Brussels Public Affairs Forum 2026

8:30–9:00

Arrival and registration

9:00–9:15

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Uncertainty in the New Normal. Is Public Affairs Ready to Deliver?

• The growing expectations on public affairs teams amid global uncertainty
• Framing the key questions for the morning – what are the key challenges facing public affairs leaders and teams today?

9:15–9:45

Keynote Presentation & Discussion

Reading the Map: Global Geopolitics and What It Means for Europe

• The global forces reshaping the political and economic landscape
• How geopolitical tensions are influencing EU priorities and policymaking
• What matters most for companies operating in and from Europe
• Distinguishing structural shifts from short-term volatility

9:45–10:30

Panel Discussion

From Geopolitical Risk to Business Impact: Translating Uncertainty Inside the Company

• How leading public affairs teams are translating uncertainty into business-relevant insights
• Supporting leadership in ambiguous and fast-moving situations
• Balancing long-term positioning with short-term responsiveness
• Measuring and communicating value to C-Suite, boards, stakeholders and other departments
• Bridging external intelligence with internal decision-making

10:30–10:50

Networking break

10:50–11:30

Executive Conversation

The C-Suite Perspective: What Business & Industry Expect from Public Affairs Today

• How CEOs and senior executives perceive geopolitical risk
• What they expect from public affairs in terms of insight, anticipation and guidance
• The role and positioning of public affairs within the organization
• What makes public affairs credible and influential at the leadership level
• Common gaps between expectations and delivery
• How public affairs can better support strategic decision-making

11:30–11:50

Networking break

11:50–12:35

Panel Discussion

Delivering Under Pressure: How Public Affairs Teams Are Organizing for Uncertainty

• How teams are adapting to deal with geopolitical and regulatory uncertainty
• What is being prioritized, and what is being deprioritized
• Ensuring message consistency across regions, markets and stakeholders in a fragmented environment
• Running effective, coordinated engagement strategies in the EU, and balancing central control with local flexibility
• Aligning public affairs with communications, legal, and business teams for better results
• Lessons learned from recent high-stakes or fast-moving policy issues