Registration and Morning Coffee

Opening Keynote
The AI Journey at Amazon: Transforming Communications Through Innovation
In this keynote, you will take us behind the scenes of Amazon’s AI journey in communications—how it all began, the challenges faced, and the lessons learned along the way. From early experimentation to large-scale implementation, you will share the story of how AI is reshaping communication strategies at Amazon, offering insights and practical takeaways for communicators navigating their own AI transformation.
Kelly A. Nantel, Director, Global Media Relations, Amazon

AI & Ethics: Building Trust Through Responsible Innovation
As communicators adopt AI at scale, the stakes are higher than ever. How do we harness its potential without sacrificing trust? This session explores three essential dimensions of ethical AI in communications: building guardrails to ensure responsible use, balancing innovation with integrity to avoid bias, exploitation, and harm, and practicing transparency and accountability when sharing AI practices with stakeholders. Through practical insights and real-world examples, you’ll learn how to position your organization as both innovative and trustworthy in an AI-driven world.
Sarah Fornia, Director, National Communication, Providence

Implementing AI in Communications: From Hype to Reality – Building a Scalable AI Strategy
AI is no longer just a buzzword—it’s becoming a practical tool reshaping how communicators plan, create, and measure impact. But moving from experimentation to scalable implementation requires more than enthusiasm; it demands clear strategy, governance, and alignment with organizational goals. This session explores how to cut through the hype, identify where AI truly adds value, and design a framework that balances innovation with responsibility. You’ll gain practical insights on building a roadmap for adoption, scaling successful pilots, and ensuring your AI strategy enhances both efficiency and trust in communications.
Justin Fansler, Senior Director, Communications Strategy, Product Innovation, and Engineering, Yale School of Medicine

Lunch for Speakers and Delegates

Session: TBC

AI à la Mode: 40 Flavors of Smart Ideas for MarComm Leaders
A rapid-fire scoop of practical, creative ways to put AI to work today. From writing sharper copy to breaking down big decisions, this session dishes up 40 real-world use cases you can take back to your team immediately. You’ll see how AI can save hours on repetitive tasks, spark new creative angles, and strengthen strategy, without replacing the human touch that makes communication authentic. Whether you’re curious, cautious, or already experimenting, you’ll leave with fresh inspiration, tested examples, and the confidence to start using AI in ways that matter.
Dr. Carrie Phillips, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer , University of Arkansas at Little Rock 

The New Creative Brief: Training AI to Think Like Your Brand
As AI tools become integral to brand storytelling, communicators are faced with a new challenge: how to ensure AI reflects the unique voice, tone, and values of their brand. This session will explore practical ways to brief and guide AI tools just as you would a creative agency—aligning outputs with your brand DNA while retaining creative integrity and control.
Sascha Brodsky, Editorial Director & Senior Writer, AI, IBM

Networking and Refreshment Break

Deepfakes and Disinformation: Navigating the New Frontlines of Crisis Response
The rise of AI-fueled disinformation and hyper-realistic deepfakes has created one of the greatest challenges modern communicators will ever face. False narratives spread faster than facts, eroding trust and destabilizing reputations in minutes. This session will uncover how disinformation campaigns are built and deployed, the vulnerabilities they exploit, and the profound risks they pose for organizations, leaders, and society at large. Most importantly, you’ll learn proven strategies for detecting, countering, and mitigating these threats before they spiral out of control. From advanced monitoring tools to rapid-response protocols, this session provides the insights you need to defend credibility in a world where seeing is no longer believing.
Dave Fleet, Managign Director, Global Head of Digital Crisis, Edelman

AI in the Newsroom: Redefining Journalism and Its Impact on Communicators
AI is rapidly reshaping the news ecosystem, from how stories are discovered and verified to how audiences consume information. For communicators, this shift has profound implications: journalists are experimenting with AI to accelerate research, detect misinformation, and tailor content, while media outlets are rethinking editorial processes and ethical standards. This session will explore how these changes are redefining the relationship between journalists and communicators, what new skills and approaches are required to engage effectively with AI-driven newsrooms, and how organizations can adapt their storytelling strategies to remain credible and relevant in this evolving landscape.
Yumi Wilson, Professor, San Francisco State University

End of Day One