FINN is joining forces with a leading academic initiative in crisis communication. Our managing partners, Kristien Vermoesen and Raf Weverbergh, have accepted invitations to join the Crisis Communication Think Tank (CCTT), an international network founded at the University of Georgia.
The CCTT operates through the Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) and aims to bridge the gap between academic research and practical experience in crisis communication. This collaboration helps develop evidence-based approaches for both research and real-world crisis management.
Increasing demand for communicators who can manage existential crisis in business
As global demand rises for communicators who can manage existential crises in business, academia and the nonprofit sector, the Crisis Communication Think Tank, founded in 2018, is the foundation of the University of Georgia’s innovative crisis communication educational initiative – combining the evidence-based expertise of renowned academics from a wide range of disciplines with the experience-driven insights of communication executives with decades of practice.
The CCTT aims to build collaborations among leading crisis scholars and practitioners globally, through dialogue on emerging topics and co-creation of evidence-based advice for next-generation crisis research and practice. Its overarching goals are:
- To connect crisis communication experts from the segmented worlds of academia and industry practice.
- To reshape and refine how crisis communication is understood and practiced.
- To advance crisis communication knowledge via academic-practitioner collaborative research.
- To educate the next generation of crisis communication scholars and practitioners.
- To design protocols for handling “sticky crisis” challenges effectively and ethically at top decision-making level via crisis preparedness and resilience.
Applying academic models to crisis communication
“At FINN, we strongly believe in using academic insights to shape communication strategy,” says Kristien Vermoesen, managing partner at FINN. “We maintain relationships with international and European academic experts in crisis communication and apply their insights and models to support our clients during challenging times. I’m honored to join the CCTT and contribute to the dialogue between theory and practice.”
“Since the beginning, we have applied academic insights and models to support clients in crisis communication”
Kristien Vermoesen and Raf Weverbergh, Managing partners FINN
“We deeply respect Yan Jin’s mission with the CCTT,” says Raf Weverbergh. “Joining this knowledge network was a natural choice for us. We look forward to engaging with the most interesting thinkers and practitioners in crisis communication worldwide.”
The partnership reflects a growing trend of combining academic research with practical experience in crisis communication. By bringing together professionals from different backgrounds, the CCTT aims to develop more effective approaches to managing communication during critical situations. FINN’s membership of the CCTT represents a step toward more evidence-based crisis communication strategies that can benefit organizations facing complex challenges.