Embedding Cyber Resilience in Emergency Response and Recovery
Tracks
Royal Poinciana
| Monday, July 14, 2025 |
| 11:35 AM - 12:05 PM |
Overview
Adam Bland, Complete Resilience
Details
Key Presentation Learnings:
1. Delegates will be build an understanding of the current and emerging cyber threats they need to be prepared for.
2. Delegates will have the opportunity to learn from other incidents and case studies with a view to applying these lessons in their own organisations and teams.
3. Delegates will build a greater understanding of how to embed cyber resilience into wider emergency management doctrine and arrangements.
Speaker
Mr Adam Bland
Director
Complete Resilience
Embedding cyber resilience in emergency response and recovery
Abstract
The importance of effectively preparing for hazards and threats that affect our organisations and communities is well understood. The principles of emergency management and the approach to managing emergencies (prevention, preparedness, response and recovery) are embedded and rehearsed regularly.
However, the relatively new threat landscape that cyber introduces is not as well understood or embedded in emergency arrangements, as recent incidents, emerging geo-politics and changing national regulations demonstrate. Cyber resilience can be seen as tomorrow's problem but it is today's reality.
Emergency managers and crisis leaders need to know enough to be assured that essential services, critical infrastructure, response and recovery arrangements are sufficiently protected from the effects of cyber-attacks.
However, responders also need to recognise the impacts of cyber incidents, building this into disaster response and recovery strategies in real time.
Furthermore, the potential for a concurrent or targeted cyber attack during the response to a traditional emergency or disaster must be appreciated, understood and planned for.
The appreciation of the consequences of an attack on our own organisations, on partners, other responders or key suppliers during an incident cannot be underestimated. The effect on communities can be devastating.
Teams and organisations across the world are just starting this journey of discovery and realisation. Others are already de-mystifying the cyber dimension and embedding the practicalities in their approach to prevention, preparedness, training, exercises, response, recovery and learning.
This engaging and thought-provoking presentation will share lessons from Australia and international case studies, alongside Adam’s own experiences of responding to cyber-attacks and his work supporting critical national infrastructure, public and private sector organisations and Government to embed cyber resilience.
Leaving conference attendees with questions to ask and practical tips and advice, this presentation will help delegates to take the first steps or further embed cyber resilience in emergency management.
However, the relatively new threat landscape that cyber introduces is not as well understood or embedded in emergency arrangements, as recent incidents, emerging geo-politics and changing national regulations demonstrate. Cyber resilience can be seen as tomorrow's problem but it is today's reality.
Emergency managers and crisis leaders need to know enough to be assured that essential services, critical infrastructure, response and recovery arrangements are sufficiently protected from the effects of cyber-attacks.
However, responders also need to recognise the impacts of cyber incidents, building this into disaster response and recovery strategies in real time.
Furthermore, the potential for a concurrent or targeted cyber attack during the response to a traditional emergency or disaster must be appreciated, understood and planned for.
The appreciation of the consequences of an attack on our own organisations, on partners, other responders or key suppliers during an incident cannot be underestimated. The effect on communities can be devastating.
Teams and organisations across the world are just starting this journey of discovery and realisation. Others are already de-mystifying the cyber dimension and embedding the practicalities in their approach to prevention, preparedness, training, exercises, response, recovery and learning.
This engaging and thought-provoking presentation will share lessons from Australia and international case studies, alongside Adam’s own experiences of responding to cyber-attacks and his work supporting critical national infrastructure, public and private sector organisations and Government to embed cyber resilience.
Leaving conference attendees with questions to ask and practical tips and advice, this presentation will help delegates to take the first steps or further embed cyber resilience in emergency management.
Biography
Adam is a well-regarded international resilience specialist with experience across business continuity, emergency and crisis management, organisational resilience and cyber resilience.
Adam has led the response to and recovery from a range of incidents including, severe weather, disease outbreaks and pandemics, cyber-attacks, business continuity disruptions and terrorist incidents.
Having worked in emergency management for organisations, been a key player in multi-agency resilience forums and supported leaders in local and national government, Adam is passionate about identifying and sharing lessons that can build greater resilience for teams and communities, helping individuals, responders and organisations be better prepared for the next incident.
