“Here are two organisations clearly out to set the benchmark for BCM in Australia” Steve Mellish, BCI London.
Alphawest and the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), the only Australian Corporate Partners of the Business Continuity Institute (BCI) in London, met with BCI board members Ian Clark and Steve Mellish on their recent visit to Australia. Clark and Mellish discussed various global developments in Business Continuity Management (BCM) including the upcoming standards being developed by the British Standards Institute, the effects of the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation in the United States, Higgs legislation in the UK as well as Basel 2 and the effect this has on the banking and finance industry.
"The institute is impressed by the enthusiasm shown by Alphawest and the ASX to embrace new and developing BCM standards, alog with the BCI's Good Practice Guidelines. Here are two organisations clearly out to set the benchmark for BCM in Australia" said Steve Mellish, also representing Sainsbury's Supermarkets in London.
"Both Australian corporate partners of the BCI are to be commended for their acceptance of the BCM guidelines containtes within the developing PAS 56:2003 from the British Standards Institute (BSI) and the Good Practice Guidelines published by the BCI" Ian Clark commented.
"By aligning their corporate requirements and offerings with these documents, Alphawest is establishing itself at the forefront of international best practice in the delivery of holistic Business Continuity Management. Such a proactive approach (to BCM) proves its value by addresssing the corproate concerns, raised by the increasing requirements, of ensuring regulatory compliance and supporting good corporate governance" Clark continued.
Mellish and Clark also spoke of their appreciation of support by the ASX through their efforts in implementing an effective business continuity management process. The future benefits of this process will support initiatives toward good governance and will assist in developing the symbiotic relationship between Business Continuity and Risk Management Practices. As an Australian leader in the provision of business continuity services, Alphawest utilises and endorses the disciplines and methodologies developed and promoted bu the BCI. Alphawest welcomes the standards ad best practices that are also being developmed by the British Standards Institute in collaboration with the BCI. These standards will form the basis on which the Australian standard will be developed over the coming years.
