Industry leaders came together in Coffs Harbour for the Australian Event Awards and Symposium 2025, a premier gathering celebrating innovation, collaboration, and leadership across the events sector.
Primary Comms Group CEO Chris Hall was proud to represent the agency as part of an expert panel discussion on “The Value of Public Relations and Communications: Transparency and Accountability in Crisis Management”.
The session explored a powerful question: “the event has been perfectly planned, everything has fallen into place, but have you planned for the unforeseen, the unexpected?” The discussion examined the essential components of effective crisis preparation, emphasising the importance of identifying risks and potential issues early, developing robust communication and contingency plans, and defining clear lines of communication and action for staff and volunteers. They also discussed how to activate these plans swiftly and effectively under pressure, ensuring responses are coordinated and calm, and how strong preparation plays a vital role in protecting both organisational and event reputations.
Chris shared how Primary’s approach to crisis communication goes beyond response. It’s about preparation, consistency, and trust.
“For Primary, participation in the Symposium was an opportunity to contribute to a critical industry conversation about how effective communication frameworks can empower teams to respond calmly and confidently when faced with the unexpected. From multi-stakeholder coordination to reputation management, strong communication remains at the heart of effective crisis response”, said Chris.
Primary extends sincere thanks to the organisers and fellow panellists for an engaging and insightful discussion, and to all those working to make Australia’s events industry stronger, safer, and more prepared for whatever comes next.
With more than three decades of experience advising government, corporate, and community organisations, Primary continues to be well-positioned to help clients navigate through complex issues, manage crises, and strengthen stakeholder trust.
