3rd - 5th February 2026 @ 9:30am - 12:00pm (3 morning sessions)
Overview
We begin this year in a world at war. Invasions, widening conflict, deliberate destabilisation, economic shock, democratic erosion and the weaponisation of information are now constants rather than outliers. Supply chains, energy, food, climate, technology and trust are all under strain. Divisions are being engineered, amplified and monetised. The risk horizon is no longer distant. It is here.
For public relations and leadership communication practitioners, this is not abstract. It shapes the safety of people, our licence to operate, the expectations of stakeholders and the credibility of institutions. It confronts us in our daily work and demands that we respond with clarity, courage and competence.
PR Horizons is a live, focused series created to help you face this reality directly. Across three mornings we examine what is happening now and what is likely to arrive next – and translate that into the decisions and actions you must take in practice. We will look at how conflict, coercion and “division by design” alter behaviour and trust. We will work through what this means for strategy, advice, engagement and leadership communication.
You will not be overwhelmed with noise. You will be equipped to act.
Over three mornings, we will work through:
- The global and national risk environment for 2026 and the implications for organisational reputation and resilience
- Artificial intelligence as a structural shift in communication practice and governance
- The next phase of misinformation, targeted manipulation and “divided on purpose” polarisation
- What AI-driven search and discovery mean for visibility, influence and public understanding of truth
- Changing stakeholder expectations and the rising demand for authentic engagement in unstable times
- What all this requires of you as a leadership communication professional in 2026
PR Horizons from PR Knowledge Hub is about understanding the current conditions and the ones forming around you. It is about recognising what has already moved, what is still moving and what that means for the way that you advise, plan, respond and lead. Designed for practitioners at all stages, from senior leaders through to those newer to the profession.
The year has already started at pace. Standing still is not an option. Join us for PR Horizons and be ready to meet what is coming towards you – with confidence, ethical judgement and practical capability.
Your presenter is..
Catherine Arrow LPRINZ FPRINZ FCIPR
Catherine Arrow is a pioneer and recognised leader in public relations education and practice and was named Global Public Relations Practitioner of the Year at the World PR Awards. She works with professionals and organisations of all types to build capability, strengthen strategy and deliver meaningful outcomes.
As founder and director of PR Knowledge Hub, Catherine leads an independent learning centre that provides high-quality professional development for practitioners worldwide — in person, online and on demand. Her work spans organisational relations, internal communication, public engagement, advocacy, ethics, risk and reputation, with a central focus on the practical use of emerging technologies. Over the last decade, she has focused on exploring and communicating the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on public relations and society, providing critical training and guidance and launching the first global AI in PR Capability Certification in 2022. Catherine supports practitioners at all stages of their career, helping them navigate complexity, build trust and lead with purpose.
Catherine is a Life member and Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Accredited Fellow ASEAN PR Network and a Founding Chartered Public Relations Practitioner. She is a Member of the Commission on Public Relations Education and a Member of the Institute of Directors. Contributions to the public relations profession include her eight-year tenure as board member and Secretary of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management and she is an active member of the International Advisory Board for FERPI. A respected writer and speaker on the societal impacts of public relations, Catherine’s career has spanned the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and she is a recipient of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand President’s Award for exemplary contribution to the profession.
