2017 Year of Crisis Communication?

Let’s Talk, a specialized and high-profile communication forum announced today the agenda of its upcoming event under the title “Crisis Communication: Riding out the Storm – Trends, Challenges & Best Practices” that takes place on 8-9 March at the Address Hotel Dubai Mall.

Covering all the key pillars that impact any organization’s crisis communication strategy, the event hosts a wide array of top communication experts, senior officials and policy makers ranging from aviation, broadcast, government and representatives from global digital and media consultancies as well as some of the region’s top media outlets.

The agenda features an opening panel that discusses the general state of the communication industry, how crisis is becoming a recurring situation and therefore crisis communication and training is an in-demand service from the client side as well as media professionals. It is a panel through which some of the region’s best strategists will be sharing expert perspectives to change how companies deal with crisis due to the ubiquity of the internet and social media reach and adoption.

For the first time, the event will host an agency- client debate that will answer the question: “Is the region getting its share of expertise when it comes to providing the right level of consultancy services in crisis communication?”

The event features spotlights of individuals and organizations who will be sharing their experience on both personal and enterprise level to an audience from the government and private sector.

This comes as part of an industry-related event series across the region under the title Let’s Talk! The same theme will be replicated in different countries including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Egypt in the same year.

“We are thrilled to launch this initiative across the region. It is an unorthodox approach to crisis communication where we are looking at more niche, focused topics to discuss this year,” said Mohammed El Batta, Managing Director, Fekra Communications and head of Let’s Talk organizing team.

“The world is clearly going through several shocks this year such as Brexit, the US elections and hence changing the rules of the game. Our region is also witnessing immense economic, social and geopolitical volatility; which affects governments, businesses and individuals. Leaders’ ability to handle crises and maintain clear and present communication has never been more important,” added El Batta.

The conference will be followed by an intensive training workshop to be held on the second day of the event (9th March) which offers a theoretical background as well as a practical crisis simulation. Participants will be learning the principles of crisis management in an interactive and engaging set up with Hicham El Amrani, an internationally-certified media trainer and crisis expert.

For more information on the conference and training, please visit the event website