Author and contact - Brenda O'Neill

The aim of the forum should be:

• To share resources, experiences and expertise with other professionals working in IC in the UAE
• To create an open forum where dialogue can take place between all those involved, wherever they sit in the org chart - Corporate Comms, HR, Marketing, Org Dev and Training & Development
• To provide a starting place to conduct research on IC in the UAE and in the region

The forum uses two main channels to keep the work load, cost and administration as low and informal as possible while getting the practical outcomes we want!

Face to face meetings:

Aim to meet three times a year for a 2-3 hour session (roughly Feb, June and October). Three times seems so much more practical that quarterly and fits in with the rhythm of the Dubai year. 

Centre it around a breakfast or lunch and use it as an opportunity for structured networking and input. 

Keep it free for all and as an opportunity for core participants to bring along somebody from the “opposite side”. Ie if your IC sits with Corp Comms, you should bring your HR Manager with you, if you work in IC, bring your Brand Manager etc. This is because of my own obsession with bridging the gap!

At each of the sessions suggest we do one of the following activities:

1. Find an external expert at a high level (e.g. Melcrum) who can talk to us about an area about which members have expressed an interest/need.
2. Have short, informal updates from 5 key members on a recent project e.g. updating your internet, handling layoffs, new CSR initiative, handling an office move, starting an IC department. Strictly no competition, fancy presentations etc. Nothing longer than 8-10 mins.
3. When the group is larger, have discussions around “Topic Tables” or “Sharing Tables”: tables around topics/questions/recent projects with a table leader and the equivalent of a speed dating set up. When everybody has had the chance to visit a few tables, the table leader can give a roundup of discussions on their table. So, you could have tables, for example, on “Fostering Good Relations with Senior Managers” or “The Role of Training in IC” or “Producing a Company Newsletter” etc.

Online:

What help do I need from other IC people in Dubai/UAE? Online community found on LinkedIn...

• Who else is working in IC in the UAE?
• A company profile and a personal profile
• Idea of where IC sits in the company
• Recent projects completed that you can give me an idea about
• Current projects/challenges you are working on
• Resources you have to share (reports, expertise)