The UK is amongst the most advanced western nations in Crisis Management. The doctrine, guidance and standards that underpin the way the UK approaches threats and hazards is a tried and tested approach that is shared with our allies and partners around the World. The COBR Unit is the coordinator of crisis management within the UK, working to ensure that we prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from crisis following recognised and collectively agreed processes. This talk will look to explain some of the ways in which we approach crisis in government and demonstrate through practical examples, why things are the way they are.

Speaker: David Munroe,  Associate Director, COBR Unit, the Cabinet Office.

David graduated from Durham University after undertaking a degree in Earth Sciences. This was then followed by a Masters in Hazard and Risk within the Institute of Hazards, Risk and Resilience also at Durham University. After working as an Environmental Engineer for 2 years he switched to the resilience sector working as an Emergency Planner at the City of Edinburgh Council. Here he stayed working on a large array of risks affecting the city for almost 4 years. David then moved on to London Fire Brigade, also as an Emergency Planner, and was involved in responding and recovering from the Croydon Tram Crash, Westminster and London Bridges and Parsons Green Terror Attacks as well as the Grenfell Tower Fire. In May 2018, David moved to the then Civil Contingencies Secretariat (now COBR Unit) within the Cabinet Office, where today he works to provide the horizon scanning function and coordinates the Government response to emergencies affecting the UK and UK interests abroad.