Why Smart Digitalization and Personal Trust Are Keys to Stakeholder Management in the Hybrid Era

JAKARTADAILY.ID - The Public Affairs Forum Indonesia, or PAFI hosted a webinar titled "Stakeholder Engagement in the New Era" on March 29, 2022. 

The webinar discussed strategies as well as best practices on how public and government affairs practitioners could navigate the post-pandemic landscape, where hybrid online/offline engagement is the new norm.

The Public Affairs Forum Indonesia webinar on March 29, 2022, was held by PAFI, in collaboration with Asia Group Advisors, and drew over 450 participants.

Asia Group Advisors (AGA) is a strategy and investment advisory group for leading global businesses, foundations, and industries operating across Southeast Asia. Its works span a range of sectors, including energy, financial services, ICT, logistics, sustainability, food & beverages, and agribusiness.

With offices in Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Washington DC, AGA helps clients adeptly navigate the geopolitical and economic complexities of Asia's established and emerging markets.

The forum convened distinguished speakers from various backgrounds, including energy, personal care, and media, such as Agung Laksamana, PAFI Chairman and Freeport Indonesia Executive Vice President; Arif Zulkifli, Tempo Media President Director; and Nyimas Fauziah Rikani, Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities(SKK Migas) Senior Communication Manager.

There were also Melanie Masriel, L'Oréal Chief of Corporate Affairs, Engagement, and Sustainability; Daniel Rembeth, PwC Advisor to the Senior Partner on Government Relations and Public Affairs; and Adra Janitra Hendrawan (Associate Director, Asia Group Advisors) moderated the forum.

The discussion raised topics of how COVID-19 has ushered changes. Speakers said the pandemic has undeniably changed people's behavior and the public landscape.

Prepandemic, people could easily organize in-person meetings to foster dynamic, organic discussions. Pre-pandemic, the delineation between ‘business hours’ and ‘off hours’ was also clearer.

Nowadays, people are almost constantly working from home, plugged into their social platforms, and inundated with information.

Daniel Rembeth used his words that this is now the era of “always-on”.

Speakers at the discussion raised the issue of how public and government affairs practitioners must find new ways to maintain effective, meaningful stakeholder interactions and how to transition into the endemic era where hybrid will be a norm.

The speakers defined stakeholders quite broadly as everyone affecting or affected by a company’s operations – from regulators, media, industry associations, business partners, and vendors, to employees.

PAFI Chairman Agung Laksamana argued for practitioners to have a “new mindset” – optimizing technology to foster interactions and opportunities behind crises.