09:00 - Conference registration and networking
09:30 - Welcome
Advita Patel Chart.PR, FCIPR
CIPR President 2025 and conference chair
09:35 – The Making of a Modern Leader - from scaling businesses and mountains
James Peach
Keynote Speaker, Inspire Action
In this engaging session, James explores the essence of modern leadership through the lens of his diverse global career and personal journey. Drawing from his experiences across a wide range of well-known brands such as Uber, Vinted and Innocent drinks, James shares insights into the leadership traits that drive success in today’s unpredictable landscape. He delves into the importance of adaptability, clear decision-making, and authentic communication. With a blend of business acumen and personal reflection, James offers a compelling perspective on how impactful leadership is cultivated and sustained across cultures and industries.
10:20 - AI: Opportunity, Disruption & the Future of Work
Priya Lakhani OBE
Founder CEO, CENTURY Tech
In this compelling keynote, Priya explores the transformative power of artificial intelligence—demystifying what AI means today, what it could mean tomorrow, and how leaders can harness it to drive strategic advantage. Blending insights on enterprise innovation and workforce evolution, Priya addresses the profound impact of AI across leadership, operations, and talent development.
From AI agents and digital twins to productivity gains and personalised services, the session offers a horizon scan of AI’s most promising applications. Priya will also delve into the shifting relationship between humans and machines, highlighting future-critical skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability, and how organisations can reimagine learning and development to thrive in the age of AI.
11:05 - Break
11:25 - Morning breakout sessions
Session A: From Insight to Impact: The Financial Times’ Journey to AI Confidence (In-person only, not available by live stream)
Lucy Holliday
Senior Employee Communications Manager, Financial Times
Celebrated at the Excellence Awards for its smart, data-driven campaign, we proudly spotlight the Financial Times’ ground-breaking internal initiative. Hear from the team who empowered thousands of employees to embrace AI with confidence—turning complexity into clarity through bold leadership, strategic stakeholder engagement, and practical integration support. As we explore their journey, we uncover the thoughtful planning behind the campaign, the creative ways it reached over 3,000 employees, and the lasting impact it’s made on how teams innovate with purpose.
Session B: Non-Executive Director – A panel discussion (In-person only, not available by live stream)
Farzana Baduel
CEO & Co-founder, Curzon PR
Andy West
Managing Consultant, Westofcenter Consulting
Bridget Aherne
Director, Bridget Aherne Communications
Lornette Harley
Associate Director at MSL
This dynamic panel session will explore the journey to becoming a Non-Executive Director (NED), offering attendees a clear understanding of the process, essential skills, and strategic considerations involved. Our expert panellists will share personal experiences and professional insights to demystify the path to board-level roles. Whether you're considering your first NED role or looking to expand your portfolio, this interactive session will provide valuable guidance and inspiration to help you take the next step with confidence.
Session C: What Journalists Really Need: Strong Visuals & Trusted Experts in the AI Era (In-person only, not available by live stream)
Craig Gunn,
Managing Director, PA Media Assignments
In today’s fast-changing media landscape, journalists face tighter deadlines, declining trust, and the rise of AI-generated content. Yet the need for verified visuals and credible expert voices is greater than ever. Led by Craig Gunn, this session explores how authentic imagery and human-vetted expertise underpin credible reporting and audience engagement. Drawing on UK trust data and industry insights, it shows how verified visuals and expert input enhance impact, credibility, and emotional connection. As AI transforms content discovery, earned media, accurate sourcing, and collaboration between PR and editorial teams become crucial. Gunn will share practical strategies for PR professionals—supplying newsroom-ready visuals, credible experts, and brand-aligned assets that respect editorial integrity. Ultimately, the session reveals how PR–editorial partnerships can sustain trustworthy, engaging journalism in the AI era.
12:05 - Futureproofing Leadership: Building multi-generational teams that drive impact in the age of Gen Z
Josephine Hansom
Gen Z insight & strategy, Keynote speaker, MRS Board Member & Fellow (FMRS)
As Gen Z enters the workforce in record numbers, forward-thinking leaders are discovering that traditional management approaches need evolution, not revolution. This session cuts through the noise to reveal three essential pillars of multi-generational leadership that drive measurable impact as well as actionable strategies you can implement immediately to futureproof your team's success.
12:45 - Lunch
13:45 - Change: Stepping in, not stepping back
Naomi Goodman
Head of Change and Employee Engagement, MHP Group
Change is no longer an occasional disruption - it’s the constant backdrop to modern communications. In this session, Naomi, explores how PR and comms professionals can confidently step into their role as change leaders, moving teams from chaos to calm. Drawing on real-world case studies and practical tools, she unpacks the three dimensions of the “game of change”: functional, relational, and individual. Delegates will leave with strategies to navigate change at every level - organisation, team, and self.
14:25 - Confidence: The ultimate team superpower
Kira Matthews
Mindset and Confidence coach
In a world that moves fast and demands more, the true measure of a leader isn't just strategic prowess—it's the ability to build unshakeable confidence, both for themselves and in those they lead. This isn’t just another leadership talk. Backed by a rich blend of corporate sales experience and career coaching expertise, this session dives deep into the psychology and practice of confidence—what it is, how to grow it, and why it’s the game-changer for high-performing teams. Join Kira for a bold, fresh take on confidence—packed with practical tools and transformative insights to help you lead with certainty and elevate your team from good to exceptional.
15:05 - Break
15:25 - Afternoon breakout sessions
Session A: Comms to CEO - A panel discussion (In-person only, not available by live stream)
Noha Al Afifi
Deputy CEO, Arthritis Action
Annette Spencer
CEO, Association of Corporate Treasurers
Koray Camgöz
CEO, Taylor Bennett Foundation
Darren Caplan
Chief Executive, Railway Industry Association
This engaging panel will explore the unique and transferable skills that comms leaders bring to the C-suite, the professional development paths that have supported their journey so far, and the challenges they currently face in stepping into the CEO role. Panellists will share candid insights and real-world examples, offering practical advice for aspiring leaders. They are also keen to hear about the challenges other aspiring CEOs face – so be prepared to participate in lively discussion, involving differing perspectives, valuable takeaways on leadership, adaptability, and the evolving role of strategic communication at the highest levels of business.
Session B: Daisy vs the Scammers: The AI Granny who started a national conversation on fraud (In-person only, not available by live stream)
Luke Stallard
Head of Corporate Communications at Virgin Media O2
Erin Hayward
Senior Communications Manager at Virgin Media O2
Celebrating the success at the Excellence Awards for its smart, insight-led approach to fraud awareness, we proudly present the brilliant PR minds behind Daisy, the AI granny who wasted scammers’ time.
This award-winning campaign has captivated audiences with its creative storytelling and strategic impact, turning fraud prevention into a fun and engaging national conversation to change consumer behaviour. As we dive into their journey, we uncover the thoughtful strategy that shaped the campaign, including how the team influenced key stakeholders within the business, took calculated risks, the importance of strong media relations, the innovative ways they measured success and impact, and the powerful legacy it leaves behind.
Session C: Navigating your own path: Independent Practitioners lead the way (In-person only, not available by live stream)
Sara Naylor
Co-Chair, CIPR Independent Practitioner Network
Kayleigh-Anne Soryal
Communications Consultant, Love Comms
Vishnee Sauntoo
Senior Communications Strategist and Founder of VS Comms
Ben Veal
Founder, Second Mountain Comms
CIPR’s new kid on the block, the Independent Practitioner Network, hosts an honest and open discussion about becoming independent in the current climate and asks is it worth it? This break-out session is tailored to professionals who are new to freelancing or considering taking the leap. Expect a free-flowing conversation and to quiz seasoned independents who will give a frank insight into the opportunities and perils of life as a professional freelancer.
16:05 - Wired for Wisdom in a World That Won’t Slow Down
Dr Jack Lewis
Neuroscientist, Keynote Speaker, TV Presenter, Author
Dr. Jack Lewis brings cutting-edge neuroscience to life, revealing how understanding the brain’s decision-making processes can lead to more productive, mutually beneficial client outcomes. The session also delves into the impact of technology on the brain, emphasizing the importance of maintaining critical thinking. Gain practical strategies for building resilience and preserving mental health under pressure, essential for thriving in today’s fast-paced world.
16:45 - The Recipe for Successful Leadership
Karen Blackett CBE
Former WPP UK President
This session explores the art of leadership through a personal lens, offering a thoughtful blend of insight, experience, and individuality. With a focus on what makes leadership both effective and human, Karen shares reflections on trust, authenticity, and adaptability—inviting attendees to consider how they show up as leaders and what unique ingredients they bring to the table.
17:25 - Summary and conference close
17:45 - 19:30 - The Cision One After Party
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