Expert provides risk management outlook for 2024

Luke Westgarth-Taylor, Director of Risk Consultancy, Healix discusses the company’s intelligence-led approach and provides a risk management outlook for 2024.

Can you tell our readers more about the services Healix provides?

Healix was established in 1992 as a medical assistance provider built on clinical expertise.

Today, we help over 350 client organisations reduce risk and create resilience, covering all aspects of mitigation from medical staffing and screening, security advice and assistance, through to pre-trip consultancy and on-the-ground support.

Our ethos is grounded in an intelligence-led approach.

Our aim is always to pre-emptively address potential risks before they become problematic, safeguarding the mental and physical wellbeing of people under our care.

How do you stay up-to-date with the latest security trends to provide information to clients?

Our analysts form the backbone of our intelligence operation, monitoring incident developments across respective regions.

The team is trained in a range of collection techniques.

Leveraging technology, we cast a wide net, sourcing information from international and local open channels, closed forums and on-the-ground contacts.

Rigorous verification protocols underpin our process, enabling us to validate data accuracy and reliability.

Our analysts bring a human element, leveraging regional expertise and an understanding of threat contexts to discern nuances that escape data sources like AI.

Staff development is key and we ensure our analysts are equipped with the latest tools, methodologies and insights.

This investment in continuous learning empowers our team to remain agile, adaptive and adept.

Is there a particular case study which springs to mind which best highlights your expertise?

Our Incident Management Team has been battle-tested through various activations, serving as a testament to the significance of anticipating the unexpected, with recent responses to Afghanistan, Ukraine, Sudan and Israel.

We leverage an extensive regional consultant network and deploy experienced personnel into these higher risk areas.

This capability allows us not only to assist clients in safely evacuating their staff and loved ones but also to provide comprehensive support to personnel entering or remaining in country.

From medical assistance and welfare checks to supply runs and continuous monitoring, our on-the-ground presence ensures holistic support, enhancing safety and wellbeing amidst challenging circumstances.

Most recently, we helped 32 client organisations with a presence in Israel, supporting 155 people with ground moves and evacuating 107 people by air.

What will be the top risk management priorities for businesses and organisations in 2024?

The confluence of global events serves as a wake-up call, prompting a re-evaluation of existing plans and procedures. Looking ahead, several priorities emerge.

The spectre of big politics looms over the global landscape.

Major elections in nations like the US, Russia, India, the UK and South Africa forecast heightened tensions that could cascade into security risks, exerting operational pressures.

The resurgence of conflicts, epitomised by growing China-Taiwan tensions, demonstrates the potential for conflict escalation.

This demands a tailored approach to risk assessment and mitigation, necessitating a blend of geopolitical foresight and agile response mechanisms.

Beyond geopolitics, insights from our Risk Radar report underscore a pressing concern: The escalating impact of extreme weather.

With 73% of respondents already feeling the effects, the truth is we’re experiencing more immediate impact from changing climate patterns.

Businesses must reframe their approach to climate risk, aligning it with the short term focus traditionally reserved for societal or political risks.