如果一个重要的或经常发言的人这次缺席了会议，而你碰巧事先知道他这次迟早都不会来这个会了，那么让其他人一开始就知道这消息就是个比较专业善意的做法。

I'm afraid Teresa can't be with us today. She is in the middle of something. 我恐怕Teresa今天不能出席。她在忙些事情。或者，后半句的解释换成：She’s got other commitments. 她有其他事情要做。
 
I have received apologies for the absence of Ian, who is on business trip. 我收到了Ian的道歉因为他不能来了， 他正在商务旅行途中。