In recent years, the frequency and intensity of crises affecting businesses, institutions, and society have increased significantly. Cyberattacks, reputational scandals, public health emergencies, and social unrest can emerge at any moment, putting leaders' ability to communicate effectively and maintain the trust of stakeholders and the public under constant pressure.

The objective of this session is to explore how leaders can prepare to communicate effectively during emergencies while demonstrating clear, credible leadership under pressure. Guiding this discussion will be Angela Billings, Veteran PR and Career Military Communication Expert and author of Command the Crisis: Navigate Chaos with Battle-Tested Public Relations and Communication Strategies. Drawing on her experience in both war zones and highly complex corporate environments, she will share practical lessons on leading through uncertainty and crisis.

The discussion will be further enriched by Terna's perspective on the challenges of managing critical infrastructure, complemented by an exclusive visit to the National Control Room—the operational nerve centre from which Italy's electricity transmission grid is monitored and coordinated in real time. This unique experience will offer participants a behind-the-scenes look at how technology, operational processes, and rapid decision-making come together to ensure the resilience and continuity of one of the country's most strategic infrastructures.

Key topics will include:

• Leading When Under Attack: Communicating in the Line of Fire – how to maintain effective leadership communication and perform under pressure during a crisis.
• Lessons from the field – from the September 11 attacks and the NATO ISAF mission in Afghanistan to the Twitter Hack, examining key lessons learned from major crisis situations.
• The three most common mistakes leaders make during a crisis – and how to avoid them.
• The five steps to "Command Your Crisis" :  a practical framework for navigating emergencies with clarity, consistency, and confidence.