CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

 

Tony Thompson

 

 

 

Tony Thomposn - Emergency Planning Society - Statement of Intent

 

I am delighted to be invited for interview for the position of Chair of the Emergency Planning Society, having been a member since 2005. My background in emergency management, resilience and all related disciplines is summarised in a separate biographical summary, but I draw attention to the fact that my experience in ‘dealing with emergencies’ stretches back to the ‘Great Flood of 1968’ which affected large parts of Surrey, where as a young RAF serviceman I was deployed as part of a military flood relief team supporting affected communities and drying out their properties. Since that time, I have been involved in leadership roles in emergency preparedness, training and exercising, response and recovery at many significant emergencies as a police officer, civil servant, voluntary sector responder and, more recently, in the private sector. 

 

I have represented the police and voluntary sector at international conferences and events overseas, sharing UK experiences and good practices with international colleagues. Importantly, I have engaged at ministerial level with various government departments relating to emergency response and recovery at home and abroad. Some examples are securing government funding for the Ladbroke Grove train crash memorial, humanitarian support for the British victims of the Indian Ocean Tsunami and the development of a government-funded scheme to provide financial support for the British victims of terrorism abroad. I also played a lead role in pursuing funding under the Bellwin Scheme for local authorities affected by the flooding in Boscastle and surrounding areas of Cornwall in 2004. 

 

Today, I remain very active in designing and delivering bespoke training across all relevant disciplines, which ensures I retain a clear understanding of UK doctrine, standards and good practice. I believe my multi-agency background, and ability to comfortably work with senior representatives of government, will provide me with the grounding and impetus to lead the Society forward as the leading professional representative body in the emergency and resilience world.

 

As Chair of our Society I would work with the Board of Directors and do my best to continue and improve on the work that has already started, to provide the best possible service to members, and to influence and inform governments in the areas that we have specialist knowledge and experience. My vision is that we move to a position where we are the single professional body in the UK that represents ‘emergency professionals’ in the UK and overseas, with a powerful voice to influence and deliver change. This will include working hard to increase our membership base, improving membership benefits that are sustainable, and raising our profile to ensure that as an effective and experienced organisation we become the first ‘port of call’ for governments across the UK, and the media. I have significant experience working with the broadcast media in emergency situations and, if appointed to the role, will ensure the Society continues to improve its reputation and position through the recently appointed media consultancy.

 

I have experience as a chair of many committees and groups, so the leadership, direction and coordination role is not a new one for me. I was Chair of the British Transport Police Superintendents’ Association for many years, Chair of the Western Section of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, and Chair of a chapter of Business Network International. These were all ‘elected’ roles.

 

In summary, I am proud of my association with the Emergency Planning Society and should I be successful in my bid to be selected as its Chair will commit to doing all I can to work with others to move the Society forward. 

 

 

Tony Thompson

 

26th January 2015