The International Association of Business Communicators is holding its annual EMENAComm event in Bahrain as part of a drive to shift communications in emerging markets away from tactics and towards a more strategic approach. Communications and its role in driving positive change will be the highlight of the event, which will be held over two days, on the 11-12 February and feature over 40 speakers from around the world.

Six tracks will cover leadership and strategy, corporate social responsibility, the impact of technology, crisis response, and the latest thinking in external and internal communications. EMENAComm will seek to showcase best practices and innovations that are changing how corporations, agencies and NGOs are achieving success through communications. The full agenda can be seen on the EMENAComm website. Holmes Report readers can get a discount of 10% off tickets by using the code HOLMESREPORT19

Keynotes will include talks by former Apple executive Cameron Craig on how communications played a leading role in Apple’s turnaround, and Australia’s diversity specialist Tasneem Chopra on organized disruption and how to change the way we communicate inclusively. Klavs Valskov, the former head of marketing communications at GE Oil & Gas, will share lessons on how GE Oil & Gas rebranded itself to become the world’s first digital industrial company, while UAE-based Dawn Metcalfe, founder of HardTalk, will speak on how communicators can create a stand up and speak out culture.

“The way we communicate has completely changed, and the role of the communicator is transforming as well. We’re expected to be able to both produce and publish content, engage internally and externally, defend reputations while driving change and engagement,” said Alex Malouf, Past Chair for IABC Europe, Middle East and North Africa, adding “Communicators have a valuable role to play in every organization, and EMENAComm will help drive this transformation so that the region’s communicators are both empowered to do more and are recognized as change makers by their organizational leadership.”