TWO leading figures from the world of public relations are to speak in Huddersfield.

Their audience at the university will be made up of students and business people.

Douglas Smith, a former parliamentary lobbyist, and Roger Haywood, a past president of an industry group, will share their experiences at the event next Wednesday.

Their talk has been organised by Maxine Barnett, a mature student on the final year of a PR and media course at the university.

She is organising the event on behalf of Andy Green, visiting research fellow at the university and director of Wakefield-based Green Communications.

Mr Smith studied history at King’s College, London, before working for the Daily Mirror.

He later worked with Tory leader Edward Heath during the campaign to persuade Britain to join the Common Market and went on to become a leading political lobbyist.

He formed a consultancy, Westminster Advisers. He was also offered – and turned down – an OBE.

Mr Haywood is a past president of the Institute of Public Relations and a former chairman of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

He is now chairman of the Public Relations Standards Council and chief executive of business consultancy Issues Analysis.

He has worked for major companies, including ICI, Unilever, General Motors, Cadbury Schweppes and General Motors.