Designing the future of internal communication: The Leader’s Forum

Cathryn Barnard

Director, Working the Future

Cat is a co-founder at Working the Future, a business advisory firm helping organisations and their leaders make sense of the future of work. Working the Future’s trend intelligence and reports provide distilled analysis of the multiple, convergent forces driving change in the workplace. These insights are used as the foundation upon which to design practical, people-centred, future-proofing strategies.

With a prior career in workforce planning spanning three decades, Cathryn has helped build high-performing teams delivering leading edge communication technology across Europe and beyond. With additional experience of starting and growing successful businesses, Cat recognises the crucial role of human connection, relationship and communication in cementing team engagement and wider organisational performance. 

Since 2019, Working the Future has supported the IoIC to analyse and report on the key trends driving change at work and to present the expanding opportunity for internal communication professionals.

Dr Alex Gapud

Dr Alex Gapud is a workplace anthropologist on a mission to make work not suck for people. He’s a pioneer in introducing anthropological concepts, theory and research methods to the world of IC and organisational culture, specialising in the "social glue" that holds organisations together: culture, trust, and belonging.

Formerly the resident Cultural Anthropologist at scarlettabbott, he has led and conducted employee research at leading brands such as MBB and Big 4 consultancies, high street banks and financial services firms, and many household names. He’s made media appearances in VICE magazine, Harpers Bazaar, The Independent, and other trade media outlets such as IoIC Voice, HR Director and HR Zone.

Before transitioning into the corporate world, Dr Alex was an award-winning Teaching Fellow in Social Anthropology at his alma mater, the University of Edinburgh.

Today, he bridges the gap between academic rigour and business practice, helping leaders understand the "why" behind employee behaviour to cultivate cultures that work for both people and businesses.

Howard Krais

Howard Krais is co-founder of True, established with Ann-Marie Blake in 2023 to help organisations create change with their people rather than doing it to them.

True’s work is grounded in the belief that a genuinely people-centred approach drives stronger, more sustainable business performance.

Before founding True, Howard held senior global roles in change, communications and employee engagement at organisations including NatWest, Eversheds, EY, GSK and Johnson Matthey. Across these roles, he became known for combining strategic clarity with a deep understanding of the employee experience.

In recent years, Howard has emerged as a leading voice on organisational listening. His research led to the publication of Leading the Listening Organisation (2023), now widely used by leaders seeking to build trust, dialogue and engagement.

A Fellow of both the Institute for Internal Communications and the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence, Howard is a sought-after speaker on leadership, change and communication.

Dr Naeema Pasha

Speaker and Author

Dr. Naeema Pasha is a renowned expert and leading voice in artificial intelligence (AI), diversity, careers, and skilling, shaping the future of work with a focus on ethical and inclusive practices. Naeema established and led the World of Work (WOW) Institute at Henley Business School, spearheading groundbreaking research like "The Equity Effect," which illuminated racial disparities in UK businesses, and "Privacy Ltd," a short film critically examining the ethical implications of facial recognition technology. She has also researched generational differences in workplaces, looking at trends such as lazy-girl jobs and anti-work. She also has researched and taught about change, resilience and caring in workplaces.  

As an independent consultant, Naeema collaborates with organisations and institutions, providing strategic guidance on AI, diversity, resilience, and skills development projects. Notably, she contributed to a United Nations paper addressing the potential risks of Generative AI. She co-authored the book "Futureproof Your Career," empowering individuals to navigate the evolving work landscape, and her latest book chapter delves into the implications of AI Coachbots and the impact of a dehumanised work environment. Naeema is a Visiting Fellow at Henley Business School and was named by Ifpc-online as one of the Top 50 Worldwide Influencers on AI Ethics.  

Jennifer Sproul

Chief Executive, Institute of Internal Communication

Jennifer is responsible for the leadership of IoIC, the only independent professional body solely dedicated to internal communication. IoIC is the voice of internal communication, setting standards for more than 70 years through qualifications, career development, thought leadership and best practice.  

Prior to joining IoIC, Jennifer has worked for over 20 years in professional associations, most recently as Strategic Marketing & Sales Director at the Market Research Society, developing and leading on activities across marketing communications (both internal & external), careers, membership, professional development and publishing. ­­­

Perry Timms

Founder and Chief Energy Officer, PTHR

Perry Timms has over three decades of experience in business change and performance, with the last 23 years in HR/Organisation Development. He ranked Number 1 in HR's Most Influential Thinkers 2022 (his fifth inclusion in that list) and is now in the HR Most Influential Hall of Fame. He is a 4x Guest Professor, a 2x TEDx speaker, a 3x Author, 4x Engagement 101 Global Influencer plus 2024’s Global People & Culture Icon. Perry is a Chartered Member of the CIPD, a Fellow of the RSA and in 2024 was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in self-managed, democratic organisations, and a Thinkers 360 Top 100 Global HR Influencer.

Perry founded People and Transformational HR 13 years ago. The venture is a (re) Certified BCorporation, a WorldBlu Certified Freedom-Centred organisation, a Global Top 50 Self-Managed Organisation awarded the Haier Institute’s RDHY Certification; is a Gold Standard 4-day Working Week, a 2023 Top 50 EMEA Inspiring Workplace, a Top 2 Most Flexible Workplace on the Flexa Index, a Living Wage employer, and a Climate Positive enterprise.

Dominic Walters

Leadership Communication Specialist and IoIC President

Dominic is President of the IoIC.

He has specialised in leadership and line manager communication and development for over 25 years. He has worked in senior ‘in-house’ roles and as a coach and consultant in the UK, Europe, Asia and the US, supporting leadership teams across a range of sectors.

He has also featured in print, podcast, TV and radio promoting effective leadership communication. Dominic has worked with leadership teams in finance, pharmaceuticals, engineering, healthcare and public sector.

Dominic is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, and past national Chairman, Governance Adviser and Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communication. He has developed the audiobook, ‘Leading Inside Out’ in conjunction with IoIC.