Welcome Isaac Wheatley – The BCI’s newly elected Future Leader
My journey into business continuity began in late 2012 when the impacts of winter storms devastated the local community in which I grew up. This led me into academia to study disaster management and emergency planning with industry experience as a junior consultant at Ricardo-AEA.
Following Ricardo, my professional experience grew dramatically through my role as a Crisis Management Analyst at CBRE. Geographically I covered EMEA and professionally business continuity, incident management planning, and later, crisis management coordination through the Ukraine-Russian conflict and EU energy crisis.
Following CBRE, I joined CMS as a Senior Business Continuity and Resilience Analyst to take on more responsibility and leadership in guiding and delivering the firm's resilience programme. Here I have been challenged, pushed, and I’ve developed my professional capability, including closer ties with industry bodies such as the BCI where I secured my CBCI and progressed into a full member of the BCI.
What role has the BCI played in this journey?
The BCI has been instrumental throughout my career. I acquired my industrial placement through BCI World 2018 and following this I have been a keen and active member having attended numerous webinars, chapter meetings, and some special interest group events over the years. I was shortlisted for Newcomer of the Year for my good work at CBRE.
I have benefited from the BCI’s extensive resources, training programmes, and networking opportunities which have provided me with a platform to enhance my knowledge, gain certifications such as CBCI and membership (MBCI), and engage with industry leaders to foster my growth and expertise.
Why were you interested in joining the board?
I’ve always been passionate about putting my stamp on whatever I turn my hand to.
I retain a steadfast interest in the future of business continuity and its interplay with resilience; notably, how required professional skills are becoming more diverse and our strategic influence continues to evolve through the challenges of ever-emergent dynamic crises.
The BCI is uniquely positioned to support and guide the industry in making the best of the risks of tomorrow, and holding a senior position at the BCI through the Future Leaders Initiative is one way in which I can lend my hand to putting a stamp on the industry whilst shaping the BCI to best support the profession against today's and tomorrow's risks.
My recent professional growth in expertise, from academia into the professional world, will help me build on Jasmiina Rousu’s (BCI Future Leader 2023-2025) good work in developing the BCI forwards to support and grow its youth membership.
What specific aspects of the board’s work are you most passionate about?
I am principally drawn to the BCI's efforts to influence the future of the industry both in response to and leading thought leadership against emerging risks and trends in the industry. I believe the broadening of activities in business continuity to encompass a resilience approach is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which practitioners should maximise if we are to effectively address the crises and challenges of today and those of tomorrow.
Additionally, I want to support and shape the good work the BCI is already doing in growing its youth membership. This stems from the belief in, and support from, the BCI that I had over the first years of my career. I truly believe future generations should also be engaged with and benefit from the BCI as much as I have, and building the BCI for the future is the best way to do this.
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About the author
Isaac Wheatley
Analyst, Crisis Management, CBRE
