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Meet the Author: In Conversation With... Anne Gregory

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Meet the Author: In Conversation With... Anne Gregory

It’s that time again! Time to tell you all about our most recent Meet the Authorevent hosted and organized by VMA GROUP’s Crystle Pearce. With previous speakers including Lesley Allman, Jenni Field and Kim Page, on Thursday 18th May we heard from the co-author of 'Strategic Public Relations Leadership', Anne Gregory PhD. As Professor Emeritus of Corporate Communication at the University of Huddersfield and Board member of the CiPR, this Meet the Authorevent welcomed an audience predominantly formed of external and PR communications professionals.

Stabilising the Compass

Everyone seated with a drink in hand, Anne opened the discussion around ‘stabilising the compass’ – the four points which senior comms professionals endeavour to balance: obligations to society, preserving the value of organisational assets, securing the stakeholder network and achieving operational excellence. Anne delved into the trials and tribulations we may experience when this ‘compass’ is offset and highlighted the importance of staying up to date with current affairs to ultimately ‘stabilise’ this communication compass.

However tempting it may be to switch-off from the sadly all-too-often bleak news stories, as PR and external communications professionals, Anne highlighted the importance of staying up-to-date with current affairs. With the Russia-Ukraine war at the forefront of the global stage (amongst turbulent UK political situations in our own back yard), as well as the aftermath of a global pandemic…and not-to-forget the rise of AI, it’s safe to say the world is in an unpredictable state, which ultimately forces comms