Welcome to the IABC Crisis Communications SIG — a global community for communicators navigating high-stakes challenges and striving for crisis management excellence.
Crisis leadership isn’t just about reacting — it’s about staying ahead of risk, making tough calls under pressure, and taking action before, during, and after adverse events. As communicators, we guide organizations through uncertainty, help leaders manage complex challenges, and shape narratives that build trust. Yet, crisis management can often feel like a lonely road. This SIG is about bringing us together — a space to learn, share, and connect with others who live and breathe crisis communication.
Who This SIG Is For
Whether you are a seasoned crisis communicator looking to exchange insights or just starting out and eager to build confidence, this community is for you. We welcome professionals across industries, geographies, and career levels who want to stay ahead of crisis trends, sharpen their skills, and ensure communicators have a voice in high-stakes decision-making.
What To Expect
- Resources, insights & networking: Access best practices, case studies, and real-world strategies.
- Quarterly virtual meetups: Join expert-led conversations on leadership under pressure and crisis resilience.
- In-person meetup at the 2025 IABC World Conference in Vancouver: Help shape the SIG’s future.
How To Get Involved
- Join our LinkedIn community – Stay connected and be part of the ongoing conversation.
- Attend our first in-person SIG meetup – Join us at the 2025 IABC World Conference in Vancouver.
- Stay tuned for virtual SIG events – Our first sessions will kick off this fall!
Meet the SIG Chair
Natalia Smalyuk
Hi, I’m Natalia Smalyuk, and I’m excited to help build this global community where we can connect, share, and learn from each other.
A little about me. I’m based in Toronto, Canada, and my career has taken me from international development to news media to communication consulting. I spent over 15 years with global and Canadian PR firms before founding NBAU (Not Business As Usual), a consultancy specializing in crisis resilience, strategic communication, and stakeholder engagement.
From Fortune 500 companies to public institutions, I work alongside executives across industries to advance their growth agenda, manage their reputation and navigate risk.
I’ve been fortunate to learn from great leaders and mentors, including Ian Mitroff, author of Why Some Companies Emerge Stronger and Better from a Crisis, whose work on crisis management has deeply influenced my thinking. His systemic approach reinforced my commitment to looking beyond immediate risks to long-term resilience.
As a lifelong student of crisis, I host Resilience Unfiltered, a coffee chat series fostering open dialogue on tough issues. At the 2024 IABC World Conference in Chicago, I led a workshop called Proactive Crisis Management: Coping with Wicked Messes.
Want to be part of this community? Let’s build it together!
📩 Contact me at nsmalyuk@nbau.ca
🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Natalia Smalyuk, MBA, MA