Disaster-resilient firms to gain in marketplace

MANILA, Philippines - The business environment has become more hostile and complex that only those manufacturers, service companies, government and non-profit organizations skilled in controlling and managing risks will not only protect their workforce, infrastructures and reputations but also lead and seize opportunities in the marketplace.

Now on its sixth year, the conference Protect 2011: Doing Business Amidst New Threats VI assembles CEO’s and senior executives in a forum dedicated to identifying and evaluating vulnerability to risks and hazards, designing solutions that make the companies resilient and save lives and property, and helping firms recover quickly from disruptions.

The conference will be held from April 5-6 at the New World Hotel. Interested parties may contact the conference organizer Leverage International (Consultants) Inc. at 810-1389; 818-6828 or fax no. 810-1594 or e-mail: [email protected].

Expert speakers this year include professionals in the fields of energy, weather, academe, medicine, risk and safety management, intellectual property, aviation, information technology, terrorism, critical and information infrastructures, and new security technologies.

The two-day event has three sessions: 1 – Back to the future: Lessons learned from past terrorist attacks, pandemic incidents and natural calamities; 2 – Risks: What we can expect now and what next, in the future; and 3 – Engaging stakeholders in the pursuit of resilience.

Topics include building the regional capacity for disaster risk reduction by Dr. Sanjay K. Srivastava, Security and coordination in relation to disaster management by William Wairoa-Harrison, and H1N1 experience – What did we learn? by Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go of AIM.

The Moscow Domodedovo bombing and lessons from other post-9/11 incidents, by Philip Baum; Terrorism: Now and what next? by Dr. Rohan Gunaratna, The cyber world: Risks and threats, now and in the future, by Christopher D. Chavez; Fuel supply disruptions: Emerging trends and the need to prepare, by Cyril C. del Callar. and Changes In the Philippines, by Undersecretary Graciano P. Yumul of DOST, PAGASA.

What stops corporations from seeing business continuity as a social responsibility, by Brig. Gen. Froilan Maglaya (Ret.) National security and the enforcement of intellectual property rights by Ricardo R. Blancaflor; New media and technology for political and social change, by Maria A. Ressa.

Safe cities, by Yang Hua; Securing critical infrastructures, by Ronald de Guzman; Protection with network video surveillance beyond security, by Raymond Koh; and Building public and private sector partnership for low-cost effective emergency management; and Ensuring business continuity, by Demetrio P. Salipsip, Jr.