ICology Members Speaking at IABC World Conference 2026 in Toronto
IABC World Conference 2026 runs June 14-16 in Toronto, and four ICology community members are on the program. Each session tackles a different challenge that internal communicators are dealing with right now, from how messages actually land with employees to what in-person events should look like in a hybrid world.
Here's what they're bringing to the stage.
Communications in Motion: The Science Behind Messages that Move People
Chuck Gose, ICology & Pinaki Kathiari, Local Wisdom
June 15 | 1:30-2:15 p.m. ET
Most communicators know when a message falls flat. Fewer can explain why. Chuck and Pinaki are borrowing from physics to fix that.
Their session translates Force, Energy, Gravity, and Newton's Laws into a planning framework for internal comms. The idea isn't metaphor for the sake of metaphor. It's a practical way to think about what gives a message substance ("mass"), what speeds up adoption ("acceleration"), and how culture acts as a multiplier or a blocker.
Expect quick labs, mini experiments, and a live campaign mapping exercise using the Force Equation. You'll leave with a reusable playbook, a simple adoption scorecard, and better language for explaining to leaders why some messages move people and others just sit there.
If you've ever struggled to articulate why a perfectly logical message didn't change anyone's behavior, this session gives you a new vocabulary for it.
Communicating With Heart: Why Emotion Matters in Times of Disruption
Andrea Greenhous, IABC Fellow, Vision2Voice Communications Inc.
June 15 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. ET
Andrea's premise is straightforward: change is emotional, and communicators who ignore that are leaving results on the table.
Her session covers the neuroscience behind how emotional connection shapes attention, memory, and behavior. That's the "why." The "how" comes from a real case study of a hospital undergoing a major transformation. When launching its new strategic plan, Andrea and her team made measuring employee emotion an explicit goal, then used those insights to shape what came next.
The result was communication that didn't just inform, but helped people move through change with actual confidence instead of just compliance.
This session is particularly relevant for communicators supporting organizational change who feel like their messages are technically correct but not connecting. Andrea's approach moves past the "we need to be more human" platitude and into specifics: storytelling techniques, multimedia strategies, and how to manage creative talent to deliver consistent, audience-centered work.
The Future of In-Person Events
Arlene Amitirigala, TrulyArlene Communications/Enercare, with Mike Klein, Monique Zytnik & Renee Summers
June 15 | 1:30-2:15 p.m. ET
The role of in-person events has shifted. They're no longer just gatherings where people sit through presentations. The best ones are becoming purpose-driven experiences designed to build connection and community in ways that a Teams call can't replicate.
This panel brings together communicators who've led both corporate and industry-level conferences. They'll dig into how practitioners are blending technology, neuroscience, storytelling, and collaborative agenda-setting to create events with measurable impact.
For IC and corporate affairs professionals who plan town halls, leadership summits, or team events, this session offers practical frameworks for designing human-centered experiences that work in a hybrid reality. You'll leave with real strategies for turning traditional meetings into something people actually want to attend.
The Dancefloor Doesn't Lie: What Communicators Can Learn From DJs
Pinaki Kathiari,Local Wisdom & Monique Zytnik, IABC EMENA June 16 | 3-4 p.m. ET
Most communicators think about content. DJs think about the room. That's the gap Pinaki and Monique are here to close.
Their session makes the case that effective communication isn't about what you produce — it's about the experience you create. DJs don't just play tracks; they read energy, control pacing, and build something people feel part of. The same principles apply to how communicators design messages, campaigns, and moments for employees.
The session covers how to read audience energy and adjust your approach in real time, how to create multisensory experiences that go beyond information delivery, and how to use rhythm and storytelling flow to sustain attention without burning people out.
Expect live music moments, practical tools, and an interactive format that puts you inside the framework rather than just watching a slide deck about it.
If your communications are technically solid but aren't moving people, this session gives you a different model for why that might be and what to do about it.
ICology in Toronto
Four sessions. Four ICology community members on stage. And if you're making the trip, one more reason to be there.
ICology will be hosting a Members Happy Hour in Toronto during the conference. Details are coming soon, but if you're attending IABC World Conference 2026, keep an eye out.
IABC World Conference 2026 runs June 14-16 in Toronto, Canada. If any of these sessions are on your radar, registration is open now.
Want to see where else ICology shows up? Browse our events. And if you're not already part of the community, there's a spot for you.