Enabling infrastructure and buildings to better withstand biochemical threats

Director of DBG Defence Hamish de Bretton-Gordon gave a confidential presentation to acumen7 members today on current threats to bio-security. Hamish covered where the threats are perceived to be coming from, and how we can enable our infrastructure and buildings to better withstand them. Hamish has served and volunteered in conflict zones around the world and unearthed evidence of multiple chemical attacks in the current Syrian conflict. He continues to advise the Government at the highest level, including after the 2018 Novichok poisoning in Salisbury. Hamish was formerly a British Army officer for 23 years and commanding officer of the UK’s Joint Chemical, Biological and Nuclear Regiment and NATO’s Rapid Reaction CBRN Battalion. Hamish is the author of Chemical Warrior.

 

Operational resilience

Suneeta Padda, Founding Director at Padda Consulting, presented at The Future of Work seminar to showcase the impact of increasing risks relating to cyber, health and safety arising through working at home and the required changes in culture needed to support our ‘new normal’ working environment. Suneeta is the Founder of Padda Consulting, which was established to help domestic UK and global insurance intermediaries and insurers achieve evidence and maintain compliance with the FCA’s principle-based regulatory framework, Lloyd’s Minimum Standards and the PRA-PSM’s, SIMR, Corporate Governance and Solvency II.

For more information, visit: www.padda-consulting.co.uk

Probably the greatest military unit you’ve never heard of…

At acumen7’s virtual Christmas cocktail party, the guest speaker Colonel Gary Sullivan OBE gave an informative overview of The Staff Corps, which is a part of the Royal Engineers in the British Army Reserve. The Staff Corps is intended to provide advisers on engineering and logistics to the British Army at a senior level. Following its work creating the NHS Nightingale Hospitals the Corps was described as ‘probably the greatest military unit you’ve never heard of. Established in 1865, the current officers are mainly chief executives, directors and senior managers of 60 different engineering, transport and logistics organisations, which together employ 100,000 people. As well as explaining the background to The Staff Corps, Gary also gave overview of operations it has been involved with including the NHS Nightingale Hospitals, the forthcoming mass vaccination programme, the Beirut Port recovery and Whaley Bridge.