Reputation, power and trust under scrutiny at CommsCon
Michelle Hutton, Celia Harding, Mark Blackburn and John McDuling
As reputation becomes a measurable business indicator shaped by markets, machines and consumers, CommsCon will examine what the shift means for communications leaders.
A 30-minute panel discussion, The real cost of reputation, will bring together perspectives from PR, consumer advocacy, journalism and AI optimisation to explore how reputational damage now translates into tangible financial impact.
Early bird tickets for CommsCon are on sale until Feb 13.
Michelle Hutton, global chief client and growth officer at Burson, will outline how reputation shows up in share price, investor confidence and enterprise value. Celia Harding, founder of Leoprd, will examine how AI-driven search and discovery systems are reshaping visibility, authority and trust. Mark Blackburn, director, commercial and marketing at Choice, will bring a consumer advocacy lens, unpacking how trust, transparency and perceived misconduct drive scrutiny and escalation.
The discussion will be moderated by John McDuling, editor of Capital Brief.
Alongside the panel, CommsCon will host a series of closed-door roundtables held under the Chatham House Rule, examining the structural, ethical and leadership pressures reshaping the profession.
From Comms and brand managers to reputation architects will be facilitated by Craig Badings, partner at SenateSHJ, and will explore whether communications leaders should play a formal role in shaping governance and decision-making before reputational risk emerges. Get information out vs triple check facts, led by Mariam Rehman, director and head of communications at Monale, will examine the ethical tension between speed and accuracy in crisis communications.
The slow burn power of influence: why long-term advocacy wins in 2026 will be facilitated by Cara Norris, head of growth and partnerships at Social Soup, focusing on sustained advocacy over short-term creator activity.
AI just made PR the most important function in the company. Does your CEO know that yet? will be led by Celia Harding, founder of LEOPRD, examining how AI systems now determine brand visibility, trust and authority, and why PR is often missing from AI strategy conversations.
Delegates must register for a place at the round tables. Spots are limited.
