New & Refreshed Strategies For Powerful, Proactive Reputation Management & Redefined, Resilient Corporate Communications To Mitigate Risk & Maximise Impact
4th Annual One-Day, Industry-Led Conference & Networking Exhibition, central London, 17th September 2025
REGISTRATION OPENS
08.15 Registration & Informal Networking
OPENING REMARKS
09.00 GIC Welcome & Morning Co-Chairs’ Opening Remarks
Simon Kutner, Senior Director, Corporate Communications, Prudential plc
Tim Fassam, Director of Public Affairs, Phoenix
AI IN COMMS - PRACTICAL USER CASES
09.10 Benefit From Practical & Proven User Cases & Strategic Insights Into The Transformational Impact Of AI On Communications While Safeguarding Brand Integrity, Reputation & Trust
- Critical questions answered! To what extent is AI changing the PR and comms landscape? How can we maintain authentic communication amidst the explosion of AI?
- Balancing automation and expertise: with AI revolutionising communications, what should be streamlined, and where is human expertise, skill and talent still essential?
- Explore real-world applications of AI which offer practical insights into how organisations can maximise impact whilst maintaining authenticity
Richard Tigges, Director Global Strategic Communications, AUDI AG
PROACTIVE REPUTATION MANAGEMENT: BUILDING RESILIENCE & TRUST IN A CHANGING WORLD
PERSPECTIVE 1
09.30 Adapt Without Compromise To Enhance Resilience, Strengthen Reputation & Embed Brand Values Into The Public Consciousness & Remain Relevant & Responsive In A Changing World
- Reassess the key drivers of your reputation strategies to ensure flexibility whilst staying true to your brand principles
- Stand out and strengthen confidence by implementing proactive strategies that boost trust, increase engagement, and position your brand effectively in the media
- Turn challenges into opportunities by transforming negative press into a catalyst for brand evolution, mitigating long-term damage and reinforcing resilience
James Read, UK External Communications Director, Pfizer
CRISIS MANAGEMENT & COMMS STRATEGIES
PANEL Q&A
BE PREPARED, STAY RESILIENT & EMERGE STRONGER
09.50 Tactical & Practical Crisis Management & Comms Strategies Which Take Back Control Of The Narrative, Reassure Customers & Stakeholders & Protect & Rebuild Brand Reputation
- Stay composed under pressure by developing agile, crisis-ready processes which navigate reputational challenges with confidence
- Proactive crisis planning: regularly assess and refine response strategies to understand the full impact on customers, stakeholders, regulators and employees (to name a few!)
- Seamlessly integrate and embed crisis communication strategies across the organisation to mitigate risk and streamline response efforts
- Post-crisis reflection and recovery: conduct effective debriefs to extract key lessons, identify areas for improvement and future-proof your crisis responses to emerge stronger
Tamara Pickett, Group Communications & External Relations Director, Virgin
James Banks, SVP, Head of External Communications, Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce
Scott Colvin, Group Director of Public Affairs, Aviva
Jo Toscano, Head of Media, RSPCA
Simon Kutner, Senior Director, Corporate Communications, Prudential plc
Joanna Newark, Senior Director Internal & External Communications, Avon
Lucy Pritchard, Director, Corporate Communications UK & Ireland, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc
Nicolas Petteau, External Communications Director, Eurostar
10.20 Morning Refreshment Break With Speed Networking & Peer Discussion Zones
CRISIS MANAGEMENT - CASE STUDY
10.50 Making Decisions When Every Second Counts – & Communicating When Everything Goes Wrong
What happens when a plane makes an unscheduled landing in a remote place – and ends up stuck in the grass? In her keynote, Léa Wertheimer, Head of Corporate Communications at SWISS, takes you inside a real-life aviation incident that tested leadership, teamwork, and crisis communication to the limit. A story about pressure, uncertainty, and the strength of communication when the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Léa Wertheimer, Head of Corporate Communications, Swiss International Air Lines Ltd
11.10 Bonus Session; Reserved For Exclusive Conference Partner
NAVIGATING CHANGING GEOPOLITICS
11.40 Protect Reputation & Strengthen Communications Amidst The Ever-Changing & Increasingly Complex Geopolitical Environment
- Balancing perspectives: how can PR, comms and corporate affairs professionals weigh up the competing views or perceptions of the changing global situation?
- With continued upheaval across the globe, how can comms professionals mitigate potential reputational risks from geopolitical change?
- Ensure alignment between global and local teams so that you have consistent and cohesive messaging around often complex yet emotive topics
Gift Sally Akinyi O, Communications Manager, Womankind Worldwide
MEASURING REPUTATION SUCCESS: PROVING IMPACT, ROI & BUSINESS VALUE
12.00 Evidence The Impact Of Your Reputation Management Strategies To Showcase Brand Image, Improve Internal Engagement & Prove ROI With Robust & Reformed Measurement
- From data to actionable insights, transform reputation metrics into strategic business value
- Discover the latest tools and frameworks to track, assess and report on brand reputation
- Secure stakeholder buy-in by effectively communicating findings to leadership and gain continued support for reputation initiatives
Miles Fletcher, Head of Media & Public Relations, Office for National Statistics
ESG & SUSTAINABILITY COMMS
PANEL Q&A
12.20 Communicate ESG With Confidence, Clarity & Credibility: Demonstrate Your Brand’s Responsibility, Accountability & Interest In ESG & Sustainability Issues To Enhance Reputation With Effective Strategies & Storytelling
- From greenwashing to greenhushing, deep dive into how you can navigate the fine line between credibility and caution when communicating ESG and sustainability efforts
- How can you craft impactful, authentic, yet realistic strategies for market positioning around ESG and sustainable initiatives?
- Cross-functional collaboration: work seamlessly with internal teams to align messaging and reinforce sustainability commitments
- Determine the best ways to demonstrate the value of sustainable comms to onboard staff, engage audiences, and protect the bottom-line
Ed Woolcock, Senior Managing Consultant, Climate & Sustainability Strategy, Marsh
Tim Fassam, Director of Public Affairs, Phoenix
Pearl Saadi, Corporate Communications Director, Guys & St. Thomas Foundation
Coralie Frost, Head of External Communications & Social, OVO
Nicola Morgan-Hulme, UK Communications Director, Arla Foods
12.50 Lunch & Informal Networking For Speakers, Delegates & Partners
13.20 Interactive Hot Topic Peer-To-Peer Discussions
A) Government Relations
B) Comms On A Budget
C) Engaging Media & Journalists
OPENING REMARKS
13.50 Afternoon Co-Chairs’ Opening Remarks
Alex Park, Head of External Communications UK & Continental Europe, CBRE
Jack Roper, Head of Responsible Business & Reputation Strategy, L&G
PROACTIVE REPUTATION MANAGEMENT: BUILDING RESILIENCE & TRUST IN A CHANGING WORLD
PERSPECTIVE 2
14.00 Adapt Without Compromise To Enhance Resilience, Strengthen Reputation & Embed Brand Values Into The Public Consciousness & Remain Relevant & Responsive In A Changing World
- Reassess the key drivers of your reputation strategies to ensure flexibility whilst staying true to your brand principles
- Stand out and strengthen confidence by implementing proactive strategies that boost trust, increase engagement, and position your brand effectively in the media
- Turn challenges into opportunities by transforming negative press into a catalyst for brand evolution, mitigating long-term damage and reinforcing resilience
Jenny Hall, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Royal Mail & International Distribution Services
14.20 Bonus Session; Reserved For Exclusive Conference Partner
THE RISE OF MISINFORMATION & DISINFORMATION
14.50 Navigating The Misinformation Minefield: Protect Trust & Brand Reputation In A Rapidly Evolving Landscape & Particularly In Crisis Situations Where Clarity Is Key
- Tackling misinformation at scale: how can brands stay ahead of fast-moving false narratives, particularly across social media channels?
- Craft clear and effective messaging that informs without unintentionally amplifying misinformation to safeguard your brand from reputational damage
- How can misinformation affect brand perception and bottom-line impact, and what measures can be put in place to combat potential impact?
Jill Pearcy, Director Reputation, The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)
CRITICAL STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT
PANEL Q&A
15.10 Make Waves With Critical Stakeholders To Form Meaningful, Lasting Partnerships Which Empower Your Brand To Navigate Reputation Challenges & Crises With Confidence
- How is your reputation viewed by internal and external stakeholders during times of crisis? What do they expect from your communication strategies and resources?
- Tailor communication across teams and geographies: discover how to adapt stakeholder messaging and engagement at different stages of the communication journey, ensuring relevant and impact across roles and regions
Silvia de Candia, Director of PR & Media Relations, Accor
Sandeep Dhillon, Head of Media Relations, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR)
Miles Evans, Head of UK External Affairs & Policy, Openreach
Elizabeth Arnett, Director, Communications & Brand, AXA
Sophie Timms, Corporate Affairs Director, Kier Group
Edel Clancy, Director of Corporate Affairs, Musgrave Group
Adam Davison, Group Corporate Affairs Director, Holland & Barrett
George Morrison, Director of Global Public Affairs, Arla Foods
15.40 Afternoon Refreshment Break & Informal Networking
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES
DOUBLE PERSPECTIVE
16.10 Harness The Power Of Social Media To Drive Engagement, Enhance Brand Authenticity & Achieve Commercial Success Whilst Protecting Against Reputational Challenges
- How can you develop a strong and distinctive brand voice online which stands out from a competitive crowd, amplifies messaging and boosts reach?
- Implement proactive and strong monitoring systems to detect and manage emerging issues before they escalate
- Optimise your channel strategy and focus efforts on the platforms which best align with your brand and audience for maximum impact
16.10 Sacha Thomas, Internal Communications Content Manager, River Island
16.30 Stacey Minton, SVP, Head of Corporate Affairs, Kyowa Kirin International plc
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION IN COMMS AMIDST A COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT
16.50 As we continue to face complex geopolitical challenges and polarisation, how can comms teams continue to prioritise authentic commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion within communication strategies? Integrate authentic D&I values into your communication strategies, ensuring they resonate amidst complex geopolitical and societal challenges, regardless of external pressures
Heather Campbell, Chief Communication & Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Eurostar
17.10 Afternoon Co-Chairs’ Closing Remarks & Official Close Of Conference
