Exploring Resilience at BCI World Hybrid 2024
BCI World Hybrid 2024 took place from 30 - 31 October at the Leonardo Tower Bridge Hotel in London, bringing together close to 1,000 delegates who participated both in person and online. This overview captures the key discussions and insights shared over two days dedicated to global resilience practices.
This year’s theme was ‘building resilience today to empower tomorrow’, which aimed to inform and prepare worldwide practitioners with up-to-date knowledge and insights to better prepare for oncoming challenges. To achieve this, global experts took part in keynote sessions, industry case studies, panel discussions, and a series of breakout sessions addressing a wide range of current resilience topics. In addition, the physical conference featured a large vendor exhibition that showcased the latest products, services, and solutions in the resilience industry. Once again, London’s physical event ran alongside a virtual conference that live-streamed most sessions, including keynotes, plus a virtual exhibition and a networking stream.
Global representation: a collective approach to resilience
2024’s BCI World Hybrid was attended by more nationalities than ever before. In total, 49 different countries were represented by informative speakers and delegates creating a unique networking environment that demonstrated the truly international ethos of the BCI. Exhibitors appreciated the wide range of nationalities that visited their stands looking for information on the latest technologies to address specific challenges, and delegates commented on the high standard of expertise drawn from around the globe. The ability to tap into a global resilience network is vital in an evolving industry where worldwide expertise and knowledge is necessary to achieve true resilience. The BCI is proud to host an event that brings a wide range of practitioners, global perspectives, and experiences under one roof.
Resilience Framework 1.0 launch
On the evening of the 29th, the BCI released the new Resilience Framework 1.0 during a networking drinks reception, marking the first time such a framework has been developed.
The Framework was created by drawing on the knowledge of a panel of experts with decades of experience and during it’s launch Rachael Elliott, the BCI Knowledge Strategist, took attendees on a short journey through the Framework, highlighting its main points and how it can help support resilience in all global regions and sectors. Digital copies of the Resilience Framework are free to download for CBCI, AMBCI, MBCI, Hon MBCI, FBCI, or Hon FBCI members, or they can be purchased here.
Day one of BCI World Hybrid 2024
The first day kicked off with a keynote presentation from Michael Hingson, a 9/11 survivor who, despite being blind, survived the attack and helped lead others to safety. His inspiring presentation illustrated the increasing awareness of the importance of personal resilience and set the scene for two days of resilience-based insights.
Michael Hingson delivering his keynote speech
During the morning, delegates attended a full programme of presentations including insightful talks on AI-powered design for realistic crisis exercises and, from the back-to-basics series, a presentation on the future of exercising. Safeguarding supply chain resilience and the importance of emergency planning crisis management in cyber and operational resilience presentations also provided delegates with insightful knowledge.
Alongside the presentations, delegates were able to attend case studies and workshops. The first day’s case studies focused on resilience at Netflix and examined how one organization managed a media crisis. In addition, three workshops delved into organizational resilience, personal resilience, and mastering exercises with interested delegates all looking to share their experiences.
The second half of day one featured popular operational and organizational resilience panel discussions, presentations on crisis management, insightful case studies that delved into strengthening cyber resilience strategies, and organizational resilience training in SMEs.
Paul Cutler and Andrew Morkot from Riskonnect
The concluding keynote of the day was presented by Riskonnect’s Paul Cutler and Andrew Morkot who focused on transforming third-party risk management. This insightful presentation explored the relevant standards and discussed how AI can support third party management. The core components and best practices of integrated third-party risk management came under scrutiny with tips and case studies to illustrate points and help delegates enhance safety, compliance, and operational performance to drive better outcomes.
Gala dinner and global award winner presentation
To close Day 1, the BCI hosted a gala dinner and global award ceremony to celebrate those who made outstanding contributions to the resilience sector in 2024.
Desmond O’Callaghan was awarded a Honorary Fellowship
The ceremony recognised global excellence drawn from the BCI regional award winners this year, and strong international membership was evident in the wide range of nationalities that took top prize. Categories included Continuity and Resilience Newcomer of the Year and the Most Effective Recovery and, although all the nominees were worthy recipients, judges drew out those that had gone to extraordinary lengths in the resilience industry. A list of the global award winners can be found here.
In addition to celebrating the global award winners’ accomplishments, several remarkable achievements were also recognised: The Alan Reed Education Award, the BCI Gold Award for Student of the Year, and the induction of EXL Service into the BCI Hall of Fame for winning their category three consecutive times.
This year, the Honorary Fellowship (FBCI) was awarded to Desmond O’Callaghan for his distinguished industry service.
An overview of Day 2
The second day of BCI World Hybrid opened with an engaging keynote presentation from the BCI’s Knowledge Strategist Rachael Elliott, who examined how AI can transform an organization’s resilience. This insightful keynote was followed by a morning of informative presentations that focused on the ‘new’ business impact analysis, strengthening resilience in the current permacrisis, and building resilience with microsimulations. Following the previous day’s format, workshops, dialogues, and panel discussions brought practitioners together to learn about effective exercising, personal resilience and organizational culture changes to enhance stability and continuity.
BCI’s Knowledge Strategist Rachael Elliott delivering her keynote on AI
The final afternoon’s sessions were no less attended than the opening day and offered delegates the chance to explore the impacts of disasters on the private sector, distinctions between critical and essential functions in operational resilience, and the growing role of ContDevOps within organizations. Breakout workshops provided hands-on learning, with sessions on designing a modern business impact analysis (BIA), insights from recent supply chain disruptions, and discussions on integrating AI into business all receiving positive feedback.
Organizational Psychologist, Graham Norris
To round off BCI World Hybrid, the final keynote speaker, organizational psychologist Graham Norris, took delegates through an interactive journey into the psychological ‘allergy’ to uncertainty, challenging the typical approach to the future in which we resist uncertainty. By shifting our mindset to a futurist one, we can unlock new possibilities and align what we want from the future with the actions we can take today. Several delegates left this thought-provoking session with a different future plan to the one they walked in with.
Thought Leadership and Membership streams
Alongside the packed main programme for delegates, the BCI held its own two-day open programme, managed by its Thought Leadership and Membership departments, which was free of charge and open to all.
These popular but more intimate sessions allowed for in-depth interactions and reflection among practitioners and attracted positive feedback from attendees. Sessions included a discussion on future professionals in resilience, and practical information on how organizations are preparing for upcoming financial services regulations deadlines. A session on the benefits of mentoring programmes, which are available through the BCI, stimulated discussions about the benefits from both experienced professionals and newcomers to the profession. Another session focused on networking strategies for professional growth, whilst another examined the importance of embracing EDI to enhance an organization’s resilience.
Maria Garcia, Head of Thought Leadership at the BCI
In this more focused setting, practitioners felt able to share their challenges and solutions, thereby facilitating strong knowledge exchange, practical takeaways, and valuable networking opportunities.
Maria Garcia, Head of Thought Leadership at the BCI said:
"The BCI Open Programme, especially the thought leadership stream, offers attendees a uniquely intimate and practical perspective on today’s resilience challenges. We had the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue with practitioners who encouraged open debate and the exchange of ideas on some of the most pressing topics, including cyber resilience, supply chain mapping, and the EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). It’s truly exciting to witness practitioners from diverse sectors and regions come together, learning from one another’s experiences and insights, breaking down silos and building a collective understanding of resilience that transcends industry boundaries."
To conclude the open programme, the BCI presented highlights from the upcoming Horizon Scan 2024 report, which examines what lies ahead for 2025, based on practitioner survey responses and interviews. This popular session was well received and highlighted many of the upcoming challenges for professionals in the coming twelve months. If you missed this enlightening session you can attend the Horizon Scan 2024 report launch on 13th November by selecting a launch time that best suits your region.
BCI World’s virtual programme
Running alongside the physical programme was a virtual conference that increased collaboration on a global scale. On top of the live streamed presentations from London, this programme hosted two virtual networking rooms, which included roundtables and open discussions on subjects including operational resilience, the BCI Good Practice Guidelines, cyber security, crisis management, and personal resilience. Many of these open forums continued past their official session times because attendees were so engaged in knowledge sharing. In the second room, independent exhibitors showcased the modern capabilities of resilience industry products, drawing a wide audience of practitioners interested in the latest solutions, products, and services.
Looking forward to 2025
The BCI would like to thank everyone who attended BCI World Hybrid 2024 this year, in person or virtually. Your thoughts, insights, and willingness to share have contributed to enhanced resilience practices and forged stronger networking partnerships.
We look forward to welcoming back experienced practitioners and meeting newcomers to the industry at BCI World 2025 at Leonardo Tower Bridge Hotel, London, and virtually, on 11 and 12th November 2025. Delegates can express an interest in the super early bird offer by email at [email protected].
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About the author
Rebecca Mathews
The BCI
