Leading Communications in a Crisis

This session will break down the role of Public Relations and Communication leaders in real or emerging crisis situations, starting with understanding crisis management and responsibilities to ensure effective support for organizational leadership. 

Throughout Tom’s mining career, issue and reputation management was a critical skill called upon numerous times for the organization as they navigated global recessions, mass layoffs, road blockades, community protests, wildfires threatening remote mine sites, corporate restructuring, and mine closures. While challenging, the resilience shown by the organization was founded in strong leadership prepared for difficult decisions and difficult conversations. 

The presentation will work through when and how to engage stakeholders, including the workforce, parent companies, communities, industry, government, and media. 

Tactics and strategies to be covered include when to put the leader out front, how to communicate with your workforce and partners, message development, dealing with legal and regulators, and cascading crises events. 

The session will provide lessons learned from ‘boots on the ground’ for those both creating and delivering crisis communication. 

Flexible, the one-hour session will include a minimum 15-minute Q&A with those in attendance, in addition to accepting questions during the presentation.

Tom Ormsby is national and international award winner in communication and issues/crisis management. His career includes media, government, mining, defence contracting, and consulting, including almost 15 years with the iconic brand De Beers. Tom has also developed and delivered workshops crisis management, crisis communications, and media training. He also delivered sustainability best practice training for over 1,000 diamond retailers in Canada and the United States.

Tom is the Principal of Tom Ormsby Public Relations. He is also a Senior Advisor to Wesben Global, a consulting consortium that brings years of experience managing risk, strategy development, and impactful stakeholder relations across domestic and international markets for some of the largest companies and social-profit organizations around the world.

After the workshop all participants are welcome join Tom for informal drinks at the Phoenix (drinks not included in the fee).

Parking is available on central campus for $8 after 4 p.m. or in satellite lots (M & P) for $4 after 4 p.m.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Canada