CIPR’s ELP to shine a spotlight on strategic PR at World Energy Congress

CIPR‘s Energy Leadership Platform is preparing to highlight the importance of targeted public relations to a worldwide audience of energy industry experts and decision makers. September’s World Energy Congress in Abu Dhabi will offer the energy think tank an opportunity to show off the advantages of smart strategies in a sector tasked with great change.

The CIPR ELP team is made up of communications professionals working within the energy industry, including co-chair Ella Minty. For her, the upcoming opportunity is vital: ‘The energy industry is, undisputedly, the most risk-averse and risk-aware in the world. To be given the chance to demonstrate, through practical examples and in various sessions, the importance and standing of PR to and for this fascinating sector is an absolute privilege and honour.’

Compounding the privilege is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between CIPR’s Deputy CEO Phil Morgan and CEO of the United Arab Emirates National Committee of the World Energy Council, H.E. Eng. Fatima Al Foora Al Shamsi. The signatories are impressive, but so is the size of the potential audience the ELP will be talking to, with 2016’s conference reaching 7,000 delegates from 100 countries.

‘The PR industry is stepping out of its usual echo chambers and engaging with those who use our services,’ said Minty of the ELP’s involvement in World Energy Congress’ 24th event. ‘It is to our clients and employers we need to articulate and demonstrate the value of PR as a strategic management function.’

Communicating the risks and changes happening across the energy sector is a practical support the PR industry can offer to the World Energy Council’s audience of experts and world leaders. And with ‘Energy for Prosperity’ as the theme for this year’s gathering, CIPR’s continuing work on bringing PR and the energy sector together could pay off in clearer communications in what can be a technically complicated space, and a move towards smarter strategies for longevity. Not just longevity for light bulbs, hybrid cars or PR firms looking for new sectors to work in, but, well, us. Everyone. Living long(ish), and prosper(ing), hopefully. With some good PR opportunities along the way, naturally…