CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS NOW CLOSED

We will also be looking for abstracts that deal with the impact of the global economic downturn in terms of reduced budgets and support for all aspects of disaster/emergency/crisis planning (mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery) and how practitioners can meet their performance objectives with reduced budgets or meet their performance objectives differently i.e. by innovation and/or thinking out of the box. Success stories of expanded programs and budgets in the face of this adversity are also welcome

Submitters will be guided through five submission steps:

1. Create an Account (if you haven't previously last year - if you have forgotten your log-in you can click on the hyperlink within the returning users to have your password emailed to you)
2. Add speakers (or view the list of "My Speakers" that you already submitted). If you would like to update your speaker details please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
3. Add presentation (& attach any relevant presentation or video)
4. Add presentation, assign speakers to the presentation (In the Step 2 of Add Presentation)
5. Submit for Review

Submission of abstracts (Deadline was December 2nd, 2012) 

If you have any questions regarding the program please email Adrian Gordon, Conference Chair at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Introduction: The World Conference on Disaster Management (WCDM) is the premier annual event that addresses issues common to all aspects of disaster/emergency management. The conference program includes speakers from many parts of the world and provides excellent opportunities for training and networking with experts and practitioners in Emergency Management, Business Continuity, Crisis Communications, Emergency Response, Disaster Management Research, Risk Management, Security, IT, HR, Environmental, Community Planning and the organizations which supply and service these professions. This year we will focus on our four streams as well as the impact of the global economic crisis and how practitioners must continue to meet performance objectives with reduced budgets and support for all aspects of disaster management (mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery).

Audience: WCDM delegates are predominantly practitioners from all levels of government and the private sector, including: utilities, financial services, insurance, transportation, communications, manufacturing, petro-chemical, education, and numerous other industries. WCDM is an ideal opportunity for academics and researchers to communicate and network with these practitioners.

CONFERENCE PROGRAM GOAL

A major goal of WCDM is to offer a program that challenges delegates by examining traditional concepts and methods and provides:

• new ideas and approaches to problem solving
• both leading edge and topical presentations
• a strong selection of advance sessions for experienced practitioners
• opportunities to engage with key individuals and organizations across the disaster management spectrum

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GUIDELINES FOR ABSTRACTS

Note: All submissions must be done ON-LINE. Submissions received by E-mail, Fax or Hardcopy will not be accepted; at this stage presentation descriptions should contain no more than 250 words.

Conference Format: Presentations should fit into one of the following four streams:

1. Business Continuity Management: Is business continuity relevant to today's enterprise? What are senior management's expectations? Are current approaches outdated? Are we at risk of merely complying with a standards rather than the spirit of BCM?  Should it be called continuity management?
2. Emergency Management: Is the emergency management profession ready for the emergencies of the 21st century? Should emergency managers have university education? How do we engage the executive level?
3. Crisis Communications: Protecting brand reputation; media relations; notification systems; technology. Crisis Communications has become infinitely more complex. What role should Social Media play? Can trust be instantly established online in an emergency?
4. Resilience: The desired outcome of all crisis management activities/programs culminating in: organizational resilience, community resilience (can a community be resilient if its residents are not?) and personal resilience. What do we really know about resilience? How can/should it be measured? What does resilience mean for you?

In addition to the above questions submissions that address the following will be included in the program:

• Issues that affect a particular aspect of disaster management e.g. security (terrorism, cyber security etc), technical issues (cloud computing, IT disaster recovery, interoperability), violence in the workplace, trauma risk management...
• Case Studies especially lessons learned AND not learned
• Emerging Trends in Disaster Management - global climate change, infectious diseases (including flu pandemic), critical infrastructure protection; nuclear, biological, radiological & chemical threats (NBRC), etc
• Disaster Management Principles & Practices - standards, exercises, training & education
• Innovative Solutions both proven and potential, to the issues faced in any area of disaster management and in particular how to meet performance objectives with reduced budgets and resources.

Presentation Formats

• KeynoteSessions (1 hour) address all attendees and should have broad appeal.
• Concurrent Sessions (50 mins) of a more in-depth nature and allow at least 10-15 minutes for Q&A.
• Workshops (3 hours) are intensive, hands-on sessions – these will take place on Sunday, June 23, 2013.
• Panel Discussions (1 hour) are sessions with one announced theme and a list of participants who address that theme but do not present separate formal papers.
• Poster Presentations will be displayed in a separate area to allow delegates to engage in one-on-one discussions with the presenter.

WCDM speakers are strongly encouraged to develop their presentations according to guidelines provided in Slide:ology and Presentationzen

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SELECTION CRITERIA

• Topic & relevance to the conference goals and streams and WCDM attendees;
• Focus on future trends and lessons learned (what worked AND what didn't) and recommended solutions to common issues;
• Advice to practitioners on how to cope with reduced budgets and resources; not only how to do more with less but how to do things differently;
• Concise statement of the benefits of your presentation to attendees (e.g. how will this help them in their work);
• Speaker's expertise, knowledge and ability to challenge delegates;
• Presentation experience of speaker;
• Research findings are welcome, provided the session is aimed at practitioners and balanced with sufficient practical information (i.e. 'here's how this can be applied to .....');
• Absence of commercial sales content for services or products.

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CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTANCE

Deadline for Submissions: December 2nd 2012.

All Submissions Must be ON-LINE. Submissions received by E-mail, Fax or Hardcopy will not be accepted

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REVIEW PROCESS

All submitters will be notified by email by December 31, 2012 - Please note that reviewer comments will not be supplied to proposal submitters.

Confirmed speakers will be required to provide the following additional information for inclusion on the conference web site and brochure:

• photo (in jpeg, bmp or tiff format)

Final presentations/papers must be submitted by May 10, 2013 in PowerPoint format only.

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COMPENSATION

Primary Speakers will be provided with:

• complimentary registration to the full conference, including admission to all sessions, the exhibit area, and sponsored events such as breakfasts and lunches where applicable.
• up to two (2) nights hotel accommodation if traveling by air, or more than 100km, to the conference.

Note: Speakers will be responsible for their own travel costs and, if interested, will be required to purchase tickets to nightly social events.

Co-Presenters: Additional presenters over and above the Primary Speaker will be required to pay a nominal fee of CAD$400 and will be responsible for all other costs including travel, accommodation and nightly social events.

Poster Presenters will be required to pay a nominal fee of CAD$400 and will be responsible for all other costs including travel, accommodation and nightly social events.

There will be a poster viewing reception on Monday June 24 at 4:50PM - 6:00PM which will include hor'doerves and a cash bar.  Delegates will be encouraged to visit each Poster and then vote for their favourite. The winner will be announed at the Gala Awards Dinner the same night during the awards ceremony.

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SPEAKER RESPONSIBILITIES

Speakers will be responsible for all other expenses including travel, non-sponsored meals and miscellaneous charges.

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