Reliance Risk marks 10 years of helping sport, venues and major events manage risk

January saw Reliance Risk celebrate 10 years of servicing clients across government, the not-for-profit sector and private businesses in better managing their risks.

Commenting on the journey, Reliance Risk founding principal Wayne Middleton “we are proud of the last 10 years in business and our continued success helping clients achieve good corporate governance and compliance in the areas of safety, emergency and business resilience.

“Since 2007 we have serviced more than 700 separate projects for over 150 clients across Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and South East Asia.

“We have forged deep working relationships with our many valued clients in the region over the years. Taking the time to understand their objectives, business and industry has been key to providing practical and ‘user friendly’ risk management advice.

“In my experience, the best marketing you can do as a consultant is outstanding work for each and every client.”

Middleton highlights that, as uncertainty grows around the world, so does the interest risk management receives from boards and senior managers across venues, events and sport. Factors such as increased uncertainty in capital markets, unfavourable domestic economic conditions, increased threats of terrorism, changes in personal liabilities for officers under health and safety laws, along with recent high profile incidents, all keep risk management ‘on the agenda.’

In the past 12 months Reliance Risk has had a significant jump in demand from Australia and New Zealand-based clients resulting from, amongst other matters, serious venue and event-related incidents and changes to health and safety laws.

After adopting Australia’s harmonised health and safety legislation, many New Zealand-based venues and events have reached out to our expertise to help deal with these changes.

Following the fatalities at Dreamworld last year, some of Reliance Risk’s existing clients also sought help in reviewing their risk management and for assistance on the question: ‘are we really prepared for a major incident?’

Middleton adds “the recent release of the NSW Coroners findings into the drowning during the 2014 Vivid Festival in Darling Harbour reinforce the importance of undertaking risk assessment, and for ensuring key stakeholders apply a robust approach to risk assessment for events.

“As both evidentiary and expert witness, our involvement in this legal process reaffirmed for us the importance for all event planners to be rigorous and thorough in planning and execution of event risk plans.”

Middleton also distributes mobile-friendly risk management software, RiskSense101, which helps clients in incident reporting and doing high quality and efficient risk assessment.

It is used by clients across Australia and New Zealand including Melbourne and Olympic Parks, AEG Ogden arenas, V-Base in Christchurch and Fairfax Media’s Australian events division.

In 2015, Reliance Risk also became exclusive suppliers to venues and events for DoneSafe - ‘the People’s Safety Software’, and 4-Global’s Information Management System (IMS).

Middleton adds “both products continue to help meet important compliance and information management needs for clients (and) the three products together provide a comprehensive technology platform for risk, safety, information and issues management.”

Click here to contact Reliance Risk via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory. 

Image: Reliance Risk founding principal Wayne Middleton with his award as the Venue Management Association (Asia and Pacific) 2014 Professional of the Year (Allied member).