Speakers
Chris Payne
Insight
Change has always been part of business life, but the pace and unpredictability we’re facing now are creating what transformation experts United Minds call “The Squeeze”. Internal communicators are expected to help employees navigate transformation when leaders themselves don’t have all the answers. This session explores how to manage that tension – balancing honesty and reassurance in the face of uncertainty.
Drawing on their extensive experience both in-house and as change management consultants, Chris and Becci from United Minds will unpack the impact of uncertainty fatigue from a change management perspective, share models for adapting comms to different levels of speed and uncertainty and provide practical tools, templates and case studies from organisations that are already doing this well. Expect actionable insights to help you guide employees – and yourself – through high-pressure, high-change environments with confidence.
Chris Payne became a consultant following a successful 20-year career in-house, leading employee engagement and internal communications teams at global healthcare and pharmaceutical companies. With a background in journalism and psychology, Chris specialises in culture transformation with a focus on change management, restructuring and acquisitions, crisis management and corporate responsibility. She has a particular passion for digital transformation and leads United Minds’ AI offering.
Becci Gould is a specialist in change, leadership and culture at United Minds. Alongside working with clients on M&As, restructures, digital and AI transformations, she leads the company’s thought leadership around how change management and communications need to evolve based on the uncertainty and pace of constant change today. Previously, Becci trained in Communications and Behavioural Psychology before heading up change management for a boutique start-up consultancy.