Technology, Trends, and Communication Transformation Month May 2025

Technology is rapidly changing the way we communicate. Keeping up with the latest trends is essential. The Artificial Intelligence transformation of business, economies and societies substantially affects the Public Relations profession and the way in which organizations manage stakeholder relations. There is also the need to manage the high level of public expectation around sustainability and ethical communication.

We have an opportunity to cement the position Communication and Public Relations as a strategic management function.

Venice summit

The third Global Alliance European Regional Summit will be held in Venice on 16 May 2025 and celebrates Technology, Trends, and Communication Transformation Month.

The European Communication Summit is emerging as the premier communication event at the European level. It will be a unique networking opportunity for leaders and members of European communication associations, to exchange insights and best practices that affect our profession.

The summit aims to address the evolving landscape of AI use in public relations and developing ethical frameworks for its positive use. It also allows a focus on the changing regulatory frameworks (such as the EU green claim directive 2026) and stakeholder expectations around transparency, fact based communication and ethical behaviour.

It will also provide an opportunity to participate in a European level collaboration in PR and Communications management, which will make us stronger and more effective.

This summit, organised by the European Regional Council of the Global Alliance for PR and Communications Management and FERPI, the Italian Federation of Public Relations professionals, will bring together PR experts and leaders of major national communications associations from the whole of Europe.

The main benefits of the European Communication Summit in Venice are to:

  • provide guidance to communications professionals navigating trends, transformation and technology in these complex times.

  • share visionary ideas with a global audience.

  • engage with other thought leaders and industry experts, expanding your professional network.

  • access to all conference materials and a digital compilation of the event.

Alongside the summit the Global Alliance will hold its 2025 AGM on 15 May  and FERPI hold their annual conference Inspiring PR on 17 May. Delegates attending the European Summit are welcome to attend the FERPI conference which is delivered in Italian but with translation available.

We encourage all Global Alliance members and all Regional Councils to support the Technology, Trends, and Communication Transformation Month by organising events and submitting articles, videos, podcasts in their countries and regions to address the challenges from their various perspectives. Do please promote these through social media with the month’s hashtag #PRTrends2025. Your contributions will be very welcome! 

By embracing closer collaboration between the members of the Global Alliance we can all grow, learn from each other and open new channels for communication, leading to ever-higher standards of professionalism. A close, inclusive culture, which brings our family of PR organisations closer together, will benefit us all.

Silvia Arto
Chair, Technology, Trends, and Communication Transformation Month

European Summit: Technology, Trends & Communication Transformation

The European Summit promoted by the Global Alliance will take place during the 11th edition of InspiringPR organized by FERPI - Federazione Relazioni Pubbliche Italiana (Italian Federation of Public Relations).

Date and time:

Friday, 16 May, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Saturday, 17 May, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Location:

The Home of The Human Safety Net Venice

105 Piazza San Marco 30124 Venice Italy

InspiringPR, the Public Relations Festival promoted by FERPI – Federazione Relazioni Pubbliche Italiana (Italian Federation of Public Relations) and organized by FERPI Triveneto, returns to Venice. A unique event in the Italian communication landscape, it offers a space for connection and inspiration for communicators, professionals from both public and private organizations, as well as for those who—though not directly involved in the sector—play a role in shaping its future.

European Summit “Technology, Trends & Communication Transformation” promoted by the European Regional Council of Global Alliance for Public Relations & Communication Management. This international gathering will serve as a platform for dialogue on how AI and ethics are reshaping the communication landscape.

The Festival title, “Good times, bad times. È tempo di essere etici” (“It’s time to be ethical”), emphasizes the indispensable value of ethics in our work, especially in these times.

PROGRAM

Friday, 16 May, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM

European Summit: Technology, Trends & Communication Transformation

Focused on technology, trends, and the transformation of communication, the annual Summit, promoted by the European Board of the Global Alliance for Public Relations & Communication Management, will bring together delegates from Italy and around the world.

12:00 PM | Registration & Networking Buffet

1:00 PM | Opening Session

• Silvia Arto (Chair, Global Alliance European Regional Council and Vice-President, Global Alliance): The Technology, Trends & Communication Transformation Month

• Vincenzo Manfredi (Scientific Director, FERPILab): Intro to Research

• Giampaolo Azzoni (Università di Pavia): Ethics, Communication & AI

• Alberto Bitonti (Università di Lugano): Digital innovation and public affairs 

1:45 PM – 2:30 PM | European Case Histories

• Mandy Pearse (Seashell Communications and former President, CIPR – UK): AI Ethics by CIPR

• Pavel Vlcek (President, ASCOPA – CZ): ESG, Sustainibility & Corporate responsibility Communication in CEE region

• Simona Panseri (Senior Director, Communications & Public Affairs, Google Southern Europe): Platforms & Ethical AI

2:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Interactive Workshop

Facilitators: Bonnie Caver (USA) and Adrian Cropley (Australia)

Reviewing and Updating The Guiding Principles for Ethical and Responsible Artificial Intelligence

Outcome: The Venice Pledge, a global commitment on AI in communication

5:00 PM – 5:20 PM | Consent and Approval of the Venice Pledge

5:20 PM – 5:40 PM | Final Remarks

• Filippo Nani (President, FERPI)

• Prof. Justin Green (President & CEO, Global Alliance)

7:00 PM | Aperitivo/Dinner (to be confirmed)

Saturday, 17 May, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

InspiringPR – Public Relations Festival

9:00 AM – 9:50 AM | Registration and Welcome Coffee

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Institutional Greetings

• Ada Sinigalia (FERPI Triveneto Delegate)

• Filippo Nani (President, FERPI)

• Prof. Justin Green (President & CEO, Global Alliance)

• Institutional representatives

Host: Francesca Terranova (Rai journalist)

10:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Morning Speaker Session (order may vary)

• Alberto Pirni (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna di Pisa)

• Lucia Dal Negro (CEO and co-founder, De-LAB srl)

• Stefano De Alessandri (CEO, ANSA)

• Arianna Traviglia (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Cultural Heritage Technology - CCHT)

• Attilio Di Scala (expert in M&A and change management)

• Antonella Mariani (editor-in-chief of the Italian newspaper Avvenire)

• Paolo Iabichino (advertising writer, creative director, founder Civic Brands Observatory with Ipsos)

12:30 PM – 1:00 PM | Awards

• InspiringPR Award – 7th edition for the most inspiring campaign

• È il Digitale Bellezza – 5th edition, in memory of Adriana Ripandelli

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Lunch

2:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Thematic Interactive Groups

• Languages and Algorithms

• New Humanism and Welfare

• Gender Relations and Leadership

• Businesses and Conscious Communication

Find more information on our social channels!

Global Alliance international members can register for free.
To receive the registration link and code for the European Communication Summit Venice 2025, please email cao@globalalliancepr.org with the subject line "Registration to European Communication Summit Venice 2025".

Since January 16, 2024, the municipality’s platform has been active, and it is mandatory to register in order to access Venice, even on the day of our event. Therefore, it is essential that participants of the Festival reserve their access to the city through the dedicated municipal website: https://cda.ve.it/it.