Crisis Communications in a Post-Pandemic World: Planning for the Next Phase in Crisis Communications
The COVID-19 pandemic raised the bar for what qualifies as "being prepared". In this session Greg will share with you how the crisis landscape is changing and what are the new crisis dynamics that are affecting businesses in Canada and around the world.
Greg Vanier, VP, Crisis and Reputation Risk & National Lead of Data Security and Privacy, Edelman Canada
The Importance of Quick Transformation of Your Crisis Communications Strategy: Case Study by Mayo Clinic
Ginger Plumbo is a communications manager at Mayo Clinic, a top-ranked nonprofit organization committed to clinical practice, education and research, with locations in Rochester, Minnesota; Jacksonville, Florida; and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Arizona. In this session, she will share with you the importance of quick transformation of your communications strategy in times of unprecedented crisis. Ginger will also share her thoughts on the importance of innovation and adaption while working 100% remotely, how to successfully manage the flood of media requests during crisis and successfully craft your media relations strategy for local and regional media vs. national and international media during a crisis.
Ginger Buxa Plumbo, Communications Manager, Issues & Crisis Communications, Mayo Clinic
The Importance of Seeing a Crisis Before It’s a Crisis
The COVID-19 crisis is not over yet, but a different crisis may be waiting around the corner, just as we are at our most exhausted and vulnerable. In this session, Matt will lift your vision and energy to make sure your organization is fully crisis communications ready. He will share with you tips on how to identify potential crises, detect early warning signs for a crisis to minimize the damages, and understand the relationship between advance preparation and speed in crisis communications.
Matt Wood, Director, Communications and Marketing, University of Northern British Columbia
Lunch for Speakers and Delegates
Understand the Role of Data in Crisis Planning
“Only 30% of marketers and PR pros say they conduct a risk assessment of potential threats to their brand’s reputation about once per year.” - Crisp and PR News
This session will discuss how to use data effectively. It is not just about uncovering what happened “after” a crisis, it is about being prepared before the crisis, being able to make real-time decisions during the crisis, digesting what to takeaway as lessons for the next crisis, and how to understanding what the long-term impact is. This session will focus on a different way of thinking about data and provide clear recommendations on how to use data for your next crisis situation.
Ukwori Ejibe, Senior Communications Specialist, TC Energy, Former COVID-19 Crisis Communications Lead, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
Rolling With The Punches: My experience Working Though Fires, Floods, and Uncertainty
Jordan led municipal communications during the response to and recovery from the 2016 Wood Buffalo wildfires and, more recently, led a contracted support team during the community’s flood response and recovery efforts during their flood event in 2020. His presentation will provide a first-hand perspective of communicating through natural disasters and the lessons he has learned while communicating in adverse, dynamic, and uncomfortable environments.
Jordan Redshaw, Director, NATIONAL Public Relations
Understand the New Rules of Crisis communications in a Hostile Cyber Risk Landscape
According to The Economist, if the prize resource of the 20th century was oil, the prize resource of the 21st century is data.
Information is the currency of today’s world order. Boards and business leaders have been forced to learn how to adapt to the risks that cybersecurity issues pose to their businesses.
The learning curves have been, in many cases, steep and costly. Our business landscape is littered with examples and case studies of organizations that either severely underestimated the threats and risks posed by the lack of robust and secure networks, or they were ill equipped to manage and handle their response expediently and effectively, thereby affecting their reputations and consequently their businesses.
And as we continue to innovate, evolve, and enhance our communications and information networks, the risk exposure rises exponentially. COVID-19’s forced pivot to working from home, only exacerbates the situation. Everything is now fair game – from remote networks to your VPN’s, to your organization’s privacy and security.
Cybercriminals are drooling and rubbing their hands with glee at this time. This is prime time for hacking, phishing, and other related nefarious activities when your data is most at risk and your IT team is stretched and focussed on other priorities.
And as the cyberattacks increase in frequency and severity, companies face another challenge. Those looking to purchase insurance against cyberattacks in which their data is held for ransom, will soon find it more expensive and difficult to obtain.
In this presentation, Shafiq Jamal will dive into the current cybersecurity landscape, helping you get a handle on how attacks are evolving and the way these attacks are being launched. Looking at industry best practices, he will help you understand what you need to do to ensure your organization is well equipped to handle your organization’s response to future attacks.
Shafiq Jamal, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Weber Shandwick
Networking and Refreshment Break
Mini Interactive Workshop With Kathryn Kolazek, CEO at Alchemy Communications: Crisis Communications: Essentials to Building your Plan
Is your organization prepared to handle a communications crisis?
In a world where outrage travels fast, and the list of brands and individuals facing a 'cancel culture' backlash grows longer, a crisis is likely no longer a matter of if - but when. By being prepared, you can move your organization from a place of reaction towards a mindset of accountability, avoiding missteps, mitigating damage, and rebuilding trust more quickly.
In this workshop, Alchemy Communications CEO Kathryn Kolaczek will lead you through common crisis or 'cancellation' scenarios your organization could face and help you build a plan and sharpen the tools you need to navigate a crisis confidently and authentically.
About Alchemy Communications
Alchemy Communications is a full-service Public Relations firm specializing in traditional and social media strategy and integration, and strategic communications management, including crisis communications. Led by CEO Kathryn Kolaczek, Alchemy has created and executed crisis communications strategies for brands managing national and international product recalls, board governance issues, employee injuries and death as well as environmental crises. In times of brand stress, Alchemy works to create and clarify the key messages, control the conversation, and offer support to media and communities in need of accurate and timely information.
End of Day One
A Full Day Crisis Communications Workshop With Kim Blanchette, Senior Vice President and GM (Western Canada) | National Lead, Indigenous Engagement & Communication, Argyle: Mastering Crisis Communications in a Post-Pandemic World
The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as, political and societal turmoil, have raised the bar for what qualifies as “being prepared” and as a result, many organizations are now re-evaluating their crisis communications plans for the post-COVID road ahead.
In this interactive workshop, Kim will cover the most important principles of crisis communications in a post-pandemic world, from building and updating your crisis communications playbook, preparing in advance, addressing misinformation to using the right frameworks, tactics to protect your reputation in times of unprecedented changes.
Attending this workshop will enable you to:
- Conduct a vulnerability audit to assess potential crisis scenarios
- Create a core message that can be communicated across all social media channels
- Properly monitor your social media channels for potential problems
- Coach your spokesperson on the tough questions they may face from the media
- Engage the media and address misinformation and negative commentary
Part 1:
- Analyzing The Importance Of Reputation And Reputation Management: What is Reputation?
- Building trust
- Case studies of good and bad examples of reputation management
Part 2
Writing a Crisis Plan: The Role of Executives
Part 3
Key Principles of Crisis Management: Writing a Crisis Statement
Part 4
Managing The Media
This segment will include key tips in managing the media, giving broadcast interviews and the essentials of organizing a good press conference.
Part 5
Interactive Crisis Simulation
Participants will be divided into groups and each group will select a spokesperson who will be interviewed on the particular crisis situation. As the crisis develops, other spokespeople will be taken.
The simulation will also include a press conference where the spokespeople have to answer journalist questions.