Welcome Cocktail
Date: Oct. 11
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Dress code: Business casual
Location: The Penthouse at FIVE Palm Jumeirah
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Day 1 – People and Purpose
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Link to: Gala Dinner – 2023
GALA DINNER
DAY 1 – OCTOBER 12
PEOPLE AND PURPOSE
9:00
ICCO Welcome to the 26 th ICCO Global Summit
Francis Ingham, Chief Executive, ICCO
Nitin Mantri, outgoing President, ICCO & CEO, AvianWE
Grzegorz Szczepanski, Vice President & CEO, Hill+Knowlton, Poland
09:15
People-Centric Culture Drives Global Performance
Jo-Ann Robertson, President – Global Markets, Ketchum
VIEW DESCRIPTION
PR agencies are most effective when embodying the change, they seek to create in the world. International firms with dispersed teams across vast global territories deliver the best result when they maintain shared values and purpose. Jo-ann shares tangible insights from her vast experience and wide-ranging global role at Ketchum.
09:55
Front Row on the Vibe Shift
Gail Heimann, CEO, Weber Shandwick
VIEW DESCRIPTION
Change is everywhere today. But changes in culture can be harder to spot and easier to misinterpret – with big consequences for a company’s reputation. Join Gail Heimann, CEO of Weber Shandwick, for a front row seat on the sometimes momentous, often eye-opening cultural shifts. These shifts present a new opportunity for organizations as they seek to integrate business strategy and communications strategy. Because today, the observation of culture alone doesn’t cut it – organizations must shape culture, and add value to it, in order to deliver bold, brave, world-changing ideas.
10:25
Keep Up! Talent Strategies for Rapid Expansion
Moderator: Maja Pawinska Sims, Associate Editor, PRovoke
Abdul-Rahman Risilia, Founder and CEO of ARC Talent – moderator
Eva Sogbanmu, Director of Communications, Asia Pacific, JLL
Heather Kernahan, CEO, Hotwire
VIEW DESCRIPTION
11:00
Break
11:20
GWPR Index Results (Live Launch)
Sue Hardwick, Co-Founder, Global Women in PR
VIEW DESCRIPTION
Find out the results and analysis for the first sharing of the most expansive global PR survey on the challenges and opportunities for women in PR.
11:30
Harnessing the Flexibility Revolution for a New Kind of Leadership (30 mins)
Moderator: Sue Hardwick, Co-Founder, Global Women in PR
Rachel Dunne, Microsoft, Communication Director
Neha Mehrotra – Executive Vice President Avian WE and board member of GWPR India
Ana Maria Diceanu, Founder and CEO, Brain 4 Strategy & GWPR President Romania
Vanessa Tan, Associate Director, Consulting & Head of Public Relations, That Marketing Guy
VIEW DESCRIPTION
A panel of senior comms leaders from across the globe discuss the results of the brand new GWPR Index, drawing analysis on issues including flexibility, agism, recruitment and nurturing top talent. The panel will discuss what solutions, strategies and approaches can be used to solve some of the industry’s toughest challenges.
12:00
At the Heart of Rapid Change
Mohamed Al Ayed, CEO, TRACCS
VIEW DESCRIPTION
Mohamad will share stories, insights and lessons from the dramatic changes experienced the middle east and the impact on business and communication over the last ten years.
12:20
MENA 2022: Business as Usual or Brave New World?
Moderator: Julian Boulding, Founder, thenetworkone
Shereen Bushehri, Vice President of Innovation and Managing Director – Bahrain, of TRACCS
Dina Samhout, General Manager of Acorn Strategy in Abu Dhabi
Dana al Mubaidin, Founder of DaBuzz Consulting
VIEW DESCRIPTION
A panel of straight-talking independent agency owners and clients from the Middle East will look at the breathtaking pace of change across the vast region and assess the real-world impact of progress on the PR business landscape.
13:00
Lunch
14:00
Split into two rooms:
14:00
PR’s Role in Media Literacy and Education
Panel: Juergen Gangoly, Founder, Agency Experts
Massimo Moriconi, General Manager, Omnicom Italy
VIEW DESCRIPTION
Following the publication of ICCO’s whitepaper with Council of Europe, looking at misinformation and the role or PR agencies, the panel will discuss exactly what PR firms, institutions and networks can contribute to tackling this issue and educating the public, alongside other media stakeholders.
14:00
India Insights and Trends
Nitin Mantri, CEO, AvianWE
Deeptie Sethi, CEO PRCAI
Atul Sharma, MD, Ruder Finn India
Ashwani Singla, Founding Managing Partner, Astrum
Abhilasha Padhy, Co founder and Jt MD, 80 DB Communications
VIEW DESCRIPTION
The panel will examine some of the common challenges, opportunities, and trends across this vast region. Discussion will include growth and investment, talent, and recruitment, differing platforms and ways to reach audiences depending on regions as well as adoption of new comms tech and tools.
14:30
Ethics in the Face of Business and Client Pressures
Mary Beth West, Senior Strategist, Fletcher PR
Maxim Behar, CEO, M3 Communications
Eric Schell, Executive Chairman, The Global Diwan
Francis Ingham, Chief Executive, ICCO; & Director-General, PRCA
VIEW DESCRIPTION
Whether in the context of internal corporate whistleblowing or a nation’s citizenry seeking to take a rightful stand in war-torn regions of the world, the ability to speak truth to power – forging meaningful change in service to society – is arguably PR’s most compelling stock-in-trade. Hear from this panel, as they explore the ethics of communications, PR, and social justice in highly retaliatory environments, in which threats by bad actors may involve more than just one’s livelihood.
15:00
Break
15:15
15:45
Global Diversity Strategy, Local Diversity Action
Moderator: Sudha Singh, Founder, The Purpose Room
Perece Kirigiti, Regional HR Director for Middle East & Africa, Kantar
VIEW DESCRIPTION
The panel will explore how organizations operating across diverse regions with hugely varying local demographics approach diversity and inclusion with cultural intelligence and in locally appropriate action in way.
16:15
Fireside chat with Donna Imperato
Donna Imperato, CEO, BCW
Moderator: Maja Pawinska Sims, Associate Editor, PRovoke
VIEW DESCRIPTION
Before taking the helm of BCW, Donna served for 15 years as CEO of Cohn & Wolfe, driving the evolution of the agency from a revered boutique to a renowned international powerhouse attracting great talent and companies looking for bold, breakthrough ideas.
Award winning journalist, Maja Pawinska Sims will discuss with Donna the themes of the conference and what it takes for a bold agency leader to ‘Be The Change’.
16:55
End of Day One Conclusions
Grzegorz Szczepanski, President, ICCO
VIEW DESCRIPTION
DAY 2 – OCTOBER 13
TECHNOLOGY, CREATIVITY AND YOUTH
09:00
Welcome Back
Vice President – Heather Kernahan
09:05
A Responsible Revolution – Harnessing AI to Transform Communication
Katie King, Published Author; CEO of AI in Business; APPG AI; Ethics Advisor at RAD AI; Consultant at Rialto
VIEW DESCRIPTION
Welcome to the Engagement Age, where digital KPIs are key for comms. Customers are more connected to their favourite brands than ever before, engaging in constant conversation, and sharing their experiences with their peers online. Products go viral and sell out overnight, and negative word-of-mouth spreads like wildfire. In this session, Katie King, author and consultant on artificial intelligence (AI), will share how businesses can harness the power of technology to create memorable experiences, connect with their audiences, and gain the competitive advantage. Katie will share real world examples from the world of comms, information on the top tools and vendors disrupting the space, and best practice gleaned from her own 30-year career in marketing and PR to deliver this powerful, pragmatic and highly topical session.
09:50
The State of Journalism vs. the State of PR 2022
Moderator: Natan Edelsburg, Chief Revenue Officer, Muck Rack
Leila Gharagozlou, Senior Editor and Report, S&P Global
Rashi Sen, Editor, Travel and Tourism News Dubai
VIEW DESCRIPTION
Combining the research from these two comprehensive research reports, a panel of journalists and agency heads will examine must-know takeaways about how journalists prefer to be pitched and the platforms valued most by journalists and PR in different regions, discussing the shifting dynamic, responsibilities between the two.
10:20
10:20 APAC Insights and Trends,
Moderator: Nitin Mantri, CEO, AvianWE
Pranav Rastogi, Managing Director, Redhill
Eva Sogbanmu, Director of Communications, Asia Pacific, JLL
Vanessa Tan | Associate Director, Consulting & Head of Public Relations
VIEW DESCRIPTION
The panel will examine some of the common challenges, opportunities, and trends across Asia Pacific.
11:00
Break
11:25
PR & Comms: Valuable Asset or Unnecessary Expense?
Richard Bagnall, CEO Europe and Americas, CARMA
VIEW DESCRIPTION
The ongoing unstable geo-political situation has meant that comms and PR budgets are under more scrutiny from client Finance Directors than ever before. To defend and enhance our budgets, comms professionals must be able to point to the organisational value of our work, not just outputs and activity. What must you urgently do to succeed in this challenging environment? In this session, learn clear next steps on how meaningful measurement can take your agency from being perceived as a cost-centre to critical value-creator.
11:55
Winning the Battle For Truth
Dina Demyrovych, CO-Founder, DATALION
VIEW DESCRIPTION
Online communications and reporting of the Russian invasion of Ukraine can easily become distorted online and misinformation travels far and wide in a globally connected world.
DATTALION is home to the largest free and independent open-source database of photo and video footage from the war in Ukraine, as well as a database of verified eyewitnesses to the horrors of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Dina will explain how this platform is influencing global discussion and narrative and informing people of the truth.
12:25
The Social Media Generation Gap with GPRYB
Victoria Brown, Manager Mutant Communications,
Heather Seet, Consultant, Mutant Communications,
Sweta Fernandes, Account Executive Golin MENA
Moderator: Nitin Mantri
VIEW DESCRIPTION
The 2021 Next Gen PR World Cup winners will shine a light on social media issues through the lens of the next generation, with an emphasis on Southeast Asia and MENA.
13:00
Lunch
14:00
Breakout Sessions:
14:00
Arab Youth Survey Live Launch
Sunil John, President Middle East, BCW
VIEW DESCRIPTION
The annual ASDA’A BCW Arab Youth Survey is the largest survey of its kind, sourcing the views of the Arab world’s largest demographic – 200 million 18 to 24 year olds across 17 states. The survey fills an important gap in the data and insights on this influential community. It informs governments, the private sector, multilateral institutions, and academia on policymaking and future strategy. Learn insights from the live launch.
14:30
The Media Business Intelligence Ecosystem
Johannas Burk, Director – Content Solutions, Press Reader, FIBEP MIBA Head of Comission North America
Sarah Nahawi, Strategic Partnerships, CARMA & FIBEP MIBA Head of Commission MENA
VIEW DESCRIPTION
Discussion on uniting standards across Content, Platforms, Copyright, Technologies and Research to create an ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders.
14:30
Africa Insights and Trends
Moderator: Maja Pawinska Sims, Associate Editor, PRovoke
Kwame Senou, Managing Director, Opinion and Public BCW
Sarah Gooding, Managing Director Africa, WE Communications
Kamal Taibi, Founder, Strateus Group
VIEW DESCRIPTION
The panel will examine some of the common challenges, opportunities, and trends across this vast continent of 54 countries. Discussion will include growth and investment, talent, and recruitment, differing platforms and ways to reach audiences depending on regions – North, South, East, West, as well as adoption of new comms tech and tools.
15:00
Break
15:30
The Impact of CommsTech on Agency, Client, and Public Dynamic
Moderator: Stephen Waddington, Managing Partner, Wadds Inc
Joseph Nalloor, School of Communication, Murdoch University
Mahboob Subuhani, Director – IT Solutions, MEA & APAC, Sigma Software
Jack Richards, Marketing Lead – Northern Europe, Talkwalker
VIEW DESCRIPTION
Sharing two pieces of research, the panel of academics and tech agency leaders will discuss the adoption of commstech, how it be adopting quicker in large organisations and when to avoid using it altogether.
16:00
Standard Chartered Bank
Benkhadra, Wasim, Head of Communications AME, Standard Chartered Bank
VIEW DESCRIPTION
One of the fastest growing and most lucrative aspects of communications is providing strategic counsel for CEOs and business leaders. How can PR and communications leaders an departments ensure this space ‘owned’ by PR and not management consultants.
16:30
Conclusions and Summit 2023 announcement
Grzegorz Szecpanski, CEO, Hill + Knowlton Poland & President, ICCO
VIEW DESCRIPTION