BCI Board Spotlight: Maura Santunione MBCI
The 2025 BCI Board Elections, held between October and November this year, saw two new Board members elected and one re-election. In this spotlight we speak to newly elected member Maura Santunione MBCI.
Could you give us a brief overview of your career experience in the BC and resilience sector?
With over 20 years of senior expertise in business continuity, crisis, and security management, my experience spans logistics, industrial, and the highly-regulated sectors. I am highly dedicated and passionate in supporting organizations in building adaptive business continuity, resilience, and antifragility.
My foundational expertise includes supply chain and supplier quality assurance, compliance which is critical for integrated system management. I've established cohesive operational resilience frameworks, applied Lean and Agile methodologies to optimize recovery processes, and embedded a sustainable culture of preparedness globally. My technical foundation is strong, backed by certifications like MBCI, RSCM, CISM, and ISO 22301 Lead Auditor/Implementer.
What do you feel you can bring to the work of the board?
I bring my engagement and passion for the field to contribute with my personal value in the translation of business continuity and resilience into a competitive advantage—not just compliance, I would work with the BCI to define what's needed to guide and support the community. This means empowering every professional as a resilience ambassador and helping organizations build a resilience culture, particularly as we collectively navigate the digital transition and the future.
What particular issue(s) would you like to see raised on the organizational agenda during your tenure?
Two integrated issues: strategic elevation and community future-building. I will cooperate to elevate business continuity and resilience from a compliance duty to a strategic business driver, focusing on creating integrated systems that yield a competitive advantage. This means ensuring the BCI is leading the way in integrating resilience, promoting proactive management of disruptive risks, and specifically addressing the complexity of global supply chains and the rapid changes brought by digital transformation.
Simultaneously, by investing in the next generation of resilience leaders—advocating for increased research, standardized best practices, and global mentorship programs—we will empower every professional as a resilience ambassador and ensure we are effectively guiding the profession's future.
What do you feel are the most pressing business continuity and resilience challenges?
The most pressing challenges are the speed of digital risk and the complexity of the supply chain.
Managing the risks inherent in the accelerated adoption of digital technologies is a priority, covering aspects like cloud, the internet of things, and AI. As I saw in my training (MIT Digital Transformation Course), the digital landscape is where the next major disruptions will originate.
On the other hand, organizations are struggling with increasingly complex global supply chains. Drawing on my expertise, I see the vital challenge as securing this extended network and mitigating risks.
What inspired you to contribute to the BCI in a volunteer capacity?
My inspiration comes from a deep commitment to elevating the profession and supporting our community, alongside the personal growth I've gained through the BCI's value and network. I was already active as a Leader of the BCI Italy Chapter and as a member of the Operational Resilience Special Interest Group. This involvement fuels my conviction: I truly believe in the essential role that organizations like the BCI have in building resilience, advancing business continuity, and fostering high professionalism across the globe. My goal is to transform that passion into tangible support for every member.
What piece of advice can you share for others who would like to be involved in the governance of BCI?
The piece of advice I would repeat to myself, personally, is also what I share with others: Be the change you want to see implemented! My philosophy for governance is built on this foundation: Be a bridge-builder and pursue holistic mastery. Embrace innovation with perspective; bridge your operational knowledge with your strategic vision.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Yes, as a final thought, I want to thank all the members. It is your trust and engagement that drives the BCI's mission forward. I am deeply honored by the opportunity to serve, and I look forward to working collaboratively with the community to build a truly antifragile context and future.
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About the author
Maura Santunione
Business Resilience Digital Transformation Manager
I am Global Business Continuity & Resilience Officer at Royal Philips (Philips) within Group Operations – Integrated Supply Chain (ISC).
My key accountabilities are the implementation, the compliance of the ISO22301 certified global business continuity management system (BCMS) in the sites assigned to me, related processes, and the compliance of the global Business Continuity Management (BCM) Program, which entails the Manufacturing Sites in the EMEA Reagion, Indonesia, the Amsterdam HQ. Furthermore I collaborate with the ISC Organization to implement our BCM Program in the IWD Locations.
I strongly believe in the continuous improvement, in the lean approach to achieve the excellence, based on these approaches year after year we improved the quality and the level of our BCM Program and System.
Our Center of Excellence Business Continuity & Resilience received the Fusion Team Pace Setter Award in 2019. Also, the team was awarded in 2021 by the Business Continuity Institute (BCI) with the Global & European Collaboration in Resilience Award.
Resilience means firstly prepare people, structuring organizations to live events and changes any time any place, ensuring safety and business continuity.
