Our Director of Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Haslem, is in London this week to attend the annual meeting of Reputation Advisors International (RAI) - previously the Crisis Protection Network.
RAI is a worldwide association of senior communications professionals with expertise in high-stakes issues related to reputation management, brand positioning, legal and regulatory communications, crisis planning and response, and related areas.
Ben will be attending the meeting with most of RAI’s members drawn from 16 cities in North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific. Icon’s Director of Reputation Mark Forbes is also a member.
Highlights will include presentations on cyber crises reputation management by Dirk Schmitt, Partner at Frankfurt-based Rosenberg Strategic Communications, and another on EU Public Affairs & Reputation Management by Kajsa Stenström, managing director at Brussels-based public affairs consultancy, Stenström Consulting.
Ben will be providing attendees with an overview of Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
Ben and Mark are members of RAI because it offers Icon Reputation’s clients access to a community of high-level counsellors who view effective reputation management as more than just crisis communications planning and response.
RAI’s members are leaders in small and mid-sized firms around the globe, and have prior experience working in some of the largest public relations agencies worldwide, as well as in large corporations, major media outlets, and government.
Ben arrived in London on Sunday and will be catching up with some of Icon’s UK PROI partners, including KISS PR in Cambridge; and reputation management firm, Lansons Team Farner and SEC Newgate (formerly Publicasity).
PROI (Public Relations Organisation International) is a global network of 90 entrepreneurial communications firms in more than 65 countries.
He will be flying home this Saturday, so took the opportunity to vote in the Voice referendum at Australia House in London.
RAI’s annual meeting is being hosted by Jonathan Jordan, the founder and Senior Partner of London public affairs consultancy, Sermelo. Jonathan is a former CEO of Burson- Marsteller UK.
A special shout out to RAI President, Jim Haggerty, who Business Insider recently named one of “18 top public-relations experts CEOs scramble to hire in a crisis”. Jim is President & CEO of New York-based PRCG | Haggerty.