The year 2009 started under the sign of the crisis. Wherever you go at the moment, crisis is the major focus of every newspaper, magazine, report and conversation. We are warned to have low, if any, expectations of any economic recovery in 2009. Consumers all over the world have understood the message and assimilated the narrative, restraining both consumption and decision making.

To a certain extent, all communication in 2009 will have this narrative in the background. As such, professional Crisis Communication is a more required skill than ever. This Communication Director conference will deal with the preparation for crisis, the adequate response to crisis situations and with recovery from crisis and reputation restoration. Every module will feature both case studies of international companies or institutions and workshops that will provide attendees with the necessary skills for effective crisis communication.

However, in Crisis Communication, perhaps even more than in classic Public Relations, it is important to be able to look beyond the horizon, to dare a different approach, to think outside the box. Consequently, this conference will also provide the opportunity to meet James Appathurai, the Head of Press and Media at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Richard O'Brien, former Chief Economist of the American Express Bank, and Peter Ayton, a professor of Psychology who specialises in decision making. Discussions will range from how crises affect the human capacity of making decisions, the nature of crises and how to strategically approach them, as well as previous and future crises and what we are to expecting to encounter over the next few years.

We are looking forward to a thought-provoking and inspiring conference and would be delighted to welcome you in London.