Aisling Burnand CBE, mother to two sons, and wife to Will, was a friend and client of PLMR for many years.
PLMR has today made a donation to Bowel Cancer UK in memory of Aisling, a long-time friend and supporter of the business who sadly died on 19th September 2022 and whose funeral is today.
She was a boss of PLMR Founder Kevin Craig in an earlier phase of his career at the Rowland Company, the PR consultancy arm of Saatchi and Saatchi, and in her subsequent roles, at the BioIndustry Association and Cancer Research UK, Aisling worked with Kevin Craig and PLMR over many years and gave our company the chance to work over many years on some hugely significant legislation and campaigns, including;
- Lobbying on behalf of stem cell research;
- Supporting the passage of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act;
- Protecting scientists, researchers and businesspeople from animal rights extremism;
- Regulating the use of sunbeds by young people
- Putting cigarettes into plain packaging.
In 2009 Aisling also undertook a valuable report for PLMR providing her external analysis on the company’s strengths, weaknesses and future opportunities.
Kevin Craig said today:
I was utterly devasted to hear of Aisling’s death which reached me the week before last during PLMR’s 2022 Away Day in Lille, France. Aisling was a wonderful inspirational person. She was a great champion and supporter of mine – she gave me opportunities which changed my life, and the lives of many others. She was steadfast and loyal and I am forever grateful. She had so much energy, ambition, and drive. She was feisty, funny, professional and determined.
Over the many years we worked together I was also struck by just how important to her life were her family who she loved so much. We would always chat with each other about our lives out of work and she adored her family so much.
I was so proud of Aisling as a person and of what she achieved in her life – the difference she made – and I cannot believe she has died. We all send our deepest condolences to her husband, sons, brother and all family and friends. She was such a great woman and I am so saddened and depressed at her passing.
