Turning Tick-Box Exercises into Measurable Crisis Communication Capability

  • 19 May 2026
  • , 14:00 UTC+1

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Many organisations run regular crisis drills—yet performance in real incidents still surprises leadership: decisions stall, roles blur, communications fragment, and “known” dependencies surface too late. The gap isn’t effort; it’s design. Too many exercises validate documents instead of validating decision-making, coordination, and recovery under realistic pressure.

This interactive session challenges the assumption that “we exercised, therefore we’re prepared.” Participants will learn how to diagnose whether their current exercise programme builds genuine crisis readiness and how to redesign drills to test what actually matters: leadership behaviours, cross-functional handoffs, information flow, third-party reliance, and the ability to adapt when the scenario breaks the script.

Attendees will leave with a practical, reusable toolkit: a readiness self-check, a simple method to define exercise objectives that link to risk and critical services, an inject plan structure that drives decisions (not theatre), and a measurement approach that turns exercise observations into prioritised improvement actions.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Speakers:

  • Philippe Borremans

    Risk, Crisis and Emergency Communication Consultant, RiskComms FZCO

    An independent consultant specialising in risk, crisis, and emergency communication, with over two decades of experience in the field.

    Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of collaborating with global organisations like the World Health Organization, European Union, and West African Union on emergency communication projects. My work spans public health emergencies, corporate crises, and reputation management, ensuring organisations worldwide are prepared for high-stakes situations.

    Before starting my own practice, I spent a decade at IBM leading corporate and online communications at national and European levels, following an early role at Porter Novelli International in Brussels. These experiences shape my approach to strategic communication, which combines technology, data-driven decision-making, and empathy to navigate complex crises.

    I regularly lecture at universities and business schools across Europe and North Africa. I'm also the author of "Mastering Crisis Communication with ChatGPT; A Practical Guide," published in February 2023, which explores the intersection of technology and crisis management and I publish the weekly newsletter and podcast, Wag The Dog, covering the latest trends in crisis, risk, and emergency communication, with a focus on technology and AI.

    I've held leadership positions in key professional organisations, serving as President of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA 2021), Vice President of the International Association of Risk and Crisis Communication (IARCC), and board member of the European Association of Communication Directors (EACD). My consulting work continues to influence the global crisis communication landscape across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.

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