Plans for Disaster Forum 2024 include pre-conference workshops, two keynote speakers, panel discussions, and presentations from leaders on a variety of relevant topics.
The conference theme will be announced shortly. Stay tuned for more information about our Disaster Forum 2024 speakers and presenters.
See below for our ensemble of experts from Disaster Forum 2023.
Senior Technical Advisor | Trace Associates Inc.
Bruno Cornejo, AMBCI is a Project Manager and Senior Technical Advisor at Trace Associates Inc. and is responsible for the project management and/or technical support of emergency and business continuity management projects. Bruno has over 20 years of emergency management and business continuity experience in the energy, industrial, mining, government, health care, and transportation sectors, both nationally and internationally. His expertise is in developing and implementing effective risk and emergency management programs including deep knowledge of planning, developing, and conducting emergency response exercises and related training.
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WORKSHOP 1
Designing and Running Powerful Exercises (Emergency Response & Business Continuity)
How do you get the most out of your emergency management exercises? In this workshop we will review the keys to exercise success and how to ensure you get the most value from your next exercise. Participants will gain advanced knowledge on what makes exercises effective and successful.
Senior Vice President, Reputation Risk and Corporate Training | Argyle
Kim Blanchette is an accredited Public Relations professional and a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society College of Fellows. Canada's first PR professional to become Chartered by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (UK), Kim has 30 years of media relations experience, including providing presentation, spokesperson, media and crisis communications training to public officials, federal and provincial Ministers and Deputy Ministers, subject matter experts and company representatives. Kim has won awards for her work in media relations for the Swissair Flight 111 tragedy, the 2013 Calgary Flood, the 2016 Alberta Wildfires and the Alberta Energy Regulator and has served as spokesperson for Canada as the Consul, Public Affairs at the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle.
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WORKSHOP 2 | Co-Trainer (with Vasie Papadolpoulos)
Managing Reputational Risk with Effective Communication During a Crisis | Trainer
When it comes to crisis and disaster response, the systems and plans in place are only as effective as the people called on to respond. While no amount of textbook or classroom training can prepare you for a live response, simulated training exercises offer the next best thing. This training session will be built around a realistic disaster scenario that will unfold through a series of sudden developments and simulated events that require on-the-spot action. Throughout the workshop, participants will be asked to step into various roles within the ICS and consider disaster response protocols as they assess new facts, key developments, stakeholder communications, the media and social media landscape, operational impacts and reputational risks. Under guidance and direction of a team of expert facilitators, participants may be asked to complete simulated tasks such as drafting communications, training spokespersons, engaging subject matter experts, media interviews and other tactics.
Vice President, Corporate Communications | Argyle
Vasie has extensive experience both in the public and private sectors developing strategic communication plans, data-driven business strategies and campaigns and creating unique company initiatives. She has led, guided and trained organizations and executive leaders on thought leadership, media training, public outreach and crisis communications in some of the toughest industries at companies such as the Government of Canada, Metrolinx, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario and Philip Morris International. In 2018, she was nominated for a YWCA Woman of the Year Award and in 2020 was nominated for a Diversity and Inclusion Award with the CCDI. In 2020, she was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women through the Women’s Executive Network.
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WORKSHOP 2 | Co-Trainer (with Kim Blanchette)
Effective Crisis and Disaster Response: An Interactive Workshop | Co-Trainer
Owner and Connector | 9Zero Solutions Ltd.
Former Chief of Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA)
Tom has 40 years of experience in Public Safety Agencies, starting as a Park Ranger, later becoming an Advanced Care Paramedic and Chief of Calgary Emergency Medical Services. In 2009, he began building the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), serving as a Deputy in the Calgary Fire Department and later as CEMA Chief until his retirement in 2020. He then founded 9Zero Solutions Ltd., providing assistance to Public Safety Agencies. He continues to serve as a Commander with Canada Task Force 2. Tom has received numerous commendations, which he attributes to the power of teamwork. His passion is to empower people and improve outcomes.
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OPENING KEYNOTE | Co-Speaker (with Sue Henry)
The Unspoken Skills of Emergency Management: What People Didn’t Tell Us
Topics covered:
Chief | Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA)
Susan Henry was appointed Chief of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) in 2020 and has been with The City since 2001. Prior to this role, Susan was the Deputy Chief of CEMA since 2015, where she was second-in-command. She was responsible for disaster risk reduction, community education and outreach and business continuity. She also provided leadership to Canada Task Force 2, an all-hazards disaster response team, into one of the leading six heavy urban search and rescue teams in Canada. In addition to creating national and international relationships, Henry was also responsible for the management, training, development and deployment of over 150 highly skilled volunteers.
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OPENING KEYNOTE | Co-Speaker (with Tom Sampson)
The Unspoken Skills of Emergency Management: What People Didn’t Tell Us
Principal | Zero Hour Strategy
John Larsen is a former senior officer in the Canadian Forces, a former executive with multiple international public relations agencies, and the Principal of Zero Hour Strategy. He is the recipient of numerous awards and commendations, has taught at four post-secondary institutions, has been honoured as a ‘Master Communicator’ through the International Association of Business Communications, and is a certified member of the Institute of Corporate Directors. John has studied advanced leadership at Harvard and Cornell and is the author of the upcoming book In the Room: Perspectives on Leadership for an Age of Crisis.
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CLOSING KEYNOTE
Step Up: Principles of Evolved Leadership for an Age of Crisis
Far too often in crisis situations, the first consideration of a leader is ‘What do I need to do?’ Instead, the better question is ‘How do I need to think? In this engaging keynote presentation, John Larsen, an observer of crisis leadership for over 30 years, tackles the essence of crisis leadership from an adaptive leadership perspective. He implores leaders – and anyone on the crisis team – to think about the shared values that need to be communicated, and he turns some traditional command-and-control wisdom on its head by asserting that in times a crisis, a leader needs to welcome differences of opinion and creative thinking. Ultimately, John ties the science of leadership during crises into one word: trust.
Operations Manager | Flint Hills Resources
Wade is the the Manager of Canadian Operations for Flint Hills Resources and has over 30 years of related oil and gas experience with management oversight of operations, EHS programs, emergency response, security management and managing facility regulatory compliance programs. Wade currently is the Chair of the CSA Technical Committee for Z246.2 Emergency Preparedness and Response for Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry Systems and a technical committee member of CSA Z246.1 Security Management for the Oil and Gas Industry Systems. He is also an active member of the Hardisty Mutual Aid Group (HMAG) for the Hardisty oil complex, and currently serving as the treasurer and chairing the training committee for HMAG. Additionally, Wade is currently serving on town council for the Town of Hardisty.
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Community and Industry: Partners in Emergencies | Co-Speaker (with Blake Moser)
HMAG history - how we got to where we are today, what’s next. Ongoing proactive development in regard to emergency preparedness and response with our community partners. How is this being facilitated, who owns it?
Facility Operations | Husky Midstream
Blake Moser is the Training Officer for West End Fire Rescue within the M.D. of Provost and a firefighter on the Hardisty Fire Department through the Flagstaff Regional Emergency Services Society. Day-to-day, Blake works as a Facility Operator for Husky Midstream at the Hardisty Terminal, where he focuses on maintaining safe and efficient operations. Blake is a member of the Hardisty Mutual Aid Group (HMAG), working alongside member companies and various agencies to enhance emergency response capabilities within the Hardisty area. Beyond his emergency response involvement, he also holds leadership positions as the Founding President of the East 13 Rural Crime Watch Association, and Chairman of the Hardisty and District Development Group. These roles reflect his commitment to community safety and progress.
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Community and Industry: Partners in Emergencies | Co-Speaker (with Wade Kroening)
Senior Manager, Corporate Services | Canadian Mental Health Association (Calgary Region)
Michelle is a transformative leader in Calgary’s non-profit sector and brings nearly 20 years of strategic and tactical planning to the team. Michelle attended the University of Alberta with a focus on psychology and sociology. She has since completed several professional development opportunities in the areas of project management, leadership, and occupational health and safety. In 2018, Michelle was one of the founders of Wag-A-Muffins Animal Rescue Ltd., a registered non-profit in the province of Alberta. Presently, Michelle is the Senior Manager of Corporate Services at CMHA Calgary. Since joining the organization in 2017, Michelle has coordinated and led the design, development, and implantation of numerous initiatives and programs including the Occupational Health and Safety program.
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Integrated Emergency Management, Business Continuity and Health & Safety Planning: A Case Study
This case study will describe the opportunities and challenges related to simultaneous development of health and safety, business continuity, and emergency management programs in a Canadian not-for-profit social service organization. Using basic principles of emergency management, business continuity and health & safety, the implementation team focused on practical programming that could be managed with the organization’s existing resources (i.e., adaptive solution), while also addressing the complexities inherent in the organization and its mission.
Senior Vice President, Reputation Risk and Corporate Training | Argyle
Kim Blanchette is an accredited Public Relations professional and a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society College of Fellows. Canada's first PR professional to become Chartered by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (UK), Kim has 30 years of media relations experience, including providing presentation, spokesperson, media and crisis communications training to public officials, federal and provincial Ministers and Deputy Ministers, subject matter experts and company representatives. Kim has won awards for her work in media relations for the Swissair Flight 111 tragedy, the 2013 Calgary Flood, the 2016 Alberta Wildfires and the Alberta Energy Regulator and has served as spokesperson for Canada as the Consul, Public Affairs at the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle.
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Trends and Insights in Crisis Communications
Crisis communications continues to evolve. What built trust and confidence last year might pose a problem today with the loss of reputation directly tied to stakeholder relationships, employee engagement and your organization’s bottom line. This session will offer a glimpse into the latest trends in crisis communications, examples of what to do (and what not to do) and insights into how your communications can be an integral, and value-added part of your crisis response.
President | The Response Team
Michael Curtis is a 34 year professional in the emergency management field who describes himself as a “pracademic”. His practitioner side includes 13 years in front line EMS, as well as an additional 21 years of emergency management in the Oil & Gas, Aviation, Industrial, municipal government, NGO, and non-profit sectors. He is a part of three IMTs (regional, national and international) with three different organizations with recent deployments to Mayfield, Kentucky, Lytton, BC, and Drayton Valley. Academically, Michael is a graduate of Royal Roads University – DEM program, and is an instructor at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. He holds designation as a Certified Continuity Manager, ABCP, and a Master ICS Instructor.
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Preparing the Next Generation of Disaster and Emergency Management Practitioners: A Paradigm Shift of a Profession in the Making
Speaker to be determined |
The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) represents close to 60 freight and passenger railway companies—railways that transport millions of passengers and approximately $350 billion worth of goods across our country each year. RAC also counts a growing number of industrial railways and railway supply companies in its associate membership. As part of the fifth largest rail network in the world, RAC members are the backbone of Canada’s transportation system.
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The Evolution of Canadian Railway Emergency Preparedness and Response
Railways have been part of Canada since the time of Confederation. The role of the railway has continued to grow to transport goods and passengers and provide essential services across the country. The industry has also long dealt with emergencies from the early days through to and beyond the Lac Megantic event of 2013. The railway system and industry have been evolving and modernizing their emergency preparedness and response capability and capacity, including adopting a collaborative approach with communities, governments, and other key players. This session will explore the some of the techniques and technologies being used, successes, and ongoing challenges.
President/CEO | bassa Social Innovations Inc.
Scott Cameron is the Co-Founder of Emergency Management Logistics Canada, a new and innovative tool for EM resource management. EMLCanada views the the role and function of EM Logistics Sections as an “interface” with community, including businesses and community organizations.
Scott is the former Manager of Social Planning for the City of Red Deer, where he was also responsible for the Emergency Social Services (ESS) program. In this role, he had the opportunity to be activated on numerous occasions within the City, deployed to the Slave Lake and Wood Buffalo wildfires, and facilitated a two-day ESS debrief following the Southern Alberta Floods. His exposure to disaster response and recovery started while in his role of Executive Director for United Way of Central Alberta during the Pine Lake Tornado. Scott has a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) from Royal Roads University with a specialization in Sustainable Community Development. He understands community and social development deeply – a passion he furthers through his role as President/CEO of his consulting firm, bassa Social Innovations Inc.
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“All of Society” Presentation
Using an interactive approach, presentation participants will be introduced to the “All of Society” context identified in the United Nations Sendai Framework through the lens of:
- Emergency Management Organizations and Government,
- Business and Industry, and
- Community Organizations and NGOs.
Framed by potential benefits and risks, each of these sectors will be explored as they relate to local emergency management, and participants will have an opportunity to identify key stakeholders in their communities relative to their own community risk profiles. The presentation will also explore “All of Society” in the context of community development and local economic recovery. At the end of the presentation, participants will be introduced to the EMLCanada platform as a practical tool to adopt an “All of Society” approach locally.
Over two full days, beginning at noon on Tuesday, delegates will have the opportunity to learn from and engage with leaders in Emergency Management and business continuity from multiple industries across Canada. Tailor your own conference experience through the selection of concurrent workshops and presentation sessions that will complement the keynote speakers and a moderated panel discussion.
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