08:00 AM | Registrations open 

08:50 AM | Opening remarks from the Chair
Kristy Christie, Chair, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) APAC 

09:00 AM | Utilising data to make smarter and more informed decisions
-Understanding how to incorporate and utilise data as part of your communications strategy
–Assessing what data is relevant and how to effectively collect it
-Best ways of analysing your collected data and creating effective reports
Nicole McKechnie, Execuative Communications, Telstra 

09:40 AM | Panel discussion: Understanding how peoples’ response to communications have changed as a result of COVID-19 and digital fatigue
-Discussing the new challenges communications professionals are facing in today’s world
-Analysing what the future of communications will look like 
-How communications professionals are having to adapt to emerging and changing trends
Caitlin Collins, Head of Communications, 99designs
Alice Mckinnon, Head of Communications, National Transport Commission (NIC)
Judy Shaw, Communications Director, Commercial Radio Australia

10:20 AM | Morning refreshments 

Engaging your stakeholders in the new world 
Internal Communications

10:50 AM | Communicating and engaging with your employees in the new digital world
-Creating a new natural spread of communication online
-How to ensure employees remain connected in a hybrid workforce
Nicole Lyons, Head of Communications, AGL  

11:30 AM | Communicating effectively with a diverse audience
-How to embed inclusiveness into your communications strategy
-Utilising communications to promote diversity and inclusion to the core of the company and its policies
-Ensuring all company-wide communications follows an inclusive protocol
Cori Drogemuller, Head of Communications, CISCO ANZ

12:10 PM | Networking luncheon 

1:10 PM | Creating an executive communications plan
-Listening to employees and ensuring messages and feedback is passed on to the executive level
-Analysing which communications channels are most effective for leaders to reach employees directly
-Creating guidelines for what type of messages comes from which leader and ensuring consistent messaging and tone
-Building employee trust through leadership communications campaigns that demonstrate willingness to adjust to employees’ needs and wants
Cathy Jamieson, Head of Communications, PayPal  

1:50 PM | Measuring the ROI on your internal communications strategy and campaigns
-Identifying and setting measurable metrics that measure employee engagement, including innovation, productivity, growth and retention
-Creating benchmarks tailored to your organisation and setting realistic timelines
-How to utilise analytics tools to focus on “hows” and “whats” and putting it in relation to outputs and outcomes 
Rachelle Bryant, Internal Communications Manager, Aware Super  

External Communications

10:50 AM | Cutting through the media’s COVID agenda and getting your story through
-Understanding what media look for when picking a story
-Spinning your narrative to fit their agenda whilst staying true to your objectives
-Using the right channels to get through
Emma Jane Edwards, Director – Media and Communications M&C Saatchi Group 

11:30 AM | Building successful external relationships remotely
-Knowing when to engage and how to create a two-way communication stream that allows for transparency and active listening
-Collaborating with your stakeholders through consultation and inputs in an online environment
-Building a two-way advocacy and championing your stakeholder’s needs 
Diana Wolken, Communications Manager, New Zealand Medical Association

12:10 PM | Networking luncheon 

1:10 PM | Developing compelling and relatable storytelling models to enhance understanding and engagement 
-Developing strategic content to raise awareness and understanding of RFDS health services
-Developing engaging storytelling that focuses on outcomes rather than actions
-Building empathy and trust among your clients and stakeholders
-Utilising meaningful partnerships to strengthen communication messaging and reach
Jonathan Green, Communications and Marketing Manager, Royal Flying Doctors Service Victoria 

1:50 PM | Measuring the ROI on your external communications strategy and campaigns
-Knowing what, when and how to measure
-Setting measurable metrics and KPI in line with your communication goals to business objectives
-How to effectively monitor and evaluate your strategies and campaigns
Antonia Vann, Senior Marketing and Brand Manager, Museums Victoria 

2:30 PM | Afternoon tea 

3:00 PM | How to effectively use video as a communications tool
-The benefit of video
-How to use video effectively (at a single video level and at a comms company level)
-What video types are impactful
Mo Macrae, Film Director

3:40 PM| Doing more with less: Communications on a shoestring
-How to maximise the results from your existing communications channels
-Prioritising and better utilising external partners
-Leveraging from existing communications channels and internal influencer network
Reid Sexton, Group Head – External Communications, Asahi Beverages 

4:20 PM | Closing remarks from the Chair and end of day one 

08:00 AM | Registrations open 

08:50 AM | Opening remarks from the Chair
Zora Artis , immediate Past Chair, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) APAC
 

09:00 AM | Creating highly responsive and agile communications in time of crisis 
-Managing multiple demands from internal and external stakeholders 24x7 
-Communicating with purpose and maximising engagement 
-Balancing transparency with the need to manage the potential for heightening anxiety
David Hawkins, Managing Director, SOCOM

09:40 AM | Enabling for smooth transitions by creating a change communication framework 
-Assessing the situation and creating response plan to potential scenarios and risks 
-Analysing your stakeholders and identify how each one will be impacted by potential change 
-How to collaborate and engage your internal and external stakeholders to create strong brand presence 
Emily Fardoulys, National Communications Manager, Ramsay Health

10:20 AM | Morning refreshments 

Communicating through change, transformation, and crisis
Internal Communications

10:50 AM | Being prepared: Developing an internal crisis communication strategy 
-When and how to start planning for a crisis  
-Acting quickly and strategically to stop the spread of misinformation and uncertainty 
-Developing a post-crisis analysis framework to make adjustments and improvements for next time 
Megan McPherson | BA, BCom, MPRINZ, CMInstD, Director of Communications, University of Otago

11:30 AM | Driving a strategic communications strategy 
-Providing clear communications and a transparent vision for the future 
-Drive positive behavioural change amongst employees and ensure there’s personalised massaging and communications 
-Creating a two-way communication stream to encourage ongoing feedback and input 
-Setting KPIs and measuring your progress for ongoing adjustments and continued evaluation 
Alistair Marshall, Head of Internal Communications, Coles  

12:10 PM | Networking lunch 

1:10 PM | Communication through transformation: engaging employees in the face of uncertainty 
-How Schneider Electric prepared its employees for agile working during COVID-19 
-Discussing the number one consideration for your change communications strategy 
-Collaboration is critical: how communications creates and encourages ongoing employee feedback and input 
-When digital is your only option, how to drive employee engagement through an effective channel mix and how it’s changes overall comms approach for the foreseeable future
Elyse Glenn, Corporate Communications Manager, Schneider Electric 

1:50 PM | Enhancing employer branding and culture 
-Communicating clear values and missions that your employees can identify with 
-Including your employees in your internal branding development 
-Adopting software for employees access company information that is shareable to their own networks
Lavinia Rajaram, APAC Head of Communications, Expedia 

External Communications

10:50 AM | How to communicate change to external stakeholders 
-Understanding your different stakeholders as well as how they relate to the company and each other 
-Understanding your stakeholders’ unique needs and how they will be impacted by change and provide clear, transparent messaging around the future 
-The what and how: Tailoring your communication to each stakeholder with the right messaging and use of channel 
Kelly Fisk, Head of Communications, IRESS

11:30 AM | Developing stakeholder relationships and collaborations for increased engagement and longevity 
-Identifying your essential stakeholders and who’ll be involved from beginning to end  
-Setting clear roles and responsibilities 
-Creating a framework with set objectives, timelines and resources 
-Embedding agility into your framework and space for ongoing consultation and amendments 
Julie Tomar Head of Marketing and Communications Catholic Healthcare 

12:10 PM | Networking lunch 

1:10 PM | Utilising storytelling models as an engagement tool to rebuild trust
-How to utilise storytelling to build empathy and trust among your clients and stakeholders
-Adjusting your language, structure and format to your audience
-Getting your audience involved to spark conversation, create ripple effects and generate future story opportunities
Shawn Callahan, Founder, Anecdote

1:50 PM | Enhancing your company’s brand reputation 
-How to collaborate and engage your community stakeholders through digital platforms to create strong brand presence  
-Establishing collaborative partnerships digitally for positive outcomes  
-Collecting, monitoring data to improve on feedback and ensuring you deliver on promises
Jacob Fitzgibbon, Communications Manager, Data Zoo

2:30 PM | Afternoon refreshments 

3:00 PM | Alignment: Unlocking the value of your people
• The impact that alignment can have on an organisation
• Why is alignment a blind spot for the C-suite and communication leaders?
• Four steps and five principles for communication if you are to succeed in building and maintaining alignment
Zora Artis, CEO, Artis Advisory

3:40 | Panel discussion: How to get a seat at the executive table 
-Identifying the barriers to being part of the executive decision-making process 
-Building a business case as to why to be included 
-Addressing the importance of data and results 
Nicole McKechnie, Director of Communications, Telstra
Cathy Jamieson, Head of Communications, PayPal
Julie Toma, Head of marketing and Communications, Catholic Healthcare 

4:20 PM | Closing remarks from the Chair and end of day two