Speakers
Colin Archer
Janet Hitchen
Jarrod Williams
Chris Crofts
Jo Coxhill
Sonia Squires
Shalini Gupta
Coaching
Join a selection of industry leaders for individual mentoring sessions. You’ll get 20 minutes with two IoIC Fellows in safe, confidential space to gain personalised guidance, actionable insights, and empowering support. Whether you want advice on an ongoing issue in your role you want to solve; a practical solution to an internal communications problem or maybe you’d like advice on how to take your career to the next level – our Fellows are there for you.
Bring your challenge and an open mind, and you’ll collaborate to find your next steps, providing you with the tools, energy and focus to move forward.
These sessions will be pre-bookable. Instructions on how to book your 20 minute session will be given on the joining instructions nearer the time.
Colin is an experienced leader in internal communications and organisational culture. His approach is Purpose driven and believes that while organisations do well by doing good, the people in those organisations are the ones who make it happen.
His philosophy is that if you spend at least eight hours of your day at work, then those hours should be exciting, fulfilling, and make us feel good about what we do. Colin’s approach at work is in the service of that philosophy and the reason he loves doing what he does.
For two decades, Janet Hitchen has helped global organisations create smart pioneering internal communication functions. From Apple's retail transformation to Nespresso UKI's pandemic response, she transforms how companies and leaders connect with their people to drive real business value.
Her approach? Deep listening and commercial understanding. At Apple, she lead global iPhone communications that bridged retail teams across continents (the first time anyone had ever done this from outside the US), prioritising the customer experience through the employee experience. At Nespresso, she helped a recently arrived CEO build trust during unprecedented times. At Zego, she streamlined communication and the digital EX while saving money that could be reinvested into the business; vital to extend the liquidity runway of a scale up. She proves that systems thinking, narrative clarity, process efficiency and robust relationships are essential tools of the modern communication professional.
With experience spanning finance, FMCG, luxury retail, Pharma and tech, Janet combines strategic insight with practical know-how. Her recent distinction in Cambridge's Sustainability Management programme adds depth to her understanding of purpose-led communication, risk mitigation and reputation management.
Whether crafting CEO narratives or aligning comms to business goals, Janet turns clear communication into measurable business value and success
Jarrod is an award-winning chartered communications professional specialising in digital strategy, internal communications, brand, and transformation. With over 15 years of experience across financial services, housing, and non-profit sectors, he excels in delivering strategic messages through creative content and purposeful channels.
As Head of Digital Channels and Content at FTSE-listed St. James's Place, he leads global digital employee experience engaging 3,000 employees and more than 17,000 people in SJP's Partnership community. At housing association Bromford, he led communications for a £65 million transformation programme and spearheaded the response to a major cyber incident, where his approach to transparency and leadership visibility was highly commended.
Passionate about user-centred design, accessibility and inclusivity, and exploring the future of IC and digital comms, Jarrod regularly contributes to industry discussions as a panellist and guest speaker. He serves as Officer Commanding of the RAF Air Cadets Volunteer Communications Team, where he was recognised with a New Year's Honours commendation in 2023.
Chris has specialised in internal communications for more than 20 years and has led IC teams at HSBC, and the global IC functions at Aviva and Diageo. Chris is well-known and highly regarded in the IC community and has contributed to books and podcasts, judged awards and been the key-note speaker at many industry conferences. Now an independent consultant and trainer, Chris has a contagious passion and energy for improving the performance and reputation of internal communications teams and helping them to become truly strategic influencers.
Chris loves quilting and is an avid sewer. Chris hates housework and life admin!
Jo is on a mission to make work not suck by creating thriving workplace cultures. With extensive experience in employee experience, organisational culture and internal communication, Jo helps companies improve performance and profits by creating happy, healthy and engaged teams. Known for her authenticity, candor and results-driven approach, she helps organisations prioritise people, build resilience, and create a true sense of belonging.
Jo speaks passionately on the future of work and burnout prevention, mentors internal comms professionals through the IoIC and helps individuals tackle all kinds of internal comms challenges - from engaging employees and influencing stakeholders to shaping culture, EX and comms in their organisation.
Sonia is Head of Communication at Citizen Housing. Sonia started her career in higher education where she worked with under-represented groups, supporting young people to achieve their potential. She then found her calling with internal communication, working for the NHS, AQA and most recently social housing.
Sonia’s passion is supporting leaders with their communication so that they develop a greater connection with their teams. Her MBA dissertation focused on the importance of leadership in employee engagement and the significant impact it has every day.
In her spare time Sonia is dancing in the kitchen with her two young daughters and cheering on Derby County.
Starting her career as a local newspaper journalist, Justine now has more than 20 years of experience in Internal Communication (she’s happy for you to tell her she doesn’t look old enough!)
Working in a variety of sectors in the public, private and charity sectors, she might not have seen it all – but she’s likely to have seen a fair bit and is happy to share her experience and learnings with anyone that would find it useful. She’s also a keen hobbyist so equally happy to chat sewing, gardening or singing!
A passionate Internal Communicator, Justine has been a member of the IoIC for most of her IC career and a board member for more years than she can remember. She chairs the IOIC annual awards – an absolute joy – and has recently been a member of the task force looking at the ethical use of AI in Internal Comms – one of the most taxing but enjoyable pieces of work she has ever been involved in.