PR expert Alastair Campbell to speak at PR Congress 2007

"A Day With Alastair Campbell", which is sponsored by Cicero & Bernay is the opening lead day for the PR Congress 2007 and is to be held at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel from October 28-November 1.

Alastair Campbell is often described as one of the most influential political communicators of modern times. Cicero & Bernay Executive Director Leonie Trubshoe says Alastair Campbell was involved in some of the most high profile public relations activities in the world during his time with Tony Blair and sponsoring his appearance at the PR Congress 2007 is in keeping with Cicero & Bernay's desire to foster debate into "best practice" in public relations in the Middle East.

"Decisions Alastair was involved in literally changed the world - so there are important lessons for all PR professionals in hearing directly from him what worked; what didn't and why", says Jennie Bishop, Senior Conference Manager at IIR Middle East.

Alastair Campbell graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in modern languages. He trained with the Mirror Group in the UK on local papers in the West Country before joining the Mirror itself in 1982. He left in the mid 80s to work for Eddy Shah's Today newspaper as news editor and became political editor and the paper's chief political columnist.

He then worked briefly for Today newspaper under new ownership in 1994, before being asked by Tony Blair, the leader of the Labour Party to be his press secretary. He did this for three years, and played a key role helping to create New Labour and return the Party to power.

After the 1997 election he became the Prime Minister's Chief Press Secretary and Official Spokesman, which entailed the co-ordination of Government communications and twice daily briefings of the press. He did this job for Labour's first term but, after helping Mr Blair win a second landslide election victory, he became Director of Communications and Strategy until he resigned in September 2003.

Alastair Campbell's first book entitled, "The Blair Years" has also just been launched this week, which some say is the most compelling and revealing account of contemporary politics you will ever read. It charts the rise of New Labour and the tumultuous years of Tony Blair's leadership, providing the first important record of a remarkable decade in the UK.

Now in its third year IIR Middle East's Public Relations Congress 2007 has established itself as a highly strategic and informative event and is the region's premier annual conference for PR professionals.