“No AI can replace strategy - it amplifies it,” said Ana Pista, Masterclass Trainer and CEO of the AI Centre of Excellence (ACE), Founder and CEO of Ardent Communications, during a workshop in Jakarta on Tuesday (21/10). The session, titled, “Shape the Future of Your Communications Strategy with AI”, was hosted in partnership between ACE, Asosiasi Perusahaan Public Relations Indonesia (APPRI) and Reputasia Strategic Communications.
Speakers included Nezar Patria, the Vice Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Ana Pista, Hemant Gaule, Senior Vice President at Adfactors PR, Sari Soegondo, President of APPRI and Co-Founder and Executive Director of Indonesia Communications (ID COMM), as well as Fardila Astari, Co-founder and Communications Strategist at Reputasia. The session explored how PR and comms practitioners can leverage AI tools to enhance efficiency and strategic impact.
Ana highlighted how AI has enabled her team to produce client work more efficiently - from creating content and tracking sentiment to analysing campaign results. “AI won't replace communicators, but communicators who know how to use AI and use it wisely will replace those who don’t,” she said. She added that while AI can process and compile vast amounts of data quickly, human verification remains essential to ensure accuracy and add creativity, empathy, and authenticity to communications.
Hemant advised treating AI tools like an intern that needs guidance to perform effectively, and that users must be a “good boss” to ensure the output meets expectations and delivers the best possible results. He also cautioned against sharing sensitive information, recommending that only data approved by the company or legal team be used.
Fardila concluded by emphasising the importance of ethical guidelines for AI use, noting that careless application can create reputational risks, as seen by cases where major companies faced credibility issues due to AI-generated inaccuracies.
(Pictured from left to right: Niken Widi Hapsari, Managing Director of SEQARA Communications (moderator), Fardila Astari, Ana Pista, and Hemant Gaule)
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PRCA APAC has launched the 2026 editions of the Corporate Affairs Forum and Gold Standard Awards.
This year's theme, "Navigating the Unscripted: Public Affairs in a World Without Playbooks", will explore how organisations can navigate uncertainty amid geopolitical shifts, technological disruption, and changing public expectations. The forum will bring together leaders across corporate affairs, public affairs, government relations, and communications through panel discussions, fireside chats, and presentations.
The Gold Standard Awards 2026 will be held on 15th September 2026. The awards recognise industry excellence and achievements across corporate affairs, public affairs, and government relations, including areas such as media relations, stakeholder engagement, crisis management, and CSR. The awards are open to agencies, corporations, NGOs, and government organisations.
Further details on the forum and awards are available online.
GO Communications has been named to manage PR and communications duties for Food & Drinks Malaysia by SIAL 2026 (FDM 2026), further strengthening the agency’s portfolio in the events and exhibitions sector.
Scheduled for 21 to 23 July 2026 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), the exhibition marks its fourth edition in Malaysia following its debut in 2023. Under the appointment, GO Communications leads strategic communications efforts to elevate the platform’s positioning as a key industry event that brings together trade, innovation and talent within the food and beverage ecosystem.
Henri Tan, Exhibition Director South East Asia of Comexposium, said the appointment comes at a time when the exhibition continues to strengthen its presence in Malaysia and the wider Southeast Asian market.
Meanwhile, Peter de Kretser, CEO of GO Communications, added that FDM 2026 represents an important platform that drives meaningful conversations, partnerships and opportunities across the food and beverage industry.
GO Communications has previously managed communications for major events, including Defence Services Asia (DSA) and the World Congress on Innovation and Technology (WCIT).
Tavy Cussinel has launched Time For T Communications, a Fractional Chief Communications Officer (FCCO) offering aimed at organisations across the globe seeking senior-level communications support without a full-time executive hire.
Tavy explains that the model responds to a growing gap in the market, targeting organisations that recognise the importance of communications but lack senior leadership to unify messaging, manage reputation, and translate business objectives into clear narratives.
"Too many organisations are producing communications activity without a strategic architecture behind it," she said.
"They have tactics, agencies and content, but no conductor. The fractional CCO model gives leaders access to true executive-level communications leadership: someone who sits at the table, shapes strategy, and protects the brand at the highest level."
As a Fractional Chief Communications Officer, Tavy integrates into leadership teams to design and oversee communications ecosystems. Her work includes defining brand narrative and messaging frameworks, aligning internal and external communications, managing agencies and partners, and preparing organisations for reputational risk and positioning executives as thought leaders.
Tavy brings more than 25 years of international experience spanning Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. She previously founded and sold a London-based public relations agency, and has led regional and country operations for a global communications agency. She has also advised boards, CEOs and senior leadership teams across sectors, including hospitality, healthcare, culture, beauty, fashion, sustainability and corporate brand.