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(23 Jan 2012) IAEM International Council President His Excellency Khaled Abdulla Al Mansoori met Jan. 17, 2012, with Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change, and a delegation from Niger at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. They discussed the potential outcomes and disasters that will occur if we do not address climate issues. During the past ten decades, natural disasters have devastated a number of countries in the International Council region, and those may only increase. President Mansoori stated that "it is critical that we address the energy issues for a sustainable future, but also build the resiliency and response capabilities in case disasters do occur. This too will contribute to the sustainability of a country."
(18 Nov 2011) Last Week, His Excellency Khaled Abdullah Al Mansouri, IAEM International Council President, attended the IAEM-USA 59th Annual Conference & EMEX 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. This was the second IAEM-USA Annual Conference President Al Mansoori has attended during his presidency, and he was excited to be back.
"It is very beneficial when the entire Global Board is able to get together in person to discuss issues surrounding IAEM, our councils, and what our individual countries and organizations are facing. Furthermore, the conference enables me to reach out to industry, non-profits, and other government entities to discuss trends, issues, and breakthroughs surrounding emergency management," said President Al Mansoori.
On the final day, President Al Mansoori received a 2011 Certificate of Appreciation from the President of the IAEM USA Council, Eddie Hicks, CEM, for his hard work and contribution to the organization and the field of emergency management. President Al Mansoori was pleasantly surprised and honored to win this award. "Although you never expect it, it is always an honor to be recognized by your peers for the work you are doing," he noted. "I don't feel that the work I am doing is any different than the other council members, but am glad to see the International Council growing and getting more involved. It is the International Council member and National Representatives I have to thank for this."
President Mansoori returned to Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, November 16.
(13 Oct 2011) His Excellency Khaled Abdullah Al Mansouri, IAEM International Council President, met with IAEM Europa President Luc Rombout and IAEM Europa Past President Arthur Rabjohn, CEM, at the Emergency Management Expo & Conference (EMEC) Europa in Munich Germany on Oct. 11, 2011. President Mansouri is pictured with President Rombout above.
President Khaled thanked President Rabjohn for hosting him, and hopes that he is able to learn from EMEC when designing, developing, and executing an International Conference in the coming year.
IAEM International Council and South African Local Governments Association Sign Memorandum of Understanding (29 July 2011) IAEM International Council President, His Excellency Khaled Abdulla Al Mansoori signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the South African Local Governments Association (SALGA). Areas of co-operation will include development of a emergency management related training program, conducting training and exercises, identifying and encouraging donor support focusing on poor and vulnerable populations to better prepare them for future disasters, and the development of Capacity Development Aids and Guidelines to enhance SGA's support and development of local governments' response to Disaster Risk Management.
President Mansoori expressed his encouragement in the significance of forming this long-term relationship. "It is very important to me that [the International Council] strives to help all of its member nations. In the past, we have not had a very strong presence in South Africa, but this is the first-step to changing that. SALGA is a great partner to help grow our membership and serve a great need of theirs."
SALGA represents local government on numerous intergovernmental forums in South Africa since its establishment in 1973. It is funded through numerous sources, including government grants, membership fees and donations. SALGA aims to:
(30 June 2011) At the invitation of the Dubai Police General Headquarters, His Excellency Khaled Al Mansoori, President of the International Council, attended a meeting hosted by Major General Mohammed Eid Al Mansoori, Director of the Protective Security and Emergency Department. The Dubai Police handle all crisis management functions within the Emirate of Dubai and are keenly interested in identifying strategies for raising the level of professional capabilities especially in areas of emergency response and business continuity.
President Al Mansoori expressed his appreciation for the great work done by Dubai Police, commenting that “Among all police forces in the Middle East, the Dubai Police are widely recognized as one of the very best, demonstrating a commitment to innovation and establishing the next generation of best practices for all other nations in the region and around the world.”
Topics of discussion included mechanisms for obtaining state-of-the-art emergency management training, developing a program to prepare highly qualified Dubai Police members to become Certified Emergency Managers, and the 2012 IAEM Global Conference for which Dubai is being considered as a host city. Both parties agreed to begin the process of developing a Memorandum of Understanding as the first step in a comprehensive long-term relationship.
(03 June 2011) IAEM International Council President, His Excellency Khaled Abdulla Al Mansoori hosted a meeting with Clay Tyeryar, IAEM Deputy Director and Staff Liaison for International Outreach, last week in Dubai. IAEM has identified the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a top priority for continued outreach and development of the emergency management profession. “Through HE Khaled Al Monsoori’s leadership and the multiple assets IAEM has developed, the International Council of IAEM is poised to expand in this important part of the world to advance the IAEM goal of saving lives and property, and providing education, training and the Certified Emergency Manager program focused on preparing for and responding to emergency situation,” Mr. Tyeryar stated during their meeting.
During the visit, President Mansoori and Mr. Tyeryar discussed arranging the first IAEM conference to be held in the Middle East. IAEM is in the process of deciding which city to host the 2012 IAEM Conference to be held in November of next year. President Mansoori felt “the visit from headquarters is a support for all members in this part of the world.” Since being elected last October, International President HE Khaled Al Mansoori has been working to raise the awareness of emergency management in the region, develop programs, and use IAEM’s network and expertise to benefit his council.
Mr. Tyeryar was very impressed with what he saw in the UAE, including the infrastructure and efforts they’ve made to address emergency services. He believes “the UAE would make an excellent location for next year’s conference and would benefit both IAEM and the region. It is His Excellency’s hard work and dedication that is helping to make it possible.”
(25 May 2011) International President HE Khaled Al Mansoori would like to congratulate Mr. Faisel Al Hajri on becoming Qatar's National Representatives for 2011. Mr. Hajri will be responsible for spreading the IAEM Principles of Emergency Management, increasing membership, and identifying opportunities for IAEM to assist in Qatar.
(16 May 2011) Abdul Haq Amiri, the Head of Office the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)’s Regional Office for the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia (ROMENACA) received International Association of Emergency Manager (IAEM) International Council President, His Excellency Khaled Abdulla Al Mansoori in Cairo, Egypt.
The two discussed how they shared similar missions and and could explore ways to provide cooperation in planning, preparing, responding, and recovering from disasters. Mr. Amiri thinks UNOCHA and IAEM could participate in training together and exchange critical information during a disaster.
Mr. Amiri expressed the important role of IAEM International Council in the Middle East and North Africa in advancing the profession of emergency management. HE Mansoori recognized Mr. Amiri and the UNOCHA for the hard work they’ve done, especially given the amazing challenges from the past Spring. He expressed the IAEM International Council’s interest in assisting the UNOCHA and developing a strong bond between the two organizations.
OCHA Regional Office covering the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia is based in Cairo, Egypt. The office supports countries across the region to prepare for potential disasters, respond to humanitarian emergencies and is building networks with organizations and governments to strengthen the international humanitarian response system.
(04 May 2011) IAEM International President HE Khaled Al Mansoori would like to congratulate the following IAEM members on becoming National Representatives in the International Council. They will be responsible for spreading the IAEM Principles of Emergency Management, increasing membership in their country, and identifying opportunities for IAEM to assist in their country. Please join us in congratulating:
(30 Mar 2011) International Council President Khaled Al Mansoori gives the keynote speech at this year's WebEOC Users Conference in Augusta, Georgia, USA. President Mansoori's speech was about the challenges facing the international emergency management community. It covered the landscape of emergency management after one of the most horrific year for natural disasters in 2010, emergency management in the United Arab Emirates, and the challenges they face.
(13 Mar 2011) Abu Dhabi University Knowledge Group (ADUKG) is launching the International Center for Business Resilience to promote crisis management capacity building across the region, working closely with the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) and other partners.
The Center will act as a hub for academics and practitioners dealing with important risks facing the region and will develop innovative and effective programs that respond to the emerging threats and challenges throughout the Middle East and around the world.
Khaled Abdulla Al Mansoori, President of the IAEM International Council and Head of Media Emergency and Crisis Management at the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) of the UAE Higher National Security Council, said, "Together, IAEM and Abu Dhabi University Knowledge Group will be launching a series of new initiatives to educate, train, and prepare professionals, citizens, and businesses to manage all crises that they may face." The new Center, based in Abu Dhabi University's (ADU) Khalifa City Campus, will provide links to international centers throughout the world and will contribute to cutting edge research in business resilience and knowledge transfer activities in the UAE and the region. It will also offer a range of short and long term training courses, executive development and other outreach activities facilitating Government, and key stakeholders initiatives to promote improved resilience capability.
"In a rapidly emerging and vibrant economy, the center reflects the growing importance of the Emirates as an important regional and international player in an increasingly interconnected world. ADU is committed to develop a long-term, high quality program of courses and knowledge transfer in various fields such as business resilience," said Dr. Nabil Ibrahim, Chancellor, Abu Dhabi University.
Dr. Ahmed Badr, Chief Executive Officer, ADUKG, said, "The Center is a first of its kind in the region and is designed to bring together international excellence for teaching and training in business resilience meeting the needs of the Emirates and the wider Arab world. We aim to support academic and training development in the important area of business resilience, and engage in advanced research on application tools and practical strategies as well as produce specialist expertise in resilience."
(06 Mar 2011) IAEM International Council President Khaled Al Mansoori attended the Feb. 16 unveiling of the final draft for the United Arab Emirates National Business Continuity Capability Management Standard by Mohammed Ahmed Al Jenaibi. President Mansoori was presented with an official copy of the final draft, which is the first business continuity standard in the region. Mr. Jenabi is the Director of the BCM Program at the UAE National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA).
(03 Mar 2011) IAEM International Council President His Excellency Khaled Al Mansoori signs a Memorandum of Partnership with the African Center for Disaster Studies (ACDS). Also in the photo is Mr. Ethan Appleby, IAEM International Council Member and Operations Coordinator. The memorandum will allow IAEM to help ACDS and their constituents to promote international best practices, provide training, and cooperate on mutually beneficial projects related to emergency management and disaster risk reduction in Africa and other IAEM International Council member countries.
The African Centre for Disaster Studies (ACDS) was established in January 2002 by the current director of the Centre, Prof Dewald van Niekerk. ACDS aims to address the research as well as training and education needs in disaster risk within southern Africa and the wider African continent. Since 2002, the Centre has embarked on various research, training and consultancy projects at local, provincial, national and international levels. The process has led to the development of a considerable network of professionals in the multi-disciplinary field of disaster risk reduction.
(20 Feb 2011) At the IDEX 2011 Conference in Abu Dhabi, President Khaled Al Mansoori was briefed on the Disaster Management City project by His Excellency Saif Mohamed al Hajeri, CEO of Tawazun.
(09 Feb 2011) IAEM International Council President His Excellency Khaled Al Mansoori met with the UAE liaison, Maktar Ali Farah, from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) Regional Office for Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. Also in the photo is Mr. Brad Gair, IAEM International Council, Special Adviser to the President. The meeting was held to introduce IAEM to the UNOCHA and begin discussions on how the two organizations can assist each other. As a result, the two agreed to set up a meeting at the Regional Headquarters to discuss a cooperative agreement for programs such as training in planning, continuity, and coordination of aid.
OCHA is the arm of the UN Secretariat that is responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort. OCHA's mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate for the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention; and facilitate sustainable solutions.
(08 Feb 2011) International Council President Mansoori attended the Business Continuity and Emergency Response Forum in Abu Dhabi, Feb. 6-8, 2011. During the three-day conference, Mr. Mansoori met with officials from all over the world, including Adrian Gordon, a Senior Advisor for the Canadian Center for Emergency Preparedness. The two discussed issues and priorities of the IAEM International Council, common challenges among their organizations, and the possibility of Mr. Mansoori speaking at the World Conference on Disaster Management (WCDM) in Toronto, Canada, June 19-22, 2011.
(17 Jan 2011) As we kick off the New Year, here are my Q1 priorities for the International Council: