Understanding and respecting different cultures is becoming ever more vital to communicate to audiences world-wide. Not only are more organisations operating globally, UK companies are merging with international firms and marketing to diverse customers while our workforces within the UK are increasingly drawn from international cultures.

This morning event cannot hope to cover all the richness and diversity of our world but it will show how to recognise those differences and plan engaging communication globally from sensitivity to different cultures and traditions to practical challenges like language translations.

Our event will be led by Dr Barbara Gibson, consultant, researcher and lecturer who focuses on intercultural communication and global business.  Her doctoral research explored “Intercultural Competencies Needed by Global CEOs” and she is president of the UK chapter of the Society for Intercultural Education, Training & Research (SIETAR). 

The programme will include:

Focusing on the external communication side is Eva Maclaine of Maclaine Communications and chair of CIPR International who will be asking what are the qualities needed for successful international communication and how to build brand, trust and protect reputation with cultural sensitivity and understanding. 

There will be case studies with two of the world’s fast growing economies:

• India with Ashish Babu, Director of Communications - UK & Ireland at Tata Consultancy Services, part of the Tata Group, the Indian multinational company headquartered in Mumbai
• China with Claudia Delpero, journalist and media strategist with 15 years' experience leading communications teams for international organisations in China, Africa and Europe.

Case studies highlighting the challenges of communicating internally across global organisations will be presented by:

• Charles Willy from the World Gold Council shares his experiences of developing and implementing global internal communications strategies in his senior employee engagement positions at Aon, global provider of risk management and insurance services, Xansa, (Steria) and APV, (SPX) both international businesses.
• Lisa Wade, employee communications manager at The Open University, talks about communications when she was employee engagement manager at WaterAid, the international charity with the vision to transform lives by improving access to safe water, operating in 26 countries worldwide.

Cost includes entry to the event and the opportunity to continue the discussion informally over lunch.  Registration will open at 8.30am for a 9am start on 10th July 2014 at the BIS (Business Innovation and Skills) Government conference centre at 1 Victoria Street, London.

Tickets for members IABC, SIETAR, CIPR, CIPD, IoIC, London Communicators £30 and for non-members £60.