UC receives award for emergency management programme
27 September 2011
The University of Canterbury has received recognition for its emergency management programme.
Pictured at the presentation of the International Association of Emergency Managers-Oceania's 2011 Business and Industry Preparedness Award are (from left) Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Learning Resources) Professor Sue McKnight, President of the IAEM Oceania Council Kristin Hoskin and UC Registrar Jeff Field.
The University of Canterbury has received recognition for its emergency management programme.
In a ceremony held at the University’s Emergency Operations Centre recently, the President of the Oceania Council of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), Kristin Hoskin, presented the University with the IAEM-Oceania 2011 Business and Industry Preparedness Award.
The award, presented as part of the 2011 IAEM-Oceania Awards Competition, recognises excellence in implementing a programme that plans for multiple hazards, sets implementation priorities, is cost effective, links all levels of the organisation, and coordinates with local emergency response and management agencies.
The IAEM is a non-profit educational organisation dedicated to promoting the goals of saving lives and protecting property during emergencies and disasters.
The award was accepted on behalf of the University by UC Registrar Jeff Field and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Learning Resources) Professor Sue McKnight.
Professor McKnight said she was proud to accept the award on the University’s behalf.
She told the Emergency Management Team, who were at the presentation, they were “heroes” for all the work they had done after the recent earthquakes and for the work they continued to do to ensure the wellbeing of the University community.
“We still have a lot to learn and we realise this after each event but it’s extremely pleasing to see that the work we have done is inspiring people and is being recognised.”
Mr Field, who as Registrar had oversight of the emergency planning portfolio, said the policies, plans, structures and practice exercises had reassured him the University was well prepared.
“Then to live through a real event you realise that while the systems are important it’s the people on the ground who are the key to an effective emergency response.”
Ms Hoskin said the IAEM-Oceania Council did not award the Business and Industry Preparedness Award every year so it was a credit to the University that its programme stood out from those of other applicants.
“I can appreciate all the hard work you’ve been putting into dealing with the effects of the recent earthquakes over the last few months and we think you’ve done a sterling job. But I also want to issue a challenge – as you’ve done such a wonderful job we’d like you to help get every other university in New Zealand up to the same standard.”
For more information please contact:
comms@canterbury.ac.nz
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