In one voice: intercultural communication –
where cultures and languages meet
HANNA RISKU is Head of the Department of Knowledge and Communication Management at Danube University, Krems, Austria. Originally from Finland, she has held the post of visiting lecturer at the Universities of Skövde in Sweden and Grenada in Spain, and has also lectured at the University of Vienna and University of Applied Science Wr. Neustadt (Austria).

Communication during an acquisition
MICHAEL MAURITZ is Head of Corporate Communications of Erste Bank. Michael was nominated as Spokesman of the Year in 2004 by economics journalists in Austria. Erste Bank, based in Austria, is a financial services group and operates in the fastest growing economies in Central Europe, serving 15m customers in seven countries across Central and Eastern Europe.

Creating Europe’s great places to work –
the crucial role of communication
MATTHIAS WOLF is project manager of the study ‘Great Place to Work’. His company Psychonomics organises an annual competition amongst leading companies in Europe to identify the ‘Employer of the Year’. The contest is based on a series of surveys carried out amongst the employees. To be amongst the Top 10 in Europe is the goal for all participating companies.

When communications cross borders and cultures
HEINZ HEUSER was born in Cologne (Germany). His 25-year career spans public affairs, government relations, corporate social responsibility and corporate communication. In 1985 he founded the company ‘prbonn’, with major clients including McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble, Coca Cola and Siemens. Since 2005 he has been CEO at Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations firm with representation in America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Heinz has also lectured at the University of Hannover.

Twenty-five countries, one press office
BETTINA GNEIZ-AL-ANI is Head of Corporate Communications at OMV, Austria's largest listed industrial company and the leading oil and gas group in Central Europe with more than 5,000 employees.

Red Cross Austria: integrated, international
communication during crises and disasters
GABRIELA HARTIG works in Marketing and Communication for Red Cross Austria and is responsible for International Aid-Action - Hilfsaktionen. Her Marketing and Communication colleague and fellow speaker ANDREA WINTER worked for many years in Sri Lanka. Andrea played an active role in the full glare of the world’s media during the Tsunami disaster. Now back in Austria once again, she co-ordinates the communication aspects of international aid projects across the world.

The organisation is international and so
is the audience: communicating the EU
GREGOR KREUZHUBER was the European Commission’s spokesman for enterprise and industry until August 2006. He remains connected to the heart of EU affairs in Brussels as partner of EU consulting firm GPlus. The firm develops political and communication strategies for its many clients.