When communications experts and media lawyers from around the world come together to discuss the most pressing issues of our time, one thing quickly becomes clear: reputational risks are now more global, faster-moving and more complex than ever before. Hendrik Schulze van Loon, Managing Partner at ORCA van Loon Communications, represented the agency at this year’s prestigious Cambridge Forum International Reputational Risks – and experienced a week full of inspiring encounters and relevant debates. The venue: the Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, one of the most impressive spots on the Bosphorus.

The discussions centred on a topic that is becoming increasingly crucial for corporate communications professionals: trust. In an age of artificial intelligence and targeted disinformation, the question of how organisations can communicate credibly and protect their reputation is at the top of the agenda – not only in Germany, but worldwide. The international exchange with colleagues from different legal systems, media cultures and corporate contexts made it clear that professional reputation management is now an interdisciplinary task: at the intersection of strategic communication, legal safeguards and digital resilience.

For ORCA van Loon, taking part in the Cambridge Forum is more than just networking. It reflects the firm’s own commitment: as a consultancy, not only to respond to current crises, but also to identify developments at an early stage and prepare clients for them as effectively as possible. The insights gained in Istanbul – on AI-fuelled disinformation, international reputational risks and the growing importance of trust as a strategic resource – are directly incorporated into the firm’s consultancy work.

“It was a wonderful and inspiring exchange with brilliant colleagues from all over the world. I’d be delighted to take part in the next meeting,” said Hendrik Schulze van Loon after the event – a clear sign that ORCA van Loon’s dialogue with international experts is set to continue.