March Crisis Comms Talks: No Smoke Without Fire; Open House and Welcoming KA & Jo
CIPR Crisis Communications Network
The CIPR network where communications professionals learn and share best practice in crisis communications.
In this issue:
Committee member, Rosie Hamilton, discusses what the recent LA fires teach us about emergency communications in her blog, ‘No Smoke without Fire’.
We are looking forward to a lively and interactive discussion at our Open House event at the end of this month. This forum is for our members and communications professionals to explore the challenges and realities of crisis communications. There is still plenty of time to book your place.
A warm welcome to our newest committee members, Kayleigh-Anne Soryal and Jo Barrett, who are serving as Events Manager and Climate Crisis Counsel, respectively.
And
Get your free copy of our skills and best practice guides. Read on for the links to download.
No smoke without fire – what do the LA fires teach us about emergency communications?
It seems hard to believe that it’s exactly a month ago today since the devastating wildfires began in Los Angeles. The statistics are eye-watering: 16,000 homes and buildings destroyed; over 40,000 acres burnt; a repair bill of $40 billion. Another climate change-induced disaster – inevitable in this case owing to a perilous mix of high temperatures, reduced rainfall and warm Santa Ana winds to fan the flames.
Speaking personally, climate change has been worrying me for some time now. Four years ago, I was nearly crushed by a huge tree which fell on our (empty) car in the aftermath of a hurricane. My friend Donna recently moved from a now fire-damaged part of Los Angeles to Florida, only to be evacuated for Hurricane Helene.
Read the full blog by Rosie Hamilton, Social Media Manager, CIPR Crisis Comms Network
Image: AI generated
Open House is here again
Book your place here.
Join us for the next Open House, our forum for exploring the challenges and realities of crisis communications. Open House is your chance to share crisis communications scenarios, ask questions and explore new approaches with peers.
Whether you are tackling a specific issue or reflecting on broader trends, this collaborative session is shaped by your contributions. Come along with your thoughts, experiences and questions as your input drives the conversation.
This session will be hosted by the Network’s Chair, Chris Tucker, and committee members, Sara Naylor and Felix Östman. CIPR members can log 5 CPD points for attending this event.
Welcoming Kayleigh-Anne and Jo
We are delighted to welcome Kayleigh-Anne Soryal, who joined us in December 2024 as Events Manager and Jo Barrett, who joined us in February 2025 as Climate Crisis Counsel. The Network will benefit a great deal from the vast expertise Kayleigh-Anne and Jo bring on board and we are grateful to have them on our team.
Kayleigh-Anne is a corporate communications leader with 15 years of experience, notably as Head of Corporate Communications for a global fashion brand. She runs her consultancy, Love Comms, partnering with creative brands and organisations to deliver impactful strategies.
Jo Barrett is a senior communications leader specialising in climate change and risk. With a career spanning international NGOs, the UK public and private sectors, Jo has led high-impact media, PR and crisis management strategies for nearly two decades. Currently, she is Chief of Staff (Climate Risk) at multinational risk advisory firm Willis Towers Watson which works with global clients to build their climate resilience.
Crisis Comms In Conversation With Rupert Younger
If you missed our thought-provoking conversation with Rupert Younger, the founder and director of Oxford University’s Centre for Corporate Reputation, you can watch the full webinar here.
Chris Tucker, Chair of the CIPR Crisis Comms Network, captured the interaction aptly in this blog.
Skills guides from the CIPR Crisis Comms Network
Download your free copy.
Crisis Communication and Social Media: Published in October 2024, this best practice guide offers comprehensive insights into handling social media during crisis, emphasising the challenges and opportunities these platforms present. CIPR members can log 5 CPD points for reading this guide.
Drafting a Crisis Communications Plan: Published in 2023, this skills guide covers eight steps to writing a crisis communications plan, some general dos and don’ts, and concludes with a useful checklist. CIPR members can download it for free and it is worth 5 CPD points.
More from us
Watch our past webinars – each worth 5 CPD points for CIPR members
Share your feedback on this newsletter by leaving a comment on LinkedIn or emailing us - ciprccrisiscom@gmail.com.
Thank you for reading the 9th edition.
We'll be back next month with another edition of Crisis Comms Talks.
Curated by Adelaide Arthur, CIPR Crisis Comms Network