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Title: Game-Changers: How Junior Communicators are Ready to Change the World Presented By: Mubashira Farooqi, Communications Fellow, FleishmanHillard Highroad Description: Young people are changing the world and junior communicators are leading the charge. As a woman of colour and a visible minority, I have spent my educational and professional career bringing awareness to the value of diverse perspectives. It's about time our industry started taking people like me seriously. In this short presentation, I would aim to share examples of exceptional junior communicators who are changing the world, one city at a time. I would amplify the key tools and strategies that they are using to share their messages in the hopes of inspiring other junior communicators to do the same. As the future of our industry, these communicators hold a deep understanding of the direction we need to create positive and meaningful change - internally within our organizations and across client work. This presentation aims to inspire young communicators while informing senior communicators of the value of our perspectives. Title: From Communication, to Interaction Presented By: Vip Sitaraman, Digital Consultant / Founder Description: 2020 marked a dramatic shift in how organizations & brands communicate: Once upon a time, PR / Business Communications was a one-way street: from HQ, to your audience — not the case in today's online & social world: This past year opened unprecedented conversations between brands & their audiences — and nearly 100% were online, due to Covid-19. Just one example: breakout apps of last year like Community and Clubhouse by enabling celebrities & local influencers to connect directly with their online audiences. The key to staying ahead is not AI, IoT, or AR/VR—though that may help. Future-proof strategy starts with principles, not technology: authentic brands, human connection, interactive content; in short, the shift from publishing content to building experiences. This talk will discuss trends & insights re: interactive digital experiences derived from my own companies' data (ie. from millions of readers at Explica) and that of many household name-brands. Title: Identifying Burnout Among Communicators | Lessons Learnt & Steps To Overcome Presented by: Shaniek Parks, Business Communications Consultant, Cable & Wireless Communications Description: IT'S ABOUT TIME we had a conversation about taking care of ourselves as communication professionals. The PR industry has been labeled as one of the most stressful careers. According to the 2020 Gould + Partners Industry Turnover Report, the average PR agency turnover is 24.5%. Our heavy workloads coupled with the need to be the voice of calm in a crisis have left many stressed to the point of burnout. This reality has become more prevalent during the pandemic because as we support teams internally and lead external company responses, at times we may deprioritize our own wellness. This session will mimic a workshop experience where attendees can reflect on times when they have deprioritized their needs, become present to those actions, and gain actionable strategies to improve their ways of work. Title: A New Kind of Social Capital Ecosystem is the Antidote to a COVID World Presented by: Kylie Taylor, Group Managing Director, Baldwin Boyle Group Description: The complexities of the world exceed our ability to maintain balance and order and ensure safety and security for all. It's about time we came up with a better way. We are beyond sponsorships, corporate giving, social responsibility. Too often they become mere lip service. Just not good enough anymore. Organsiations are called upon to re-evaluate their role in society and to deliver benefits for all. How do organisations get to grips with what they need to do? How do they stay ahead of all stakeholder expectations and stay relevant? It is time for communications leaders to stand up, speak up and be listened to as the people in the room making sense. The session will give alarmingly simple and practical steps on how to build a communications ecosystem for our times. It's the basics done well. Understanding social context. A clear purpose. Smart leadership. Strategic clarity. Authentic engagement. Read more

Presented by: Anthony DeVergillo, Internal Digital Communications Associate, Amicus Therapeutics In 2020 the world was forced to transition from in-person events to fully virtual experiences. This transition started off slow with many unknowns, but over time we adapted and learned what worked best in order for engagement and participation to flourish. In this session you will learn why the virtual side of events should continue even after the pandemic ends, along with virtual best practices and techniques to be as inclusive as possible. You will have the opportunity to hear stories and personal experiences that highlight the importance of inclusive events and be provided with real-life examples of the beneficial impact it has on participants. I guarantee there are people who want to share their unique perspective at your events, but they cannot physically attend due to medical or transportation issues. So isn’t it about time you bring the world to your events AND bring your events to the world? Read more

Presented by: Deborah Gilboa, Family Physician & Resilience Expert, Ask Doctor G The developed world is terrified of stress. For decades we've accepted this narrative: struggle magically makes organizations, teams and individuals stronger; while simultaneously fearing the negative effects of every situation that makes us uncomfortable. Leaders do what they can to reduce and avoid stress for their teams, and teams work to prove to others that their service or product will eliminate stress in order to prove their worth. It's about time to look at the science of strength and success, and confront the fallacies behind the belief that stress is the enemy. Deborah Gilboa, MD (Dr. G), a board certified Family Physician and Resilience Expert, will demonstrate the usefulness of stress to build mental health, the value of addressing change with openness rather than fear, and the strategies to get teams and customers on board. Struggle doesn't make us stronger, but our mental fitness in the face of change can. Read more

Presented By: Mike Pounsford, Founder, Couravel; Howard Krais, Communications Manager, Johnson Matthey; Kevin Ruck, Co-founder, PR Academy This session will develop and explore the insights generated by the IABC Foundation sponsored Listening survey conducted during the pandemic which points the way to how we need to listen in future.   We will highlight key findings about why and how we listen, and the outcomes that good listening delivers in terms of change, innovation and percieved fairness.  We'll help participants explore the methods and approaches to use that generate the best outcomes.  We will show why it is about time to: Address complacency and identify new methods to listen Generate digital insights Challenge leaders to listen to improve organisational performance Move from measurement to insight - from surveys to deeper insights and meaning   The session will combine statistics, stories and discussions.  We'll engage participants by inviting them to work with others on the implications of the findings and their stories of listening challenges and successes. Read more

Presented by: D Mark Schumann, Principal, Re-Communicate & Brad Whitworth, Senior Advisor, Smarp We fill our days fighting the realities of time. Let’s stop the clock, take time to reflect and recommit to what we contribute.  During our busy conference, think of this session as an oasis that offers participants a chance to look at their work, the worlds they hope to change, the lives they want to touch, the difference they need to make.  Reaching beyond the standard lecture with Q and A, this facilitated experience will inspire participants to collectively imagine how to:  Consider how communicators can change the world if we take the time Recognize when it’s time for us to step up and speak out Change how we spend our time (so we can change the world), and Trust how time can heal.  In addition to a meaningful experience for participants who virtually connect, content emerging from the session will be used to create a “time manifesto” available to all conference attendees. Upon completion, participants will be able to: Diagnose: The session’s interactive exercises will help you diagnose how to spend your time as a communicator, resulting in a statement of personal and professional objectives and principles that can define your work Read more

Presented by: Neil Griffiths, Global Head of Diversity, Equality & Inclusion, Environmental Resources Management There is no doubt that diversity, equ(al)ity and inclusion has been a huge part of the discourse in organizations around the world like never before. Most were caught unawares by the events of 2020 and had to race to keep up with the pace of change. There is now enough water under the bridge to know what works and what is less effective. In this session, we will explore the key principles of great DE&I communication, drawing on the lessons of the past year and the organizations who got it right (and those who did not). Expectations on organizations have never been higher, so crafting the right DE&I story is essential. It's about time we focus on what makes authentic, compelling and strategic communication on diversity, equ(al)ity and inclusion. Read more