CSS x PIO Toolkit: Communicating with Leadership & Officials

Wednesday, May 27, 2026  at 12:00 PM EST 

The hardest part of government comms isn’t the message — it’s getting leadership to understand why it matters. This live session covers how to manage up effectively, navigate elected officials with their own comms instincts, and position yourself as a strategic adviser rather than a task-taker. You’ll leave with a managing-up toolkit including briefing templates and scripts for common friction points.  

Meet Christine, Grab Your Lunch

Christine Townsend is an internationally recognized strategic communications expert with more than 30 years of experience across journalism, policing, and government communications. She specializes in crisis communication, media strategy, and community engagement, helping public sector organizations build trust and navigate complex, high-stakes situations. Christine is the founder and editor-in-chief of PIO Toolkit, a global platform supporting government communicators, and has trained agencies worldwide in effective public engagement strategies. Her career includes serving as Director of Communications for the City of London Police, where she led communications for major international events and critical incidents, and advising government and public safety organizations across the U.S., U.K., and beyond. At Capital Strategic Solutions, she supports clients in developing strategic communications, crisis response frameworks, and meaningful community engagement initiatives.