Corporate Affairs Summit Ireland

Helen Dunne, editor, CorpComms Magazine, welcomes delegates to the event

Susie Farrell, founder of search consultancy Addison, talks to Helen
Dunne, editor, CorpComms Magazine, about best practice in the industry. What are the skills and resources required for a truly successful function? What is the ideal structure?

From media enquiries to a strategic function advising the board, corporate affairs is evolving. But, in many cases, it has yet to fulfil its true potential. What are the obstacles and challenges and how can they be overcome?

Panelists: 

Orlaith Blaney, director, communications and corporate affairs, Uisce Eireann
Rosemary Garth, director of communications, Tesco Ireland
Liam Reid, chief external affairs officer, eir
Oliver Wall, chief of staff and head of corporate affairs, Bank of Ireland

Moderator:       Helen Dunne

With half the world heading for the polls this year and an election in Ireland in 2025, what impact will this have on business? What are the key factors of which corporate affairs directors should be aware?

Panelists:      

Robert Marshall, security policy adviser, Vodafone Group
Conor O’Donovan, head of global marketing and strategic communications, Enterprise Ireland
Feargal Purcell, head of corporate affairs, SMBC Aviation Capital

Moderator:       Stephen O’Brien, head of public affairs (Ireland), Powerscourt Dublin

Lee Andrews, corporate affairs director, Primark, talks to Helen Dunne, editor of CorpComms Magazine, about joining a national institution, and what he has learned in his first seven months.

David McRedmond, chief executive, An Post, shares with Eavan Gannon, managing director, Powerscourt Dublin, his views on the key skills corporate affairs professionals require to meet the demands of the C-Suite. Where can they add impact? How do they get a seat at the table?

AI is today’s reality. Most communicators agree it will fundamentally change the way that they work, but adoption has been slow and predominantly limited to routine or lower value tasks.
In her presentation, Darina Sexton, head of communications for the Microsoft Subsidiary in Ireland, will include demonstrations to reveal how AI can help in every aspect of corporate communications, from summarising meetings to crisis management.

Elizabeth Arnett was the first communications lead for Irish Water, as the utility sought to establish itself, and the last corporate affairs director at Ulster Bank, as the financial services group exited the marketplace. Now director for communications and brand at AXA, Arnett will chat to Addison's Susie Farrell about some of the unique challenges she has faced, and the lessons learned.

The pandemic thrust not only internal communications into the spotlight, but also the importance of employee’s welfare. The panel will discuss how a strong culture, driven by engagement and interaction, is now key to the success of business.

Panelists:

Colm Fahey, external affairs manager, Mondelez Ireland
Anne-Marie Kiernan, director of internal communications, Kellanova
Shane Kelly, corporate relations director, Diageo
(Other panelists to follow.)