The Communicators ' Best Practice Forum is pleased to announce details of the fourth event in its successful series of seminars for senior communications professionals.

This event follows on from our last successful event, which examined how communications can or should be used to influence customer retention.

Bringing together a maximum of 30 senior practitioners from both the public and private sectors, we will examine how communications can or should be represented at boardroom level. How can public relations be used to protect, maintain and enhance reputation from the top down? Can an organisation effectively engage stakeholders without communications being the driving force?

This latest discussion will be held at the Pall Mall headquarters of the Institute of Directors in London SW1 on Friday 2nd September. It will run from 10.00am to 2.30pm, including a buffet lunch.

The event is to be chaired by Roger Haywood FIPR, past president of the Institute of Public Relations and past chairman of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Speakers will be:

Simon MacDowall, Director of Communications - Department for Work & Pensions

Ash Coleman-Smith, Client Services Director, EMEA - Ogilvy

Philippa Foster Back, Director - Institute of Business Ethics

There will be a full opportunity for discussion, both in the individual sessions and in a guided round table discussion prior to lunch. A note of issues raised and key opinions will be sent as a debrief report to delegates.

Date: 2nd September 2005
Time: 10.00am - 2.30pm
Location: Institute of Directors - Pall Mall, London SW1

Here's some of the feedback we've received from participants at previous BPF seminars

'The best thing I have attended this year'
Head of PR & Communications, Financial Services Company

''Many thanks again - an excellent event'
Head of Marketing & Communications, Public Sector

The cost of attending this seminar is just £95. Attendance will also provide delegates with access to the Communicators' Best Practice Forum web site. Places are strictly limited.

To register, please reply to info@bestpracticeforum.net or call 0845 095 0400 and ask for Daniel West

More information will be published soon.

About the forum:

The Communicators' Best Practice Forum is an informal discussion group, sponsored by Mantra, part of Europe's largest independent communications research network, under an initiative by chairman, Brian Moore MIPR. The group is running a series of forthcoming seminars for senior communications professionals; these are looking at the influence that public relations and public affairs professionals can (or should?) have on the formulation of policy and strategy at the highest levels.

The aim is to share thoughts, to challenge opinion and, particularly, to compare the experiences of key communicators from the public and private sectors. Speakers will explore how communications can be managed to generate maximum impact, both in terms of achieving key business objectives and as a management discipline; participants at the events will have full opportunities to review or challenge any assertions or perspectives.  We will be particularly looking for views based on substantial experience or validated study.