Resilience Alliance launched to enhance industry collaboration

Four leading professional membership organisations today announce the launch of the Resilience Alliance, with the aim of developing and promoting resilience globally.

Airmic, ASIS International, The BCI, and the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management, have each signed the Memorandum of Understanding.

The Resilience Alliance will address the implications of the changes and sudden disruptions such as those faced by organisations already in 2020. The goal is to convert the benefit of the collective specialisms of member organisations through collaboration. It also aims to develop and promote a common mutual understanding of what is meant by the term ‘resilience’.

Each member organisation of the Resilience Alliance has developed its own lens and approach to the subject of resilience based on its unique purpose, activities and individual member interest.

However, many resilience challenges are faced and shared by all. The Resilience Alliance will undertake joint communication and thought leadership initiatives and research projects on the good practices organisations can develop and adopt.

Members will be also encouraged to share their professional knowledge, supporting the collaboration of the respective professionals in a complex, connected and high  velocity world.

Basis for collaboration

• Organisational resilience is most effectively delivered when operational and professional silos are broken down.
• There is no single discipline that can claim to cover all aspects of resilience.
• Resilience is delivered by multidisciplinary specialists working together towards a common purpose.
• Risk management, workplace and facilities, security and business continuity professionals all play a key role in developing resilience
• Collaboration by professionals makes good business sense

Objectives and next steps

• Promotion of the value of developing resilience
• Promotion of the activities of each Alliance member
• Joint research, education and events
• A collaborative approach reflecting a complex, connected and fast-moving world.

The Resilience Alliance Chair and Secretariat will be rotational between the member bodies on a yearly basis from 1 April, starting with The BCI. The incumbent secretariat will agree immediate and longer terms plans and priorities.

John Ludlow, CEO of Airmic, explained:

“It is important that we work with risk professionals across the spectrum to demonstrate what we believe that resilience is a team game and that together we are stronger. The Resilience Alliance member organisations’ united presence at Airmic Fest demonstrates our intent, embracing the theme: ‘Working together in a time of accelerated change.’

“The Resilience Alliance is a fantastic opportunity to drive change in organisations, making them fitter and ultimately more ‘risk intelligent’. The events of 2020 have shown us we live in a fast moving, volatile and connected world - one that is constantly changing and where working in silos is no longer an option.

“Airmic is delighted to work with our fellow Resilience Alliance members on the projects and thought leadership issues, across public platforms, which will demonstrate the power of collaboration.”

Peter O’Neil, CEO of ASIS International, stated: 

“Resilience plays a significant role in the security profession as a whole, particularly as it relates to crisis management and business continuity challenges. The ability to prepare for, and adapt to, changing conditions and withstand and recover rapidly from disruptions is a major role of security professionals worldwide. We are excited to join the Resilience Alliance and look forward to developing future tools and resources for our profession (and others) to strengthen organizations across the globe.”

David Thorp, CEO of The BCI, stated;

“When we published our Manifesto for Organizational Resilience early in 2018 we stated our belief that organizational resilience is delivered when different disciplines work together in a coordinated manner. There is no single discipline that can claim to cover all aspects of resilience. Instead, resilience is delivered by specialist disciplines working together towards a common purpose. The launch of the Resilience Alliance comes at a time when this collaboration has never been more important.”

Linda Hausmanis, Chief Executive of IWFM, added:

“We are excited to be a part of the Resilience Alliance and look forward to building on our existing collaborations towards a knowledge exchange platform that will benefit all of our members.

“Covid-19 has underlined the importance of resilience as organisations have needed to be adaptive and flexible in the face of challenging and uncertain circumstances. Resilience will continue to be paramount in the coming months as we emerge from the crisis; likewise, flexibility will remain key to any newly laid plans as we continue into the unknown.

“Workplace and facilities management professionals have never been more central to the country’s fortunes: the pandemic has shone a light on the importance of our profession in keeping buildings clean, safe and operational, enabling people to do their best work wherever they are, and leading the safe return to work.

“If this pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we need to come together for the greater good. The Resilience Alliance exemplifies this principal and we look forward to working with our partners.”

--Ends--

Notes to Editors:

In 2018, Airmic published Roads to Revolution, which considered the resilience of business models in the digital era. The report added three more pillars to 2014’s Resilience Model and stressed that achieving resilience requires significant board-level support. In January 2014, Airmic published the Roads to Resilience –  where five key principles of resilience were outlined, known as the Airmic Resilience Model.

About Airmic

The leading UK association for everyone who has a responsibility for risk management and insurance for their organisation, Airmic has over 450 corporate members and more than 1,300 individual members. Individual members include company secretaries, finance directors, internal auditors, as well as risk and insurance professionals from all sectors. Airmic supports members through training and research; sharing information; a diverse programme of events; encouraging good practice; and lobbying on subjects that directly affect our members. Above all, we provide a platform for professionals to stay in touch, to communicate with each other and to share ideas and information.

About ASIS International

Founded in 1955, ASIS International is the world's largest membership organization for security management professionals. With hundreds of chapters across the globe, ASIS is recognized as the premier source for learning, networking, standards, and research. Through its board certifications, award-winning Security Management magazine, and Global Security Exchange (formerly the Annual Seminar and Exhibits)—the most influential event in the profession—ASIS ensures its members and the security community have access to the intelligence and resources necessary to protect their people, property, and information assets.  Learn more about the work we do at www.asisonline.org.

About The BCI

The BCI is the leading global professional institute for business continuity and resilience professionals. Established in 1994, The BCI has over 9,000 members with over 50 local Chapters around the world helping professionals’ network and share knowledge locally. Through its education & training, thought leadership & research, events, networking and community, The BCI is leading the way to resilience by enabling professionals to develop careers in the industry and help organizations become more resilient.

About The IWFM

The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) is the body for workplace and facilities professionals. We exist to promote excellence among a worldwide community of 17,000 and to demonstrate the value and contribution of workplace and facilities management more widely.

We empower professionals to upskill and reach their potential for a rewarding, impactful career. We do this by advancing professional standards, offering guidance and training, developing new insights and sharing best practice.

It is our vision to see workplace and facilities management as a distinct profession – recognised beyond the built environment for its ability to enable people to transform organisations and their performance. IWFM was established in 2018. It builds on the proud heritage of 25 years of the British Institute of Facilities Management. www.iwfm.org.uk