The Asian Communications Network (ACN) is marking another milestone with the announcement of a new corporate partnership with Headland, the London-based communications consultancy specialising in financial and corporate communications, public affairs and campaigning.
The partnership will focus on two priorities: strengthening Headland's approach to inclusive talent development and creating space within the agency for underrepresented voices and diverse lived experiences to shape how it works with clients and how it shows up as an employer.
Formed in 2024 by Advita Patel, Farzana Baduel, and Shayoni Lynn, ACN has grown into a trusted community for communications, journalism, and marketing professionals across the UK who want to see real progress on ethnic diversity in the sector, not just conversation about it.
"Every partner brings something different to ACN, and what we're building with Headland is about embedding lived experience into everyday practice," said Advita Patel, Chair of the ACN Advisory Board. "That's how you shift a sector, not through one-off statements, but through the daily decisions agencies make about who they hire, who they promote, and whose ideas get heard."
Speak to Asian professionals across our industry about what good senior leadership looks like, and most will point to the same thing: having someone in their corner, an ally, a sponsor, a person in the room who understands their experience. Where that exists, careers accelerate. People get put forward for high-profile projects, get coached through tricky client conversations, and start to see themselves at the top table rather than outside it. That's the difference partnerships like this one are designed to make, relationship by relationship, opportunity by opportunity.
"When Asian professionals in this industry have someone willing to open doors for them, the impact is transformational," said co-founder Farzana Baduel. "This partnership with Headland is about creating more of those moments, so more talented people can see a future for themselves at the top of this profession."
As part of the 12-month partnership, South and East Asian colleagues at Headland will have the opportunity to join ACN's Circle, gaining access to events, workshops, and a broader peer network across the industry. ACN's co-founders will also work directly with Headland's leadership team to bring more insight and lived experience into how the agency develops its people and advises its clients.
"Championing diverse perspectives is central to our purpose, our client offer, and who we are as a business," said Liz Clarkson, Partner at Headland. "We are delighted to become partners of ACN. We are looking forward to working together, building stronger connections across the industry, and supporting more people to see a future for themselves in communications."
For more on ACN and its growing network of corporate partners, visit asiancommsnetwork.com.
Asian Communications Network