Communicating Amid Chaos: Lessons from Ukraine for Communicators in the Middle East

A Joint CIPR Crisis Communications Network, MEPRA and ICCO Open-House Drop-In Session. This experience – at least at this scale – may be new to many in the region. However, it has, tragically, been the daily experience of professional communicators across Ukraine for the past four years. Against that deeply uncertain backdrop, the CIPR Crisis Communications Network, MEPRA and ICCO have teamed up to host a 75-minute open house drop-in session on communicating amid conflict.

Workshop#Workshop
9 days left
Monday, 27 Apr 2026

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Overview

Since the attacks on Iran launched at the end of February, the expansion of the conflict playing out across the Middle East has seen communications professionals grappling with a new reality – professionally and personally. With so little certainty about the ultimate trajectory, duration and nature of events – even following the fragile ceasefire announced on 8th April – ongoing negotiations are unlikely to expel entirely ongoing day-to-day uncertainty on the ground. Senior communicators will continue to juggle the challenges of ensuring business continuity and building resilience with day-to-day service delivery, team motivation and protecting staff wellbeing, in an enduringly uncertain environment.

Hosted by

CIPR Crisis Communications Network, MEPRA and ICCOCIPR

Facilitators

This online session will allow communicators across the Gulf region to explore commonalities in experience and exchange lived experiences, with some of the most seasoned communicators in Ukraine – senior professionals who have endured, adapted and evolved, since Russia’s invasion of their country in February 2022. The panel will consist of:

  • • Sergii Bidenko, Crisis and Reputation Advisor and Partner of SEC Newgate Ukraine
  • • Julia Petryk, CEO and Co-Founder of Calibrated, and Co-Founder of the Ukrainian PR Army
  • • Nataliya Popovych, Founder of One Philosophy group of companies and Co-Founder of Resilient Ukraine CSO, B4Ukraine and Ukraine House in Denmark
  • • Alina SteklovaPR, Founder and CEO of COMMSX

Conducted under the Chatham House Rule, Chris Tucker Co-Chair of the CIPR Crisis Communications Network will formally welcome and introduce the session, Rod Cartwright, Special Advisor to the CIPR Crisis Communications Network will moderate, and Justin Kerr-Stevens MEPRA Chairman will set the scene with a view of what’s happening on the ground.

Date & Time

Monday 27 April 2026, 10.00 – 11.15am BST (12.00 – 1.15pm EEST / 1.00 – 2.15pm GST)

Registration

The session is open to all CIPR, ICCO and MEPRA members, and you can sign up for free using this link. We hope that colleagues from across the Middle East will join us for a session designed to connect communicators across countries and continents.

Please register though this link:

https://www.cipr.co.uk/CIPR/Events/Event_Display_Groups.aspx?EventKey=CN0416805

Register now