City News

Internationally renowned experts in coping with disaster management will be flying to the UK for a major conference and exhibition at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

The Emergency Planning Society (EPS) is holding its annual conference and exhibition in the Midlands for the first time on Tuesday, June 16 and Wednesday, June 17.

Michael Brown, the former undersecretary of Homeland Security for the Bush administration during Hurricane Katrina, Jeremy Collymore from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency is travelling from Barbados and Joseph Scanlon, Professor Emeritus and director of the Emergency Communications Research Unit at Carleton University in Ottawa is coming to the city from Canada.

Over 400 delegates, ranging from central and local government officials to voluntary organisations and company owners, will be attending over 30 seminars and workshops in the Jaguar Exhibition Hall, E.ON Lounge and meeting rooms.

Marc Beveridge, chair of the EPS, said high-calibre speakers had been assembled for the EPS programme.

“For the last few years we have held our annual get-together in Torquay but we decided to move to the Ricoh Arena as its central location make it ideal for delegates who are travelling to the event, both from the UK and farther afield,” he said.

“The conference will be topical since we have experts in dealing with Swine Flu and the challenges that can occur when a worldwide public health emergency occurs.

“Michael Brown will give us an interesting insight into Hurricane Katrina focusing on politics and the human suffering that was caused in 2005 and Jeremy Collymore will discuss the safety and security planning processes that countries should have in place.

“BBC news reporter Nick Ravenscroft will talk about his experiences on reporting on a flood crisis so we will be covering the whole spectrum of planning for a wide range of emergencies.”

Chris Owen, event planner at the Ricoh Arena, said BBC News environment and science correspondent David Shukman would be presenting the prizes at a gala dinner and awards ceremony after the first day of the conference.

“This is the first time the EPS has held an awards ceremony to honour those individuals and companies that have excelled in emergency planning,” he said.

“We find that for many organisers of two-day shows their gala dinner is always one of the highlights and I am sure it will be a great success.

“This is a very important get-together for those involved in emergency planning in the UK to find out up-to-date initiatives, share information and network.”