CIPR President Emma Leech Found.Chart.PR, FCIPR urged businesses to put public relations at the heart of strategic decision making at an exclusive event hosted by the Good Governance Institute in London yesterday.
The President addressed an audience of 50 senior practitioners at the prestigious One Great George Street, ahead of a panel discussion exploring how public relations can support governance by strengthening relationships and challenging leadership.
Citing ethical collapses at Oxfam, Kidscape and Halifax Bank of Scotland, the President evidenced the need for businesses to prioritise public relations’ role in corporate governance.
When it comes to dealing with problems, which can arise within an organisation or externally, PR professionals have skills sets that range from issues management, crisis response communications, internal communication and stakeholder management.
A highly skilled public relations professional is an early warning system and critical element in the handling of any issues. They should be at the heart of strategy but they must also be a source of challenge within senior management.
Extract from speech by Emma Leech Found.Chart.PR FCIPR, CIPR President
The ensuing panel discussion – chaired by Rachel Royall Chart.PR, MCIPR – featured Paul Mylrea Found.Chart.PR, FCIPR, University of Cambridge, Sarah Atkinson MCIPR, Charity Commission and the Chief Executive of the Good Governance Institute, Andrew Corbett-Nolan.
The discussion outlined the PR’s unique ability to build trusting relationships with key stakeholders and support the delivery of organisational objectives. The discussion also spotlighted PR practitioners’ ability to bring in the outside world, using insight and context to challenge decision-making and organisational culture.
