Top IBM and AECOM executives join UNISDR Private Sector Advisory Group as commitment by sector to disaster risk reduction grows

Geneva, 9 June - Two executives from IBM and AECOM joined UNISDR’s growing Private Sector Advisory Group to support the organization’s work in engaging and supporting companies and businesses in reducing their risk to disasters.

The advisory group is comprised of members from the private sector taking the lead in ensuring the safety of long-term investments and planning ahead to protect industry and society from disasters, economic disruptions while ensuring business continuity. Members include executives from WillisRe, Credit Suisse, Titan America, Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group, MunichRe Foundation, and Kokusai Kogyo Holdings.

"A private sector committed to disaster risk reduction can steer public demand towards materials, systems and technological solutions to build and run resilient communities," says Margareta Wahlström, UN Special Representative of the Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Dr. Peter Williams, an IBM Distinguished Engineer and Chief Technology Officer for the company’s Big Green Innovations initiative, represents IBM’s membership to the group. Dr. Williams brings over 20 years of experience to the advisory group in technology and business integration and is also a visiting lecturer on Environmental Informatics at Stanford University.

Representing AECOM, Mr. Dale Sands is the Senior Vice President of Technology and Global Practices Director for Environment. Mr. Sands leads AECOM’s Global Practices for Environment on issues that include environmental health and safety, impact assessments, engineering and construction. AECOM is a technical and management service provider in a range of markets that includes transportation, environment, energy, water and government.

"There is a strong business case that the private sector heavily shares in the cost of disasters and has a vital interest in resilience… The same public that suffer from disasters are our employees, our customers and our suppliers," said Aris Papadopoulos, CEO of Titan America, during the closing ceremony of the Third Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction held in Geneva from 8-13 May.

During the closing session of the Global Platform, Munich Re Foundation, the Global Risk Forum GRF Davos and UNISDR also announced a €100,000 award to a risk reduction project that will contribute to increasing people’s resilience to disasters, especially in developing communities which are most at risk. More information on the Risk Award can be found below.