IR professionals play a critical role during periods of uncertainty, where clear, timely, and effective communication is essential to maintaining stakeholder confidence. The second run of the IR Crisis Communications Training Course, organised by SGListCos (as part of the Value Unlock Equip Grant), brought together IROs, finance and corporate communications professionals, as well as listed company executives for a focused session on crisis preparedness and strategic alignment.

Facilitated by Ang Shih-Huei, CEO & Co-Founder of Klareco, this training course offered participants structured frameworks and real-world case studies on managing crises in an increasingly complex stakeholder and communications environment.

As market expectations continue to evolve, effective investor relations crisis communications require more than simply responding to events as they unfold. It requires anticipating potential risks, aligning internal stakeholders, and maintaining trust through uncertainty.

Participants explored the importance of adopting a more forward-looking approach to crisis, with an emphasis placed on developing integrated crisis response plans that align operational and communication protocols for swift, transparent responses. As highlighted during the session, “be more forward looking - anticipate the crises that your organisation might go through.”

The importance of proactive stakeholder engagement was also underscored. Beyond communicating during a crisis, IR professionals play a critical role in building trust with investors, regulators and other stakeholders, while maintaining strong feedback loops to understand market sentiment and inform communication strategies.

Attendees also discussed the need for IR professionals to advocate for timely and transparent disclosures, prepare management teams for heightened scrutiny, and ensure consistency across all stakeholder communications. As noted during the session, “make sure that there's an alignment of the message and the voice of the company when articulating a crisis.”

Through interactive exercises and scenario-based discussions, participants worked through practical scenarios reflecting on how companies can strengthen preparedness, maintain stakeholder trust, and protect long-term corporate value during periods of uncertainty.

Against the backdrop of ongoing efforts to enhance Singapore's capital markets, including the S$6.5 billion EQDP, building strong investor relations capabilities has become increasingly important for listed companies.