CoronaCon - Online conference

On the 9 and 16 June the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Greater London Group (CIPR GLG), has announced it will be hosting an online conference for its members, as well as other PR practitioners across the sector. CoronaCon will feature an array of industry leaders who will discuss how the industry has responded to the changing working environment in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The aim of the conference is to create a community, foster understanding and ultimately support those working across the PR industry, in order to come to terms with how their profession has been impacted by this global crisis, and how they can prepare for the future.

CIPR members can buy tickets for the conference for £10, whilst non-member tickets are available for £15 and any funds raised by ticket sales will be donated to charity. Donations will be split between the CIPR’s Benevolent Fund iProvision and the Felix Project, which help PR practitioners affected by the crisis and feeds local communities in London by rescuing surplus food from the food industry respectively.

To find out more information on CoronaCon, access the full agenda and buy tickets, please see here:

• Tickets for 9 June 2020
• Tickets for 16th June 2020

Attendees and non-attendees will be able to access more information and follow the event through the using the official @CIPR GLG Twitter handle and hashtag #CoronaCon.

Confirmed speakers and sessions include:

• Jenni Field, CIPR President and Founder of Redefining Communications: How have PR agencies and industry responded to COVID-19?
• Alex Myers, founder & CEO of Manifest Group and PR Week’s Global PR Professional 2020: “How has COVID-19 accelerated and evolved the purpose economy and what is its lasting impact for purpose-driven consumer brands?”
• Tony Langham - Co-founder and Chief Executive of Lansons: “It’s All About Reputation Now: Who’s Having A Good War, And Who Isn’t?”
• Ronke Lawal - Founder Ariatu PR: “How future-facing consumer brands can ‘COVID-19 proof’ themselves using digital communications tools”
• Sarah Waddington - Founder of Astute.Work, former CIPR President “What lessons can be learned by senior management from their response to COVID-19 and their crisis comms preparedness?”

CIPR GLG committee member Darryl Sparey, said: “This event will give PR practitioners an opportunity to consider the impact of the current crisis on our industry, as well as contribute to charities that support those directly impacted by COVID-19. I’m confident that, by working together as a community and supporting each other through this difficult time, we can weather the storm and come out the other side even more resilient and creative than before.”

Fellow committee member and Senior Account Manager at Madano, Mark Fulker, commented: “It’s been such a rewarding process to help organise CoronaCon. Having been furloughed myself six weeks ago, I’m delighted to have something on which to focus and the chance to ‘give back’ to both our chosen charities and wider PR community. CoronaCon features a brilliant range of speakers and promises to be a fantastic event, and I’m really looking forward to seeing our work over the last few weeks pay off.”

Melissa Orme, CIPR GLG committee member and Senior Internal Communications Manager at OpenReach added: “Working on a fun, virtual event is very different to what I’m used to, but it's been an exciting challenge. We’re so grateful to those in our strong line-up of speakers who will ensure that this will be an interesting and worthwhile event for anyone that takes part.”

Diane Hinds, CIPR GLG committee member and Founder of The Entertainment Bureau noted: “I know I’m not alone when I say that I am so saddened that so many have lost their lives to COVID-19, and that I too am frightened by the extremely uncertain time we are living through. As someone living with Sickle Cell Disease, I have certainly felt imprisoned over the last few weeks, and being part of CoronaCon has helped me to focus on something meaningful for the industry that I love.”

-ENDS-

Notes For Editors

Full agenda:

9 June 2020: Where are we in the wake of the pandemic, what can we learn from the experience?

• Jenni Field - President of the CIPR: Founder of Redefining Communications  How has the PR Industry Responded to COVID-19?
• Alex Myers - Founder and CEO Manifest Group, PR Week’s Global PR Professional of the Year 2020  How has COVID-19 accelerated and evolved the purpose economy, and what are its lasting impacts for purpose-driven consumer brands?
• Tony Langham - Co-founder and Chief Executive of Lansons  It’s All About Reputation Now: Who’s Having A Good War, And Who Isn’t?
• Polly Cziok - Director of Communications & Culture and Engagement at Hackney Council  Connecting with Communities During The COVID-19 crisis.

Tickets are available here

16 June 2020: What does the future look like, post-lockdown?

• Andrew Bruce Smith - Director, Escherman  What does the future hold for the BIG digital platforms (Google, Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Amazon)? And what are the implications for the PR Industry?
• Ronke Lawal - Founder Ariatu PR  How future-facing consumer brands can ‘COVID-19 proof’ themselves using digital communications tools
• Sarah Waddington - Founder of Astute.Work, former CIPR President  What lessons can be learned by senior management from their response to COVID-19 and their crisis comms preparedness? What the #FuturePRoof business needs to do for future challenges
• Sharon O’Dea - Co-Founder Lithos Partners  The future of work in the wake of COVID-19. Social distancing has accelerated moves towards remote working by a decade within just a few weeks, but what happens next?  How do we adapt our organisations and our communications to a remote-first world?

Tickets are available here

About the CIPR 

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations is the world's only Royal Chartered professional body for public relations practitioners, with nearly 10,000 members.

Members of the CIPR are recognised PR professionals. The CIPR works with and for them to set, maintain and advance standards. The organisation offers industry respected qualifications; an advanced Continuing Professional Development scheme, Accreditation and Chartership programmes; open, in-house and bespoke training; industry awards and conferences; research, best practice and skills guidance.

The CIPR has a rigorous ethical Code of Conduct and searchable PR registers, making members accountable to their employers, clients and the wider public.

Find out more about the CIPR

About the Greater London Group

The CIPR Greater London Group (GLG) is an inclusive community that helps members of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations to make solid and lasting relationships and to develop the skills and expertise to advance their careers.

The GLG provides opportunities for PR professionals across all sectors in the capital to enjoy solid and lasting industry connections.  It has also set up an online community using the business messaging app Guild for CIPR members to share their experiences in a safe, private space.

The Greater London Group organises a variety of exclusive structured networking activities and educational events. These include the popular (and now virtual) Drink ‘n’ Link monthly socials and links with other CIPR sector groups, its annual quiz, and sought-after educational events such as the Annual Lecture, ethics snakes and ladders, and freelance, in-house and agency events.

Event homepage: www.CoronaCon.London 

You can follow all of the discussion during the event using the hashtag #CoronaCon