Business Continuity Institute statement

As Chairman of the Business Continuity Institute I whole-heartedly support BCAW2005 in North America.

BCAW2005 provides an exceptional opportunity to raise the awareness levels, within organisations right across the North America, of the advantages to be gained from having a robust business continuity management capability.

The world in which we live today has arguably become riskier alongside the greater impact of not being able to keep your organisation open for business. While organisations such as the Business Continuity Institute champion the cause on a worldwide basis through it’s work with government committees, universities and other such organisations, it is through its two thousand members that the most effective shift in thinking and approach to the concept of business continuity management can be achieved. BCAW2005 gives us, as a profession, a full week of concentrated effort to change the hearts and minds of those decision-makers who could, should they so wish, make it happen.

I believe a positive approach to changing those hearts and minds is the key to success. Business continuity should be demonstrated as a positive and beneficial addition to any organisation’s risk management capability and not sold on the basis of merely addressing the negatives such as “It’s only a matter of time before……… etc.”

I also ask that you extend your target audience beyond that of the ‘big player’ organisations and senior executives. Go for the masse i.e. the small and medium enterprises as well as grass roots, shop floor employees. There is an awful lot to be said for upward pressure on the need for a common sense approach to preparing for the effects of a major interruption to your mission critical processes.

Please remember that the BCI has a wealth of information and extensive networks of experts worldwide so do contact us if we can help in any way.

I wish you every success in your endeavours for BCAW2005 and beyond.

Yours,

Steve Mellish FBCI

Chairman
The Business Continuity Institute