At the recent World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland, participants in one session chose climate change as the issues that will have the greatest impact in the coming years, and the one that the world is least ready for. "Climate change is one of the greatest challenges that we face," said Ged Davis, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. "We need to bring governments and non-state actors together to offer innovative solutions."
As Disaster Management professionals what can we do? What are the economic effects? What type of planning should we be doing? What can we do, if anything, to influence politicians and business leaders?
RESILIENCY
Resiliency is the capacity for individuals, communities and business to be able to adopt and continuously evolve to the challenges we face in our rapidly changing society.
The 18th WCDM will explore individual, community and business resiliency as well as how the three exist as one. Our speakers will take the “complexity” out of understanding how resiliency plays an integral part of their operations.
PANDEMIC PLANNING
The threat of a pandemic is no longer the media darling, but we in the profession know it is still a major threat. With a recent outbreak of H5N1 strain of avian flu among poultry in England and continuing human deaths in Indonesia it is still an issue to be dealt with.
According to World Health Organization data, of the 113 cases of H5N1 confirmed to date in Indonesia, 91 have been fatal. In 2007 alone, there have been 72 confirmed human cases of Avian Influenza worldwide.
From Pandemic 101 to a more advanced approach to pandemic planning, the 18th WCDM will cover it all.
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Take time to visit the poster presentations. During the conference, presenters will be located at their posters at predetermined times from Monday to Wednesday.
This will give you an excellent opportunity to review their work and network one-on-one with these presenters.
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Where else in North America can you get such an international perspective to the Disaster Management scene? With presenters, exhibitors and delegates from more than 40 countries, the 18th WCDM will provide a unique opportunity for you to network and learn from some of the best practitioners in the world.
This is your chance to break out of the box, and be exposed to the thoughts and practices of our friends from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the far east, the middle east, and more.
NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK
If you go to conferences to learn and network with your peers, then THIS is the conference for you. Not only will you be networking with professionals in your own field, but you will have the opportunity to network with individuals from all areas of Disaster Management - and from all parts of the globe!
What an occasion to expand your horizons and learn from the best!
Whether it be over breakfast or lunch, during refreshment breaks or the various social events, there will be ample opportunity to interact with your fellow attendees.
At the recent World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland, participants in one session chose climate change as the issues that will have the greatest impact in the coming years, and the one that the world is least ready for. "Climate change is one of the greatest challenges that we face," said Ged Davis, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. "We need to bring governments and non-state actors together to offer innovative solutions."
The threat of a pandemic is no longer the media darling, but we in the profession know it is still a major threat. With a recent outbreak of H5N1 strain of avian flu among poultry in England and continuing human deaths in Indonesia it is still an issue to be dealt with. 
If you go to conferences to learn and network with your peers, then THIS is the conference for you. Not only will you be networking with professionals in your own field, but you will have the opportunity to network with individuals from all areas of Disaster Management - and from all parts of the globe! 