PRIMO Vlaanderen (2009) is preparing for a promotional campaign right after the summer period. We recently had a first presentation of PRIMO Vlaanderen during an AXA-hosted seminar on adequate prevention policy in our local administrations, compared to what already exists in several companies.
Although it doesn’t seem obvious to imply that political decision makers should think about preventive risk management (often referred to as a waste of time), this aspect might be valuable for developing the association in Flanders as a key information network on risk management.
The new association wants to highlight the importance of preventive risk management over existing crisis planning. Such a policy can only help improve the organisation’s quality (quality management) and reduce costs by diminishing risks.
The scientific board will meet for the first time in September, and we’re looking forward to their input. Bringing together different voices from the insurance, academic, and consultancy worlds can create more value for all concerned with public risk management. Following the scientific planning and promotion campaign, PRIMO Vlaanderen will start its first seminars on risk control and the proper preventive risk management approach around November / December.
This way, PRIMO Vlaanderen wants to prove its engagement by creating a practical and interactive platform for exchanging experience and knowledge in risk management.
Getting together about risk management
Tom Wustenberghs (2009), PRIMO Europe’s president: “The importance of risk management for the public sector grows every day, every month, every year. It won’t be otherwise in the coming New Year. Many initiatives have appeared and will appear to strengthen the role of risk management.
The new ISO Standard 31000 for Risk Management was published only a few weeks ago. This standard contains solid, structured, organised guidelines and principles for effective risk management. It will grow into a vital framework to embed throughout organizations at all levels and can be seen as the process for managing risk.
PRIMO must play an essential role in translating this new standard so that our public authorities can use it as a simple guideline in a practical context. ISO 31000 represents a significant step forward in creating a risk management framework for the public sector that will be used throughout Europe by all kinds of public organizations at all levels.
PRIMO wants to cooperate with other institutions that are interested in public risk management to achieve this purpose. Therefore, in 2009, PRIMO intensified its relationship with UDITE (European Federation of Local Government Chief Executives). In 2010, PRIMO will also seek new partners, not only through the foundation of new national chapters.
PRIMO Europe’s most important target for next year is to get public risk management on the European Union’s agenda. The European Union spends a lot of effort on developing the public administration. Besides, everyone can notice the results already achieved in different European countries in public risk management. In some countries, you can even speak about a tradition of managing risks.
Finally, we can also learn much from private partners and institutions in and outside Europe that have developed expertise. Next year, let’s unite them around one of our famous round tables (a fine tradition started by our Founding President Jack Kruf): the round table of public risk management in Europe.”
Bibliography
PRIMO Vlaanderen (2009). Flying start PRIMO Vlaanderen. Public Risk Management & Governance, Edition 2, July 2009, p.5.
Wusternberghs, T. (2009). Getting together about risk management. Public Risk Management & Governance, Edition 4, December 2009, p.4.
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