UK's mia to host Safety and Security Summit

The UK’s Meetings Industry Association (mia) is to host its Safety and Security Summit at Warwick Conferences on 13 October. The summit will be moderated by Martin Fullard, Mash Media editorial director, and will explore the current and potential threats being faced by the sector and how technology and innovation can help create safer environments for all. Ahead of the introduction of the Protect Duty in early 2023, ICC Wales’ Danielle Bounds will discuss the legislative obligations that have been designed to improve the safety and security of both staff and visitors in meeting and event spaces. At the summit, representatives from ACC Liverpool, NEC Group and Caffeine&Machine will share their venue safety strategies. Grant-funded Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) technologies emerging from the likes of Iconal and Metrasens to support safety across the sector, will be also revealed. ACC Liverpool’s Nicky Hunter and Custard Communication’s Lesley Whyte, will discuss how having a regularly reviewed issues and crisis communications strategy is essential to help protect a hotel or venue’s reputation. A cybersecurity session will explore the growing and imposing digital threats that continue to strike IT networks with poor information security. David Buist of Xperience Group will examine the measures that should be taken to combat threats both internally and externally. Kerrin MacPhie, chief executive of the mia, said: “As the capabilities and tactics of terrorists and criminals continue to evolve and the Protect Duty is being introduced next year, there is a need to discuss the current and potential threats being faced by the business meetings and events sector. “This summit will cover various aspects highlighting current and evolving threats, legislative obligations and security practice developments as well as crisis communications and cyber security planning.”