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 Planning/Management, Business Continuity, Emergency Communications, Emergency Response, Disaster Management Research, Risk Management, Security, IT, HR, Environmental, Community Planning and the organizations which supply and service these professions.
Theme: The 2009 Conference theme will be: "A Climate For Change: Communication, Collaboration and Co-operation"
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 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
- opportunities to connect with key individuals and organizations across the disaster management spectrum
GUIDELINES FOR ABSTRACTS
Note: at this stage abstract details should contain no more than 250 words.
Conference Format:
Presentations should fit into one of the following six streams:
- Real Events / Lessons Learned
Real incidents/events – these should either be recent events (within last 18 months) or draw on lessons learned from past events that can be applied in current planning.
- Emerging Trends in Disaster Management
Global Climate Change, Infectious diseases (Flu Pandemic, SARS, West Nile Virus), Terrorism, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Community Emergency Response Programs, Nuclear, Biological, Radiological & Chemical threats (NBRC), Emergency Risk Management, etc
- The Human Element in Disaster Management
Crisis Communications, Biggest PR Issues within the last year, Violence in the Workplace, HR Policies, Stress Reduction, Trauma Risk Management, Personal Preparedness & Pandemic Planning
- Technical Issues/Threats
Emergency Communications (Interoperability), Cyber & Electronic Data Security, Internet Security/Hacker Attacks, SANs, Communication Systems Options, Emergency Management / BCP Software.
- Disaster Management Principles & Practices
Community Resilience, Emergency Operations Centres, Emergency Site Management, NIMS/ICS, Standards, Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery, HAZMAT, Managing the Media, Major Event Contingency Planning, Public Awareness and Education Campaigns, Evacuation Planning, Exercise and Training Programs, Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment.
- Research & Development
Development of multi-organizational strategies for managing incidents, recommendations for amendments to current disaster management legislation, disaster management / business continuity pilot projects, results of research contributing to loss reduction strategies; etc.
Where applicable, presentations should address:
- Issues that affect a particular aspect of disaster management
- Case Studies especially lessons learned AND not learned
- Solutions both proven and potential, to the issues faced in any area of Disaster Management
Presentation Formats
- Plenary Sessions (1 hour) address all attendees and should have broad appeal
- Concurrent Sessions (1 hour) of a more in-depth nature and allow at least 10 minutes for Q&A
- Pre-Conference Seminars (3 hours) on a particular topic with no restriction on number of attendees
- Pre-Conference Workshops (3 hours) are intensive, hands-on sessions with limited attendance
- Panel Discussions (2 hours) 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
SELECTION CRITERIA
The Program Committee will review all presentations - selection will be based on the following criteria:
- Topic & relevance to the conference theme and delegate base
- Focus on future trends and lessons learned (what worked AND what didn't) and recommended solutions to common issues
- Consise 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
CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTANCE
Deadline for Submissions: December 5, 2008.
All Submissions Must be ON-LINE
Submissions received by E-mail, Fax or Hardcopy will not be accepted.
REVIEW PROCESS
All submitters will be notified by email by December 31, 2008 - 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 must be submitted by May 15, 2009 in PowerPoint or MS Word format.
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.
- inclusion of their presentation in the conference proceedings (deadline for final submission is May 15, 2009)
Note: All speakers will be responsible for their own travel costs.
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 and accommodation.
Poster Presenters will be required to pay a nominal fee of CAD$400 and will be responsible for all other costs including travel and accommodation. Poster presentations will be included in the conference proceedings.
SPEAKER RESPONSIBILITIES
Speakers will be responsible for all other expenses including travel, non-sponsored meals and miscellaneous charges.
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Toronto WCDM