The South Pacific Division’s Risk Management Service (RMS) hosted its third consecutive Risk and Safety Forum, August 14-15, with 45 church-employed risk and safety professionals taking part in the professional development and training at Fox Valley Seventh-day Adventist Community Church (Wahroonga, NSW).
This year’s theme, “Ready for the Future”, focused on the Church’s rapidly changing workplaces influenced by contemporary issues such as advancements in technology, delayed retirement, generational change and the sharing economy.
The highlight of the forum was a keynote presentation by operational risk management specialist and Protecht director David Tattam, who inspired and challenged attendees to shift their thinking from “risk management to outcome management”.
“I appreciated David Tattam’s positive take on risk management as a framework that’s focused on sustainable reward,” commented New Zealand Pacific Union Conference secretary-treasurer Graeme Drinkall. “Better outcome management from the outset can enable us to do more as a Church organisation.”
Additional presentations on workplace bullying, practical due diligence and travel risk were also extremely valuable.
RMS manager Jonathan Hale said it was “an honour to be able to facilitate a forum like this”.
“The overwhelmingly positive response from delegates proves that there’s a definite need for the forum,” added Mr Hale. “While delegates enjoyed the presentations, they want more time interacting and sharing knowledge with their colleagues from other Adventist entities in the future.”
RMS administers the insurance program for the Church in the South Pacific Division and helps Church organisations with safety and risk management.
“The RMS team, and our risk and safety colleagues throughout the Adventist organisation, put our hearts and souls into this work,” stated RMS communications officer Linzi Aitken. “We truly believe that if we prioritise the safety of our people and practise good risk management, then the mission of the Church and its people can thrive.”
In 2019, RMS will partner with the Business Professionals Conference, taking place in June, to deliver risk- and safety-focused workshops for professionals within the Adventist organisation.
