Companies in Qatar stand to gain from a one-day conference slated later in the year that would focus on integrating capacity building in the country’s business continuity and resilience (BC&R) sector, it was announced yesterday.
The ‘2nd Business Continuity & Resilience Conference’ will kick-off on November 19 in Doha, Qatar Business Continuity Forum chairman and conference president Abdullatif Ali al-Yafei said in a press conference held in the presence of Saud Omar al-Mana and Salah Mohamed al-Jaidah, representing Qatar Businessmen Association (QBA).
According to al-Yafei, this year’s event will delve on the first conference’s recommendations on six areas developed by BC&R specialists: small and medium enterprises (SMEs), cybersecurity, networking, establishing links among BC&R specialists, supply chain, and the role of the governmental sector in supporting business continuity, disaster recovery, and crisis management.
Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the press conference, al-Yafei said there was a need to integrate a capacity-building component in Qatar’s BC&R sector that focuses on BC&R programmes and risk management plans, as well as the significance of forging relationships and networks among professionals.
“Unlike the first conference, which was dedicated to showcasing current practices and success stories in the Qatari market, the conference’s second edition will focus on integrating international best practices, providing practical methods, and an opportunity to benefit all participants,” he said.
With the theme ‘Towards a Reliable Economy,’ the topics to be discussed during conference’s second edition are based on three main pillars, al-Yafei noted.
“The first pillar relies on providing a real platform for the exchange of experiences and best practices among BC&R specialists. The second pillar revolves around establishing links between BC&R specialists and decision makers in a number of important fields and disciplines based on a ‘Chimney Talk’ format used for the first time in Qatar as a mechanism for discussions and recommendations.
“These fields were selected according to the recommendations made by the participants of the first BC&R conference as vital areas that intersect with, and fall within, several strategic plans to mitigate risks and ensure the continuity of business, namely the supply chain, building and construction materials, and cyber-security.
He added, “The third pillar will focus on building the capacities of BC&R professionals by providing them with training and development opportunities in accordance with the highest international standards, and boosting the number of certified professionals in this field.”
The conference aims to develop and nurture the BC&R field in Qatar and is designed to maximise participants’ benefits by inter-linking the three pillars and adopting new discussion mechanisms to facilitate “an unprecedented level of interaction among participants,” al-Yafei said.
On November 19, the conference will kick-off with two plenary sessions, with HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani attending the opening ceremony.
The first session will address topics like supporting SMEs in adopting BC&R management systems; the relationship between business continuity, risk management, and the ROI resulting from building the capacity of BC&R professionals; and the optimal place for Business Continuity Management in the organisational structure of companies.
The second session will be a ‘Chimney Talk’ aimed at providing participants with a “unique experience.” Specialised training courses are set to support three levels of expertise based on the needs of the trainees.
The ‘2nd Business Continuity & Resilience Conference’ is organised by Silah for Marketing and Exhibition with the QBA as Strategic Partner, and Business Continuity Institute in UK, and BCI-Qatar Forum as Professional Development Partners.
Annual BC&R awards
The ‘2nd Business Continuity & Resilience Conference’ slated on November 19 will be highlighted by an annual awards as an offshoot of the conference’s first edition, Qatar Business Continuity Forum chairman and conference president Abdullatif Ali al-Yafei has said.
“The conference Organising Committee had promised participants of the first edition that the conference will present annual awards to distinguished individuals and companies in the BC&R field to stimulate institutional and individual excellence,” al-Yafei said.
The awards will be in the following categories, ‘Continuity & Resilience Professional (Private Sector)’, ‘Continuity & Resilience Professional (Public Sector)’, ‘Continuity & Resilience Newcomer’, ‘Continuity & Resilience Provider (Service/Product)’, and ‘Most Effective Recovery’.
Al-Yafei said the nominations will be evaluated by Business Continuity Institute (BCI) in the UK based on integrity and transparency standards through a committee of international BC&R experts that is affiliated with BCI-UK. Applications will be accepted starting from end of July 2018.
Business / Business
Conference to help Qatar companies with business continuity, resilience steps
Al-Yafei together with al-Mana and al-Jaidah during a press conference to announce the ‘2nd Business Continuity & Resilience Conference’ slated on November 19 in Doha. PICTURE: Jayan Orma
