Communication and Public Relations Australia (CPRA) has announced Alastair Campbell, former chief communications adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair, will deliver the keynote speech at its CPRA Conference 2026.
Campbell will deliver the conference keynote, titled The Communicator Now, exploring what it means to lead communications in an era defined by shifting trust, accelerating technology and increasingly complex public discourse.
He served as Blair’s closest adviser and chief spokesman for a decade, playing a central role in shaping the political narrative from Labour’s landslide election victory in 1997 through years of government.
Since leaving frontline politics, he has written more than twenty books spanning political diaries, fiction and analysis of leadership and performance, and is co-host of The Rest Is Politics, one of the most widely listened-to political podcasts in the world.
Campbell will join delegates live in the room, with dedicated time for audience questions.
Louise Harland-Cox, CEO of CPRA, said the announcement reflected the ambition of this year’s conference program.
“Alastair Campbell is one of the most recognised communicators of his generation. He’s been in the room when the stakes were highest, and he’s spent years reflecting on what that experience teaches us. We’re delighted to welcome him to Melbourne and to give our delegates the chance to hear from him directly.”
The CPRA Conference 2026 is themed Reimagine, Redefine, Refocus: Leading a future of trusted communication and will bring together more than 200 communication and public relations professionals from corporate, agency, government, not-for-profit and education sectors.
CPRA Conference 2026 will take place on Wednesday 18 November at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne.
