January always arrives with a fresh start and new perspectives. What better time to plan your personal and professional development for the year? Happily, the CSCE has opportunities to engage both, through forums, training and events. Plus, CSCE members have access to The Hive, an of-the-moment experience that allows members to communicate, ask questions and share ideas with one another. Tap experts on the CSCE faculty for their thoughts on emerging trends, suggest topics and ideas to explore, and get to know our global network of communication professionals. It’s all here for you at the CSCE! Join today!

Congratulations to the highly-respected Mary Hills, FCSCE, IABC Fellow, ABC, Six Sigma on her appointment as a Fellow of CSCE. Mary has achieved a remarkable career in both corporate and academic fields over three decades, characterised by her growth and adaptability in various sectors. As the founder of HeimannHills Marketing Group since 2009, she has played a pivotal role in organisational evolution and change management. Her leadership in the communication profession is evident through her innovative approaches to management and leadership. Mary has significantly contributed to education, mentoring, and consultancy, fostering effective communication standards in the profession and leading the development of the Global Standard for the Communication Profession.

“Her career is distinguished by numerous awards, including the prestigious IABC Chairman Award in 2012 and the Rae Hamlin Award in 2021 which underscores her significant impact on the communication profession,” says Adrian Cropley OAM, founding partner at the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence.

Her involvement with the CSCE as a faculty member and curriculum guide, and her strategic partnerships in conducting communication programs, reflect her deep commitment to the profession. Mary’s forward-thinking approach is also showcased in her early adoption of research on artificial intelligence in communication conducted in 2018 and 2019, leading to the development of the CSCE AI Playbook. Mary Hills has truly shifted the dial on our global communication profession.

In the December 14 issue of Reputation Today, Sia shared her insights on the evolving role of internal communications in shaping organizational reputation and business success. She speaks to the evolving challenges facing internal communication professionals, and the strategic role they play in organisations. She also discusses how communication professionals play a key role in change management programs, supporting leaders through turbulent times.

Much is being written at the moment about what 2024 will bring. Folks are weighing in on corporate issues such as hybrid workplaces, culture, workload demands and more. Here are some of the things we’re keeping an eye on.

• In the current dynamic environment, the role of the communication professional is more critical than ever. To succeed, communication professionals need to change their mindsets to step up, to proactively seek opportunities, and to contribute strategically to the success of their organisations to help win the war on mistrust. The role of the communication professional as coach and advisor is only going to grow in importance, and communication professionals need to develop their competencies to succeed.
• The rise of polarisation and trust issues, where misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information have started to challenge us, means that communication professionals must work harder to communicate with stakeholders. Organisations need to clearly communicate with stakeholders, backed by data and facts that can help to combat misinformation.
• The EU’s AI Act will serve as blueprint for the rest of the world, providing a legal framework for the development of AI. Be sure to attend the AI Forums that are scheduled throughout the year to engage with experts on trends in this evolving technology.
• On that note, on December 27, the NY Times reported that it was suing Open AI and Microsoft for copyright infringement associated with AI’s responses. This is just the thin edge of the wedge related use of copyrighted material. It will be interesting to watch this unfold and to understand what it means for those who use these tools.
• On the flip side, some lovable old favourites hit the public domain this year, including Steamboat Willie’s Mickey Mouse, Peter Pan, Tigger and more. Watch for what happens next to these characters, and other works that have exceeded their 95-year copyright protection.

• In January, we will strengthen our focus on mental wellbeing and look forward to supporting the Global Alliance’s Health & Wellbeing month. Visit Health & Wellbeing Month — Global Alliance (globalalliancepr.org) for resources, articles and webinars.
• We’re working on some great new content – we’ll be launching a new webinar series in February
• Greater emphasis on building the communication skills of leaders and employees across organisations (not just with communication professionals)
• We’re partnering with some amazing communication professionals around the world to expand our global presence and learn from each other.
• We will be holding our second THRIVE Wellbeing retreat in Bali 20–26 October, 2024. We’re renamed it to better reflect the CSCE brand, but the program and opportunity will be just as spectacular as 2023. Interested in attending? Click here to express your interest and learn more.  
• Following our first successful Executive Forum in Melbourne, we will continue to have these three times a year and start to host in various geographies.
• We look forward to helping our members learn, grow and thrive. Join us today

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