion to Director! What did achieving this milestone mean to you? 

Thank you! Well, it’s hard to separate this achievement from everything that led to it – the opportunities to learn, the brilliant clients across fascinating sectors, and the talented people I’ve had the privilege of working alongside. I’m chuffed! 

Take us back to when you first joined firstlight. What drew you here, and what do you enjoy most about working here? 

I was really drawn to the idea of working for an independent agency, and as soon as I met Paul in my first interview, I knew I’d found somewhere that has its principles in the right order – a place that’s as ambitious for its clients as it is for its own people.  

I love the mix of clients, unpicking the most interesting and complex comms challenges and constantly feeling inspired by my very clever colleagues. I think there’s lots to be said for knowing the difference between taking your job seriously and not taking yourself too seriously. firstlight gets the balance just right. 

Is there a project or campaign you’ve worked on here that really stands out as a career highlight? 

Yes! For various reasons, I probably can’t name them – but think high profile PR that is playing a critical role in changing EU industrial policies and national news stories surrounding investment keeping British industries alive.  

The type of work that your mum and dad recognise on the news – always a proud moment! 

What excites you most about stepping into the Director role, and what are your key priorities moving forwards? 

2026 is a year of ambition for firstlight. As a Director, I’ve been involved in developing the strategy for this – one in which we’ve vowed to be bolder, braver and more confident about our credentials, culture and client work. There are so many exciting ideas and plans coming out of the agency at the moment.  

My personal ambition has always revolved around the development of people – making sure we’re continually pushing ourselves to do better for our clients while also fostering a culture that empowers (and equips!) people to be at the top of their game.  

The PR & comms landscape is always changing. What sort of developments are you following with interest? 

It is, and don’t we all know about it. I’m getting a bit sick of all the LinkedIn hot takes. But, if you work in PR, I feel we’re all naturally accustomed to dealing with change – and maybe a bit of uncertainty too. So much of what we do is about helping others navigate change – shaping narratives, building confidence, and finding the right words when the path forward isn’t clear, and the editorial deadline is looming. 

So I’m choosing to embrace the change. Three things I’m keeping an eye on: 

  1. The press release is back baby! But this time GEO is partly why. I’m watching with interest how GEO and AI more generally start to shape corporate reputations.
  2. A good reputation no longer offers the protection it once did (think deepfakes, disinformation, viral campaigns). Crisis & Issues support that accurately reflects today’s shifting communications environment is evolving and rightly so.
  3. Good storytelling, built on persuasion, trust-building, and narrative is a constant, and it’s a skill that ultimately relies on human judgement. The PR industry mustn’t lose that. 

If you had one piece of advice for someone starting in PR, what would it be? 

Treat the big and the small tasks with the same commitment, enthusiasm and curiosity.