Communication Summit 2017

As Head of Communications and Chief Spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Melissa Fleming leads all communications efforts around the globe. Operating in 120 countries, UNHCR provides shelter and help for over 30 million people who have fled wars and persecution.

In her role, Ms Fleming has introduced strategic communication planning designed to have more impact on the varied audiences, which include media, donors, governments and refugees themselves. She is also leading a rebranding project for UNHCR, and is launching a new digital platform for interactive engagement and individual giving. She joined UNHCR from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), where she served for eight years as Spokesperson and Head of Public Information during the period the organisation made headlines for its inspection work in Iraq, Iran and North Korea and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.

Prior to IAEA, she headed the Press and Information team at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and as a Public Affairs Specialist at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Cyriel Kortleven is a sought-after speaker at conferences, events and internal leadership development meetings. His mission in life: delivering an inspiring boost the creative & entrepreneurial mindset of professionals in change. Through his playful and enthusiastic attitude to life, he creates an open and informal atmosphere - ideal for bigger events and conferences. Cyriel stimulates people to break their fixed-thinking patterns and inspires you unleash your full potential.

Cyriel is already working more than 15 years in the domain of creativity and innovation. He delivers keynotes all over the world and is on average around 100 days a year on the 'road' (or in a plane) - he presented already in 23 different countries in 5 different continents. He is also author of 4 books. And one of the 700 Certified Professional Speakers (CSP) in the world.

Marcus East is a dynamic business executive with over 20 years of experience of working with major brands around the world, helping them to harness the power of consumer-facing technology. His extensive experience includes time in both startups and corporations, including six years at IBM and four years at Apple, much of which was spent in Silicon Valley. At Apple he led eCommerce solutions delivery for their worldwide online business, and also drove the adoption of Agile. He returned to the UK at the start of 2016 to work for major retailer Marks and Spencer as Global Digital Director, and is responsible for running the M&S.com online business, and also for driving the company’s digital transformation. He joined National Geographic in 2017.

Kate Russell is an internationally renowned journalist, reporter and author, who has been writing about technology and the Internet since 1995. A regular commentator on the BBC’s technology programme “Click” for over a decade, Kate also has monthly technology focused columns in National Geographic Traveller magazine and BBC Focus magazine. She won the 2015 UK Blog Awards for best individual digital and technology blog, and in June 2015 she was voted the 25th most influential woman in UK IT by Computer Weekly magazine. Her first book “Working the Cloud” (2013) delivered a collection of online tips, tricks and resources for small businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs. Her second published book,”Elite: Mostly Harmless” (2014), is a crowd funded science fiction novel based on a remake of the computer game that first inspired her love of technology.