ABU DHABI: A two-day conference on reputation management opens on Wednesday at the Yas Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
The forum titled "Reputation Management: Emerging Trends, Changing Dynamics" will focus on the challenges faced by public relations (PR) professionals in the Gulf region, and set a road map for effective communication in the post-crisis world.
A number of international and local business leaders, media figures and PR experts will discuss the key trends and issues shaping communications in the Middle East.
Several pertinent issues including an evaluation of how the PR professionals in the region are equipped to address reputation management issues will be addressed by the conference.
The agenda includes several compelling panel sessions, which will feature renowned speakers from international and regional markets.
Tim Sebastian, former BBC journalist and founder of the internationally renowned Doha Debates, will moderate the keynote sessions.
Among the speakers are Arab News Editor in Chief Khaled Almaeena, Kanoo Group's Deputy Chairman Mishal Kanoo, IPRA Global President Richard Linning, Al-Majdouie Group of Companies' President Abdullah Al-Majdouie, and Abdulla Al-Zamil, chairman, Zamil Industrial Investment and Zamil Group Holding Company.
"From banking to telecom to the property sector, many companies and governments in the Gulf region were jolted from their comfort zones during the financial crisis and the Arab spring, and realized that communication with their stake holders was critical to the health of their reputation and indeed their relevance. We want to ensure governments and companies in the region understand how important their reputations are, and how they need to work harder to protect their brands and their image," Faisal Al-Zahrani, president of IPRA-GC, said in a statement.
Sunil John, vice president of IPRA-GC and CEO of ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller, said: "The timing of the conference is very apt and will play a key role in setting the agenda for the PR industry in the Gulf. We need to ask ourselves, do we have the talent, the skills, and the resources to create public opinion not just locally, but on a global scale that truly represents the growing importance of the Gulf region."
The conference is held with the support of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al-Nahyan, minister of public works and chairman of the National Media Council and the Gulf chapter of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA-GC).
© Arab News 2011
