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With feverish speculation about the imminent calling of a General Election – perhaps as early as 6pm this evening – the Edelman Public Affairs team assesses the likely outcomes ahead and their impact on businesses.

While just three ultimate end states remain the same - no deal, deal, no Brexit – the former is becoming increasingly likely, and the routes to achieve them are also crystallising.

This week will see rebel Conservatives join forces with other parties to seek to extend the Brexit deadline, while Team Johnson has vowed to eject and deselect any Tory MPs seeking to undermine his no deal position.

It is hard to see any outcome being reached without an election being called to give the Prime Minister the majority he craves. The question is whether Labour would vote in favour of an election (which could fall in November), having spent the last three years calling for one, or whether they follow Tony Blair’s advice not to “fall into the trap” of enabling an accidental no deal.

Buckle in for the biggest week in politics since the last. But this time we may well see the real splitting of the Conservative Party and without doubt a test of nerve on all sides.

Click here to read the full analysis.

With over 6,500 exhibitors and 1,800 speakers from around the world, GITEX 2024 wrapped up last Friday – and wow, it was bigger, bolder, and more immersive than ever! It really showed off the UAE’s determination not just to watch the tech revolution unfold, but to help shape it. 

Here are my top 5 takeaways from clocking over 50,000+ steps around DWTC last week:

  1. Ethical AI and inclusive tech

    A big focus was the ‘Intelligence Grid’, all about making sure AI and tech are accessible to everyone. As AI becomes a bigger part of our lives, there’s a real risk of widening global gaps, but initiatives like this aim to make sure the benefits are shared fairly. The UAE is once again leading the way, prioritising responsible AI development that works for everyone, regardless of background.

  2.  AI powered holograms

    AI was everywhere, with countless panels on how GenAI is changing everything, from content creation to marketing strategies and decision-making. Yet, what caught my eye was e&’s human-digital advisors – holograms powered by AI. After walking around for miles, I stumbled across a live demo of one, and seeing a digital advisor chat with a journalist felt like a glimpse into the future. This tech isn’t just futuristic – it’s already here!

  3. Smart cities are getting smarter

    If you’ve ever been stuck in traffic in Dubai on the way to or back from DWTC, you know the struggle. But that could change soon. Dubai’s push to become a top smart city was clear at GITEX, with cool initiatives including Presight’s AI-powered traffic management system. It analyses real-time data to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow. And these aren’t just ideas – they’re set to make a real difference into our everyday lives!

  4. Sustainable tech is leading the agenda 

    AI and robotics may have stolen the spotlight this year, but climate tech was also front and center. From more efficient datacentres to smart water management and carbon capture, there were some game-changing solutions aimed at helping industries reach their sustainability goals. With climate change continuing to dominate global conversations, it was great to see tech companies stepping up with solutions that could make a real impact.

  5. The quiet revolution: quantum computing 

    The Technology Innovation Institute, for example, announced a partnership with the UAE Space Agency to build cutting-edge quantum communication infrastructure. Quantum isn’t just some futuristic concept anymore – it’s becoming a reality with the power to shake up entire industries. From cryptography to space communication, quantum is advancing faster than we may realise and could disrupt tech in ways we’re only starting to grasp. 

    But GITEX isn’t just about showing the latest gadgets. With a 40% increase in international exhibitors, it’s clear the UAE isn’t just watching the digital revolution – it’s shaping the future of innovation and AI. From smarter, greener cities to quantum breakthroughs, GITEX made it clear that the future of tech isn’t just about innovation – it’s about responsibility. And as we step into this new era. The UAE is ready to lead the charge.

Edelman, the global communications firm, has announced the hire of Nidaa Lone, as Head of Abu Dhabi to manage its regional headquarters. 

In her role, Nidaa will lead and grow the agency’s biggest mandates, providing strategic counsel to clients with quality execution of communications programmes. She will also lead operational charge and drive an inclusive and high-performing culture within the business. 

Nidaa joins from Haleon, where she was Global Head of External Communications. Prior to Haleon, Nidaa spent 10 years with a global communications consultancy as Managing Director in London, providing communications counsel for some of the world’s largest businesses across a range of sectors including financial services, pharma and healthcare, natural resources, and consumer industries. 

On her new role, Nidaa said “I’m so excited to be joining Edelman, a communications powerhouse with a stellar client roster and truly collaborative culture. I am honored to lead our team in Abu Dhabi, where the ambitious growth agenda of the Emirate opens up huge opportunities for impactful communications.” 

Edelman remains the only international communications firm with its regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi, and Nidaa’s appointment is a sign of Edelman’s continued commitment to the Emirate since the agency opened its first office in the UAE in 2008. The firm has long-standing relationships with major clients in Abu Dhabi and has trebled the size of the team in the last three years. 

On the appointment, Omar Qirem, CEO, Edelman Middle East said, “I am delighted Nidaa has decided to join the firm at such an exciting time of growth for the region. She brings a wealth of experience in corporate positioning, global media engagement and strategic communications council, which will prove invaluable to our teams and clients in Abu Dhabi and the wider region.” 

Edelman is expected to announce further senior appointments shortly.

Global communications firm, Edelman, has today announced the extension of its strategic partnership with Founders Forum Group, a curated global community of the world’s leading digital and technology entrepreneurs and group of businesses supporting entrepreneurs at every stage of their journeys. 

Both companies have collaborated on co-branded content and event activity, as well as partnering to support Founders Forum Group’s tentpole industry event, Founders Forum Global, which will take place from 11-13 June, hosting many of the world’s most successful tech founders and game-changing CEOs, including hundreds of unicorn founders. 

The announcement comes as the UK celebrates London Tech Week, following Founders Forum Group’s acquisition of Tech Nation last year with the mission to scale the UK tech sector and maintain its position as a global tech hub. London Tech Week continues to grow as a platform for tech innovators across the UK, doubling in size with 30,000 expected to visit, up from 15,000 attendees in 2023. 

“Edelman works with some of the world’s most influential tech brands and has a firm grasp of the tech ecosystem, making them a natural partner for our flagship events, particularly this year when we’re bringing our Founders Forum Global event to a wider audience live via our broadcast stage. We’re delighted to continue our partnership bringing the best of both our worlds to the global technology sector,” 

- Carolyn Dawson, Founders Forum Group CEO. 

Through this partnership, the Founders Forum Group community of entrepreneurs, investors, CEOs, and government leaders will also gain insights from the 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer drawn from Edelman’s global Executive Positioning team and Centres of Excellence including AI, Web3 and Cybersecurity. 

“We’re excited to be continuing our partnership with Founders Forum Group at this pivotal moment for the technology industry. Our latest Trust Barometer shows us that trust in innovation, particularly the adoption and acceptance of AI, is under intense scrutiny. The vast community that Founders Forum Group represents has the potential to drive a new era of prosperity. We look forward to the opportunity of helping restore trust in the promise of the groundbreaking innovations they deliver,” 

- Ruth Warder, CEO, Edelman UK. 

Founders Forum Global’s broadcast stage will be streaming live on Bloomberg from 10:30am BST on Thursday 13 June, 2024 here. 

Federal Budget Wrap 2024-2025

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ third federal budget delivered the Australian Labor Government’s second consecutive surplus, one that is largely domestically focused against a backdrop of ongoing inflation and cost-of-living pressures. 

Chalmers said that the budget aims to balance the need to bring down inflation, while making the Australian economy more productive and dynamic through investment for the future. 

The budget delivers tax cuts for all Australian taxpayers, including a significant cost-of-living relief package, provisions to increase wages for aged-care workers and nurses, power bill rebates for all Australians and an expanded parental leave package for households. 

While this year’s budget arguably offers some positive news for individual Australians, the picture for business is mixed, with support measures for small business aimed at easing pressures, supporting growth and helping to level the playing field. 

However, the budget also points to weak economic growth, a return to a budget deficit in 2025/26 and beyond and a weaker labour market. Concerns remain amongst business leaders about whether measures to tackle inflation are strong enough and they have cautioned that extra spending could contribute to a weakened budget position over the next four years (source: The Australian 15 May 2024).

 

Key items

 

Cost-of-living relief

 

 

• Tax cuts for every taxpayer (13.6 million Australians). 

• Energy bill relief through a $300 rebate for all households from 1 July, with more rebates for one million eligible small businesses. 

• Wiping $3 billion in student debt for more than three million Australians.

 • $1.9 billion to boost the maximum rate of Commonwealth rental assistance by 10 per cent

A future made in Australia’ Energy transition
  • $22.7 billion over the next decade to build “a Future Made in Australia” aimed at maximising the economic and industrial benefits of the net zero transformation and securing Australia’s place in a changing global economic and strategic landscape. 

     

  •  $1.7 billion for the establishment of the Future Made in Australia innovation fund, which will support innovation, commercialisation, pilot and demonstration projects and early-stage development in priority sectors, including renewable hydrogen, green metals, low carbon liquid fuels and clean energy technology manufacturing such as batteries. 

     

• The budget aims to accelerate the growth of new industries by providing a $1.5 billion extension over seven years to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s industry building investments. 

• $519.1 million for the Future Drought Fund to support farmers and rural communities.

Small business

• $290 million to extend the $20,000 instant asset write-off for small businesses with an annual turnover below $10 million (around 4 million businesses).

 • $10.8 million to support the mental and financial wellbeing of small business owners.

Care economy

• $2.2 billion towards aged care, as well as provisions to increase award wages for aged care workers.

 • Wage increases for childcare and early educators.

Health

• Up to $4 billion for cheaper medicines, including freezing the maximum cost of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescriptions for everyone. 

• Increasing funding for Medicare and some mental health services.

Housing

• $6.2 billion in new investments including public transport and infrastructure, with the ambition to build 1.2 million new homes. 

• $1 billion to states and territories to pay for roads, sewerage, energy, and water connections for new homes. 

• An additional $16.5 billion for new and existing infrastructure projects across Australia over the next 10 years.

 

Initial reactions

Opposition: While the Coalition prepares to present its budget response on Thursday, the initial reaction from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton suggested Labor has made bad economic decisions: “Labor’s budget was a missed opportunity to help you at a time where you need help. You didn’t address our economic challenges or inspire confidence. It’s a budget that breaks promises rather than keeps them. A budget that weakens Australia’s financial position, rather than strengthens it and it’s a budget that adds to rather than alleviates your cost-of living pressures.”

 ABC News: Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says Labor’s budget is a ‘missed opportunity’ to help Australians in a time of need, Brett Worthington and Nicholas McElroy. 

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor suggested that while inflationary, it won’t oppose spending measures. It’s a “Band-Aid on a bullet wound,” saying: “When you have $4 of spending for every dollar of saving, you are not fighting the inflation dragon that so many Australians are suffering with.” … “You should be dealing with the source of the problem when inflation is raging. The government isn’t doing that because this budget is designed for an election and not a cost-of-living crisis.”

 ABC 7:30 Report

 Business: Bran Black, CEO of the Business Council of Australia (BCA), praised some initiatives to unlock capital for green investments, but cautioned whether the approach to spending would reduce inflation as desired. He said; “Bill relief is always welcome for low-income households struggling with the cost of living…However, we remain concerned about the potential inflationary impact of a catch-all approach.”

His comments included concern that the government had failed to set adequate fiscal guardrails on spending, with $20 billion in extra spending measures frontloaded over the next two years and the bottom line deteriorating – with both increasing the risk of higher inflation. He called for the Future Made in Australia Act to also include “serious reform of our tax system, significant productivity and investment-driving measures, and regulatory and planning reform.” More positively, he also said: “The Government’s commitment to reforming Australia’s skills system is welcomed by business.” 

The Australian Financial Review, Power bill relief, tax cuts in a budget ‘for every Australian’: Chalmers Federal Budget 2024: Labor’s budget seeks to ‘buy a rate cut’ ahead of election, says Peter Dutton | The Australian https://www.bca.com.au/budget_takes_positive_steps_on_competitiveness_with_more_to_do 

Andrew McKellar, Chief Executive of The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry commented that the impact of the budget on inflation is still unclear, but it was “difficult to accept the assertion that it materially reduces underlying cost or price pressures…The projection of a surplus for the current financial year is positive, however, over the next four years, there appears to be little prospect of substantial progress towards further budget repair.”

Federal Budget 2024: Labor’s budget seeks to ‘buy a rate cut’ ahead of election, says Peter Dutton | The Australian

Rob Scott, CEO of Wesfarmers, welcomed the budget’s $7 billion in production tax credits for critical minerals processing, saying the move was; “A smart, targeted use of the tax system to solve big problems, leverage our competitive advantages and enhance Australia’s prosperity”. Scott said the incentives would encourage investment, support job creation and productivity, while pushing for more funding for carbon capture and storage. 

The Australian Financial Review, Power bill relief, tax cuts in a budget ‘for every Australian’: Chalmers

 Retail: Paul Zahra, CEO of the Australian Retailers Association, welcomed measures to address the cost-of-living, but said more needs to be done to support small business, fund employment pathways for retail and incentivise the transition to a circular economy. He said; “We welcome measures that provide cost-of-living relief…which will have a flow on impact on retail. Australians are desperate for financial relief, and so too are retailers. Business costs remain dangerously high without productivity improvements and discretionary spending is softening significantly in the wake of tightening household budgets.”

 ‘Retailers welcome cost-of-living relief in Federal Budget, concerns remain around support for small businesses’ – Australian Retailers Association 

Health sector: Despite significant funding of initiatives in this year’s budget such as strengthening Medicare and accessibility to health services and making medicine more affordable to ease the cost-of-living pressures, Labor’s carriage of the health portfolio has been met with uproar. Dr Nicole Higgins, the president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), has slammed the budget saying; “At a time when we’re trying to strengthen Medicare and support our patients through a cost-of-living crisis … this budget has dropped the ball.” The RACGP says the budget offers “little to no relief” for patients and threatens to undo Medicare improvements. News GP, Federal Budget 2024-25 ‘dropped the ball’: RACGP Professor Steve Robson, Australian Medical Association President, was disappointed by the lack of funding to reform general practice, reduce surgery wait times and improve access and affordability for patients. He said; “More urgent care clinics is not a long-term strategic solution, and the government keeps looking to fund more of them without proper evaluation of their impact. What we need is reform that enables general practice to deliver the primary care that our patients need.” 

‘Budget a missed opportunity to tackle health system issues’- Australian Medical Association

 In its formal response to the budget, Mental Health Australia CEO Carolyn Nikoloski said the organisation is disappointed that the national outcry for more mental health support has not been fully funded in the 2024- 2025 Federal Budget. She said: “Australia needs urgent mental health reform to address the crisis we’re facing…Why haven’t we seen investment that matches the level of need in the 2024-2025 Federal Budget?”

‘Funding for mental health falls short in Federal Budget’ – Mental Health Australia

 Energy sector: John Grimes, Smart Energy Council gave the budget an ‘A,’ saying it was a “red letter day” for the energy sector with the substantial investment in clean energy initiatives. He claimed the budget will change the future of Australia, adding Australia will become an ‘exporter of climate solutions.” The Guardian, Jim Chalmers budget speech – as it happened 

Housing sector: Denita Wawn, CEO of the Master Builders Association, commended the additional $6.2 billion in new housing measures. She said; “The federal budget has finally recognised the importance of a holistic, cross-portfolio approach to solving the housing crisis and made some inroads.” 

The Australian Financial Review, Power bill relief, tax cuts in a budget ‘for every Australian’: Chalmers 

Crossbench: Senator Jacqui Lambie: Senator Jackie Lambie’s initial response on ABC News last night included criticism of the Australian Government, suggesting it was “too lazy to do means testing” in reference to the $300 bill rebate for all Australian households. She called out the absence of any investment in youth crime, fueled by drug and alcohol issues. Senator Lambie was also critical on the subject of the structural return to a budget deficit in the coming years, calling out a lack of detail regarding exactly where funding is going or further details on what she called the indigenous jobs program. 

ABC News TV

 Senator David Pocock: Appearing on ABC’s coverage of the budget, Senator David Pocock echoed Senator Lambie’s comments on the $300 power bill rebate, saying to not means test it is “frankly ridiculous”. He said that with three million Australians living in poverty, giving those with six-figure salaries $300 “doesn’t make sense”. Senator Pocock supported investments in critical minerals but said the budget missed the opportunity to better support the manufacturing of things like solar cells here in Australia. He said he was also disappointed that the budget omitted household electrification – citing the “huge opportunity” to spur investment and support local companies in that space and boost exports.

ABC News TV

Winners and losers

The government's second budget in less than a year has been announced, revealing winners and losers and highlighting the need for prioritising vulnerable Australians to balance the books. The budget is expected to bring a small surplus of around $4bn this year, ending a 15-year-long deficit. However, deficits are predicted for the next four years with many Australians facing financial struggles.

Winners

Losers

Green innovation

One of the integral components of this year’s budget is the Australian Government’s ambition to turn Australia into a renewable energy superpower. The Australian Government has allocated $6.7 billion in production tax incentives to produce renewable hydrogen over the next decade and is investing $8.8 billion to add more value to Australia’s resources and strengthen critical minerals supply chains over the next ten years. 

It is looking to encourage more Australians to take up jobs in the sector with $1.1 billion to reform higher education and deliver the skilled work force needed to accelerate this transition.

Universities and International Students 

Placements for international students will now be capped. Universities will only be able to take a certain number of students, and any they wish to take above this will be decided based on a formula accounting for how much additional student housing the institution has built.

Superannuation:From July 2026, employers will pay super at payday rather than quarterly, improving retirement incomes for young workers.Pharmacists:Pharmacies will incur an additional cost of around $170,000 per year as patients can now buy 60 days' worth of common medicines for chronic conditions instead of 30 days.
Medicare and health:A $3.5 billion, five-year package will encourage doctors to bulk-bill. Money will also be used for modernising My Health Record, lung cancer screening, and cheaper common medicines.Smokers and vapers:Smokers will have a 5 per cent annual tax increase for three years, while vapers will have limited flavor choices, generating $3.3 billion extra revenue with the government also allocating $63 million towards prevention and imposing new regulations on vape purchases.
Small business:A tax discount of up to $20,000 will be offered to small businesses with an annual turnover under $50 million to incentivise more energy-efficient practices, expecting to benefit up to 3.8 million businesses.Immigrants:Visa fees for temporary and permanent residency will go up by 6 per cent, generating $660 million to reduce immigration backlogs, with short-stay visa applicants facing a 21 per cent fee increase, while migration is predicted to return to normal levels in 2 years.
Defence:Australia's defence spending overall is increasing with an additional $11+ billion over the next four years for naval programs and improving our cyber and sovereign capabilities.Truckers:The government plans to increase the heavy vehicle road user charge to 32.4 cents per liter of diesel by 2025-26 saving $1.1 billion over four years which will go towards road maintenance and repairs.
Indigenous Australians:$1.9 billion will be spent over five years to enhance Indigenous people's lives and economic prospects, and $360 million will be allocated for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum.Scammers:The government will spend $86.5 million over four years to fight scams and online fraud, including $58 million for a National Anti-Scam Centre and $17.6 million to dismantle phishing websites.
Pacific region:A $1.4 billion boost will improve law enforcement and security infrastructure in the Pacific region, with $370 million to expand the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme.Multinationals:The government’s implementation of pillar two of the OECD/G20 multilateral agreement on global tax is part of a worldwide shake-up of company tax involving more than 135 countries. The “Pillar Two” taxation reforms will bring in $370 million over the five years from 1 January 2024.

 

 

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Image Source: Aditya Joshi on Unsplash

Picture this. The boardroom of the regional Asian headquarters of a major multinational in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai or Tokyo. Two sets of executives are locked in fierce debate. On one side of the conversation, the local leadership and their communications team. On the other side, sits global leadership, legal counsel and global corporate communications teams. They are debating a public statement about a reputational issue embroiling their firm. For stakeholders sitting outside the region, any language that hints at a direct apology may trigger handwringing and teeth grinding. For those in-market however, the often, terse legalese drafted from head office has the same effect.  The crux of the issue, legal culpability and liability. 

Litigation or Redemption? 

For stakeholders in highly litigious markets like the U.S, any public expression of apology sets off sirens of alarm with concerns of class-action lawsuits and litigation obstacles to follow. 

For Executives in Japan, for example, the stakes are equally as high. They know that unless they express some form of apology, their key stakeholders in Japan—from national government to customers —may censure them for not sincerely acknowledging the disruption they have caused. They instinctively know that to conform to Japanese business culture, issuing a public apology in is a key part of the process in getting past a serious issue. 

The Sound of Silence 

There is no substitute for good corporate responsibility and doing the right thing to address issues that arise. However, the absence of an apology can also lead to further escalation and reduce room for the company to effectively work with relevant parties to resolve the issue. Thus, both sides share the common understanding that the company’s reputation hangs on how it handles and communicates its response to the issue. 

Equally global and local leaders agree there is a short window of opportunity to engage when public opinion is being formed. Yet, because of these different points of view on saying “sorry” there is often internal stand-off and impasse. Instead of speaking up to share the Company’s side of the story, multinationals under fire in Asia are often deadlocked and silent. 

Not the Hardest Word

There are ways to navigate this impasse. And they do involve an apology. But a special kind of apology which expresses regret for the concern or disquiet caused to key stakeholders, rather than addressing the specifics of the issue. Japan's unique approach to apologies allows companies to express remorse without automatically admitting fault or liability. This is embodied in the Japanese concept of 'shazai', where an apology aims to restore harmony and express sincerity without the direct implications of wrongdoing. Hong Kong has also adopted a similar stance through its Apology Ordinance. This legislation allows individuals and companies to make apologies that cannot be used as an admission of fault or liability in civil proceedings. The ordinance encourages parties to communicate openly and to de-escalate the emotional elements of the issue.

China, India 

In markets such as mainland China and India, there isn't a clear legal framework which distinguishes an apology from an admission of guilt. In mainland China, traditional culture values the act of apologising to maintain harmony across stakeholder groups. While there are no specific legal considerations, it is generally understood an apology made in the right way does not constitute an admission of fault. Furthermore, authorities and regulators under these environments often play the role of mediators and may encourage companies to make an apology to preserve stability. In these instances, a different approach will need to be taken that carefully balances the need for de-escalation with legal risk and wider global stakeholder expectations. 

One Size Does Not Fit All 

In many cases, after intense internal negotiation and with the advice of risk and communications professionals, multinational companies will eventually agree to this nuanced approach. However, the long delay between an issue coming into the public domain and an apologetic statement being issued often leads to greater reputational damage. 

For multinational companies, the takeaway is that a ‘one size fits all’ approach cannot be taken in Asia. That is why we at Edelman advise our clients to build these conversations into routine risk mitigation planning and adopt a culture of reputation management within the business. Touchpoints might be an annual update of the crisis communications playbook or scenario planning. 

Establishing a common understanding will empower your teams to act with confidence to protect your most valuable assets in this diverse and vibrant market – trust. 

This story first appeared in The Business Times

For more information, please contact Simon Chan, SVP, Technology Lead for APAC at Edelman. 

I am a big Freddie Mercury fan.

The man and the music still bring me so much joy. Watching the These are the days of our lives video still makes me cry. With news of an HIV prevention vaccine being approved by the European Commission in September, it’s bittersweet to think at the time Freddie died, overall survival was still being used as an endpoint in HIV trials when, 30 years on, it would never be considered today given most people living with HIV have a life expectancy that’s near-normal.

Similarly, news of a new cost-effective malaria vaccine recommended by the World Health Organisation last month that can be manufactured at significant scale brings hope for the millions who could be saved from developing the deadly disease.

Vaccine innovation continues at the forefront of disease interception, prevention and eradication.

But while vaccine creation is one thing, access is another. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), three in four people in high-income countries have now received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, compared to just one in three for low-income countries.

Much to overcome the vaccine access issue hinges on the requirement for cold chain infrastructure. But a new wave of innovation points to a future without the need for cold storage:

  1. Researchers at MIT have created a prototype mobile printer that generates vaccine-filled microneedle patches that can be stored long-term at room temperature and self-applied to the skin.
  2. Micron Biomedical has developed injection-free microarray patches (MAPs) suited to a range of compounds and in May, announced positive Phase 1/2 results for the use of its patches to deliver measles and rubella vaccines to children. Similarly, startup Vaxxas is investigating its MAP to deliver a second-generation typhoid vaccine, previously reporting interim Phase I results for a COVID-19 vaccine using the same technology, and it’s initiated Phase I trials for a seasonal flu vaccine.
  3. UK-based Ensilitech is using inert silica to encapsulate the active ingredients of vaccines in a protective ‘cage’ keeping them protected from temperature and humidity variations. When the vaccine is ready to be administered, the silica cage cracks open, leaving the active ingredients in their fully functional form.

Regardless of where you stand on the ‘to vaccinate or not to vaccinate’ movement, we must admit simply debating the role of vaccines in our society is a privileged place to be.

Enabling equal access to vaccines (and other medicines) such that all societies can consider their need – to quote a line from my favourite Queen song: that would really be a breakthrough.


Lou Dalton is a Senior Director in Health

NEW YORK, NY, June 12, 2023 – Edelman announced today the global launch of Edelman Business Marketing (EBM), a specialized unit focused on driving reputation, business demand and revenue growth for B2B clients worldwide. This move establishes a new offering combining existing B2B practices in North America, EMEA, and APAC, building on the success and strong growth within the regions in recent years.

Edelman Business Marketing creates integrated marketing programs aimed at reaching and earning the trust of B2B buyers, inclusive of audience research, thought leadership strategy, content marketing, account-based marketing, demand generation and earned communications. Current global clients include Microsoft, HSBC, Shell, DP World, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, TE Connectivity, MediaTek, Hologic, and Invest Alberta, among others.

“Edelman Business Marketing is redefining how we drive value for our B2B clients’ businesses, from reaching high-value stakeholders to taking on some of the world’s most important issues,” said Richard Edelman, CEO of Edelman. “Our global B2B offering has become a key component of Edelman’s strategy to provide integrated marketing solutions to clients worldwide.”

Edelman Business Marketing will be led by Joe Kingsbury, Global Chair, who will oversee a network of nearly 100 B2B specialists across the globe and David Whiting, Global Head of Operations, who will drive client and sector growth, and operations. The B2B leadership team will also include regional leaders across the U.S., EMEA and Canada, with an executive search underway for a leader to oversee the Asia-Pacific region.

Additionally appointed leadership includes:

  • Ben Laws, Executive Vice President, Deputy U.S. Leader, Business Marketing
  • Andrew Mildren, Managing Director, Business Marketing, EMEA
  • Nick Turney, Senior Vice President, National Business Marketing Lead, Canada
  • Hannah Buzicky, Senior Vice President, Global Development Manager

"Clients are hungry for strategies that earn the trust of high-value decision-makers while driving reputation and business demand,” said Joe Kingsbury, Global Chair, Edelman Business Marketing. “We blend the art and science of creative communications and digital marketing to generate ROI through personalized content, targeted thought leadership strategies and marketing technology. This global launch accelerates our ability to deliver on this value proposition for B2B clients.”

"Through our collaboration with Edelman Business Marketing, they've played a key role in infusing MediaTek's brand narrative with creativity, issues expertise, and a global perspective," said Kent Davis, GM, Global Marketing & Communications, MediaTek. "Their unique approach to earned-centric creative combined with robust integrated marketing capabilities is uncommon in the B2B category and has helped propel our brand to new heights."

The global launch of Edelman Business Marketing builds on years of strong regional business performance, innovative client work, and industry recognition within the B2B space, including ANA B2B Large Agency of the Year, the number one agency in the UK & Ireland in the B2B Marketing agency benchmarking study and the annual B2B Thought Leadership Impact Study in partnership with LinkedIn.

 

The Race and Ethnicity Equity Board (REEB) and the PRCA’s Behind the Mask speaks to much of what I see and hear in the industry. The report reveals the invisible struggle faced by men from minoritized ethnicities working in comms.

It includes a powerful foreword from REEB Vice-Chair and my brilliant colleague, Emmanuel Ofosu-Appiah. The authors call for folks like me to take off the mask and openly share our experiences. Strangely, I’ve been more aware of the mask in my personal life. Early into my career, it often found me changing how I talked amongst friends and family.

One of the anonymous contributors in the study (aka Hasan) describes this lack of true self as a bit too wooden, cold and serious. Thankfully, my nearest and dearest brought me back down to earth with a good ribbing whenever I behaved that way.

Here are three further reflections on themes from Behind the Mask and how these have shaped my career.

1. Channelling motivation into recognition

I was inspired by another contributor (aka Chibueze) and his motivations for entering the industry. Comms offered an opportunity for him to connect with the public and create change that’s ‘beneficial to minorities or different groups’.

This was a major draw for me, and that motivation continues to carry my work. But in the early part of my career, I struggled to channel this energy into gaining recognition for my effort.

Part of this was related to the imposter syndrome experienced by many and highlighted in the report. Others around me were more forward in speaking up or asking for something, be it a promotion or money. I just didn’t know how to engage in such a conversation. Instead, I thought that my work alone should do the talking.

Consequently, when I didn’t feel recognised, I got frustrated and left. What struck me most when handing my resignation was that it came as a complete shock. I showed none of those signals typically seen from people who are unhappy at work.

Frustrated when I didn’t get recognition yet not really knowing how to value myself. But then a pivotal moment came on my return to Edelman as a director, which changed everything.

2. Breaking the cycle of perception fuelling reality

In my first senior leadership meeting, I was already quite nervous walking into the room with twenty plus colleagues and no idea of what to expect. Five minutes in, it felt like everyone else spoke a different language. They obviously didn’t. These were just unfamiliar cues and norms. Regardless, missing and misinterpreting them led me to feelings of isolation and exclusion.

This isn’t to say these experiences for many aren’t real. As you’ll read in the report and countless other studies, they undoubtedly are. They can, however, be amplified in the all too familiar loop in our industry of perception fuelling reality. The cycle becomes harder to break if these cues cannot be identified, particularly in an environment and culture where you’re in the minority.

Fortunately, walking out of that meeting put me on a path that has included leading our DE&I, Citizenship agenda and my recent MD role. At the same time, this amplified my core motivation for entering the industry. Since then, there’s been fewer feelings of exclusion. I’ve also started to know my worth and help others discover theirs.

3. Building empowerment networks

Throughout the report you’ll read about the challenges faced with making connections to help pave the way, especially when there are limited, senior diverse role models.

I’ve had great bosses and advocates support me throughout my career. But as I moved towards more senior positions, my challenge was less about advocacy. Instead, it was knowing how to be a leader ‘like them’, when I was visibly and culturally quite different. What didn’t occur to me was that, while they might not have been inside the organisation, there were many ethnically diverse leaders to learn from.

Today, when I mentor and advise folks facing similar predicaments, I ask them to consider this: as you’ll also read in the report, the 2023 PRCA Census finds that in an industry of over 140 thousand professionals, 12% identify as non-white. That’s an empowerment network of close to 17 thousand comms pros with shared experiences and a tonne of advice and support to offer.

The more we’re connected, the more we can be effective. Though the masks we wear in the workplace might not disappear entirely, there will be more opportunities to take them off.

Hence, I’m grateful to the authors of Behind the Mask for putting such a crucial study on the agenda. It includes many sound recommendations for how comms pros, employers and the industry can come together and bring about change.

  • More people on low incomes in China, India and the US rate their health more highly than those on low incomes in the UK*
  • Cost-of-living pressures and lack of trusted health information impacting the nation’s health
  • Nurses, pharmacists, and friends and family are among the most trusted sources of health information

People in the UK are among least likely to consider themselves in good overall health, according to a global survey spanning 13 countries and 12,785 respondents.

The disparity is particularly pronounced among those on lower incomes, where fewer than 1 in 3 (29%) people would class their health as very good or better. On this measure – and despite 75 years of access to public healthcare free at the point of use through the NHS – the UK is outperformed by countries including India (69%), China (60%) and the USA (41%) where lower-income people are more likely to report better overall health than the UK.

The cost-of-living crisis is seen to be the number one societal factor worsening health, with 71% of respondents in the UK indicating that inflation – which is the highest in the G7 – is negatively impacting their health. It is also risks worsening socioeconomic health inequalities: 58% of respondents on lower incomes who say there is a gap between how well they’re taking care of their health and how well they should be, consider cost the main barrier to closing the gap, compared to just 39% of higher earners.

These findings are among the starkest within the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Trust in Health. Now in its second year, the report aims to set out the challenges impacting global trust in health and identify the areas where stakeholders across the health ecosystem and beyond should focus to address them.

On this point, the 2023 data clearly indicates that people’s definition of what constitutes good health is broad. Only 3% of respondents in the UK view being healthy as solely about physical health, with nearly 60% saying mental health, physical health, social health and community liveability are all components of their health.

After cost-of-living pressures, a lack of information and conflicting or changing expert advice is seen as the second biggest barrier, with 37% people, who report a gap between how well they are taking care of their health vs how well they want to be, reporting this is a barrier to doing so. Attitudes towards health education and misinformation may also be limiting the nation’s health and wellbeing. Compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, people in the UK are less likely than those in most other countries surveyed to be educating themselves more about health issues. Just 29% of those in the UK say they are now doing this more often, compared to 41% globally. This gap extends to verifying whether the health information they do take in is accurate: just 23% in the UK say they do this more often now than pre-pandemic, vs 39% in the rest of the world.

More than three quarters (76%) of people in the UK trust friends and family to tell the truth about health issues and how best to protect the health of the public. This source of health information received the biggest jump in trust, up from 67% in last year’s report, placing people’s peers on par with health experts and scientists.

Roughly eight out of 10 (82%) people trust nurses to tell the truth about health issues, with a 3-point year-over-year increase bringing them to the top spot in the ranking. Pharmacists enjoyed the greatest rise in trust of any HCP – up six points to 80% – which may indicate their growing role in health and wellbeing within the UK’s emergent model of integrated care systems. Both professions are more trusted than ‘my doctor’ (79%), who falling behind pharmacists as a trusted source of health information, compared to last year’s findings.

The ability to engage in shared decision making and open dialogue is cited as the most important intervention if health experts wish to encourage healthy behaviour change in the UK, with 65% of people seeing it as key. This is viewed as more important than clinicians and health experts demonstrating that advice is grounded in scientific data collected from “people like me” (58%).

This year’s report also indicates a growing belief that technology will play a positive role in healthcare. Three quarters of people in the UK (75%) believe that the use of technology to provide care for people seeking medical attention will improve the patient experience.

“Seventy-five years ago, the UK established the first free public health system in the Western world. For three quarters of a century, the ability to pay has not been a barrier to accessing healthcare, in the traditional sense. That cost is now cited as the main factor holding back the nation’s health suggests a sea change in the way we collectively define good health,” said Eleanor Read, PhD, Managing Director, Health at Edelman UK.

“The determinants that enable or restrict it, extend far beyond a clinical setting – and our data suggest people recognise that. They expect elected officials to provide safe, clean, green places to live; employers to offer secure, supportive, and rewarding workplaces; and businesses spanning every industry to play an increasingly important role in enabling good physical and mental health.

“The stark overall picture of how people in the UK view their health, means there is a clear onus now on all of these stakeholders to embrace that collective responsibility and work together. There is a clear opportunity for progressive, purpose-led organisations and forward-thinking policymakers to take decisive action and effect meaningful change.”

*How would you describe your overall health? 7-point scale

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