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Well, we are over the June hill and heading into the second half of 2025! It has been a busy first six months, and the CTPA Team continues to progress the ambitious workplan, that I shared with you in my January DG Insights, working on the key workstreams of UK and EU Regulations, Science, Sustainability, International, Communications and Public Affairs.
#CTPAis80
Of course, 2025 is CTPA’s 80th anniversary year, with the Association having been incorporated on 23 August 1945.
I am sure you will understand if I start by talking about the flagship event of our celebrations, the 80th Anniversary Dinner on 12 June.
It was a privilege and a joy to welcome so many friends – from Government, members, stakeholders and those who have worked with CTPA over the years. There was a wonderful buzz in the room, and a shared appreciation of our amazing industry.
I would urge you to watch the CTPA Anniversary Movie “A Story That We Share”, premiered at the dinner. It is a tribute to our collective journey - past, present and future - and to the Association’s achievements and strength, expressively told through the voices of numerous CTPA members and stakeholders. The movie may be watched on the CTPA website here: Celebrating 80 Years ; please share it with your colleagues internally to make sure they are part of this milestone, enjoy membership benefits and engage with our work! Share it also externally (using the hashtag #CTPAis80) and celebrate our collective achievements as an industry and our shared vision for the future!
I’d like to thank all those who contributed to the movie and who attended the Anniversary dinner. Special thanks go to all members of the CTPA Team who played their part in preparing for the dinner - including our Communications and Marketing Manager Heloise Prieur, our Membership Officer Julia Hewitt and our Communications Officer Eleanor O'Connor, on the movie campaign and the branding; Jana Mona, Head of Financial Services for keeping us on track with the budget; Alex Kadzeya, Office Services Facilitator and Georgina Laing, Executive Assistant to the Director-General with guest support; but in particular Natascha Kilts, CTPA Technical Project Manager, for masterminding and organising the event.
UV Safety
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Beauty and Wellbeing has been reconvened after last year’s General Election. The APPG is Chaired by Carolyn Harris MP.
The first action by the APPG is an Inquiry into the safety of UV, which was officially launched on 21 May: https://www.baw-appg.co.uk/inquiries-toolbar. This is such an important topic, and I was pleased to attend the launch and to be contributing to the essential public debate on sun protection.
The APPG Inquiry has issued a Call for Evidence, which is open until 31 October 2025. The APPG is also holding oral evidence sessions throughout the course of the inquiry. I was honoured to be invited to attend the first oral evidence session on 18 June.
While we can acknowledge the positive impact on our wellbeing of enjoying time outdoors, it is so important that we discuss the dangers of spending too much time in the sun unprotected. It is a fine balance of making sure we do not damage our skin and the deeper layers of cells when exposed to too many UV rays, which cannot only cause sunburn and premature ageing but UV rays are also attributed to causing skin cancers of several kinds.
CTPA contributes to the public health communications on sun with annual Sun Protection Campaigns highlighting important information to consumers about how to enjoy the sun safely. See the 2025 campaign here.
Congratulations!
The Society of Cosmetics Scientists (SCS) is a very special part of my journey in the cosmetics industry.
I’d like to extend my congratulations to the new SCS President, Dan Whitby, who was elected at the SCS AGM in May. Dan is extremely inspirational, and I am looking forward to seeing what his presidency holds.
Many thanks to out-going President, and now Immediate Past President, John Lofthouse for an excellent tenure in what has been a challenging year for John.
I am delighted that Astrid Bodard has been elected the new Vice-president.
I also have to congratulate and thank Gem Bektas, Head of Operations, and all the Secretariat team, for the amazing work they do.
I am pleased that Caroline Rainsford, Director of Science, is a member of the SCS Council.
The Society is in very capable hands.
The SCS is such an important organisation for our industry. If you are not a member, please consider joining.
I’d like to finish with some words from my speech at the 80th Dinner: CTPA – 4 letters behind which stands a powerful association, strong of over 230 members and rich of an 8-decade long history.
80 years championing Cosmetic Science, Innovation and Excellence throughout all that we do, as an association and in collaboration with our members and valued partners.
CTPA, your Association - working for you, for 80 years and counting
