Name Ruth Dale

Job title and company Chief Executive & Behavioural Insights Lead
When did you join the committee? 2023

Why did you join?
I joined CIPR Health to focus in on the speciality of health communications. Because how people make decisions shapes their health every hour, every day. And how we communicate to help people make those decisions is life changing. People in health comms get this. They know words can change lives. I wanted to learn from others who care about doing this well. To stay curious. To explore how language, behaviour, and trust come together to make a difference. And meet some lovely people who get that communication isn’t about messaging it’s about impact. Because if there is one thing you will spend you life doing it’s explaining that to stakeholders! So being part of a community that gets it is sanity saving for me!

How long have you worked in health comms/PR? 25+ years

Your new best friend knows nothing about health communications or PR, how do you describe your job to them in ONE sentence?    
Health comms people use language, insight, and trust to help people make life-changing decisions about their health—every single day.

2025 predictions for health comms/PR?
2025 Prediction: The Year of Better, Not More
In 2025, I think that misinformation will surge through fragmented but personalised digital channels, but so too will our collective hunger for truth, empathy, and clarity. In this climate, trust is our currency as health communicators. It’s always listed now as important but it will increasingly the  foundation on which all effective communication rests. This will be the year communicators stop chasing volume and start chasing value.
I think AI can help us with this. As AI becomes more embedded in our workflows, it won’t replace our thinking because it could free us to think better. To go deeper. To craft with care. We’ll stop flooding the world with content and start shaping messages that actually matter.
The best communicators in 2025 won’t be the loudest. They’ll be the most trusted. Because better beats more. Every time.