LONDON: CIPR’s Energy Leadership Platform (ELP) will emphasise the importance of strategic public relations to global leaders at the prestigious World Energy Congress in Abu Dhabi this year.

The initiative follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed between H.E. Eng. Fatima Al Foora Al Shamsi, CEO of the United Arab Emirates National Committee of the World Energy Council and the CIPR’s Deputy CEO, Phil Morgan Chart.PR, MCIPR.

Taking place between 9-12 September, the triennial World Energy Congress (24th WEC) is the world’s largest and most influential energy event, attracting head of states, global leaders and industry experts from across the energy landscape.The previous Congress in Istanbul in 2016 attracted 7,000 delegates from over 100 countries and included more than 50 government Ministers.

The CIPR’s ELP is the world’s first energy PR think tank and comprises some of the leading communications professionals from the energy industry. The ELP was launched in January 2018 to demonstrate the strategic value of public relations to the energy industry.

“This Memorandum of Understanding is the first of its kind, not just in terms of its signatories but, also in terms of the PR industry stepping out of its usual echo chambers and engaging with those who use our services. It is to our clients and employers we need to articulate and demonstrate the value of PR as a strategic management function and this is undoubtedly a unique opportunity for the Energy Leadership Platform and our industry,”  Ella Minty Co-Chair of the Energy Leadership Platform and former CIPR Board Member said.

“For the PR industry, often perceived by clients and employers through the narrow lens of media relations, to have the opportunity to address heads of states, prime ministers, CEOs of FTSE 50 and NYSE listed companies, is an immense breakthrough and a real shattering of that perception PR is often mired by. 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.”[the_ad id=”31605”]