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USC academic talks crises in Washington
A USC academic and former Navy public information expert who served in Iraq has been invited to America to speak at a joint conference of their federal and state emergency management agencies.
USC Adjunct Associate Professor Peter Rekers will attend the 2010 US Federal Emergency Management Agency External Affairs Conference on 8-9 June in Washington DC.
“They’ve asked me to talk about the accreditation program we’re working on in Australia,” said Associate Professor Rekers, who teaches the University’s Crisis and Issues Management Course to students at Sippy Downs.
He said developing accreditation for people working in crisis communications across government and industry was one goal of his not-for-profit company Emergency Media and Public Affairs.
The group holds annual conferences and sponsors research to find practical solutions and improve responses to crises such as Victoria’s deadly Black Saturday bushfires.
Associate Professor Rekers uses his own “war stories” as a government and industry communicator to help USC students learn ways of dealing with crises, whether it’s a town hit by a cyclone or a company hit by a financial downturn.
“As a communicator, this is one area where you really can help save lives – for example if you can get people to evacuate an area when necessary,” said Associate Professor Rekers, who coordinated the media response to Tropical Cyclone Larry in 2006 in his role with Emergency Management Queensland.
Originally from Victoria, his experience has ranged from touring with musicals as a stage manager to two tours of war-torn Iraq as a Navy officer.
“In the 2003 Gulf War I was embedded in Coalition headquarters in Baghdad as media director. I managed press conferences for then US Army General Colin Powell and US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
“It was a surreal environment. When the hotel I was living in got hit by missiles one morning, it reminded me why we were always wearing pistols, helmets and flak vests.”
Associate Professor Rekers, who also runs a consultancy called Crisis Ready, said he enjoyed delivering the USC course because it embraced a practical approach, including internships.
“It’s my third year of lecturing here and it’s great to see the USC graduates going on to impress employers with their hands-on knowledge,” he said.
– Julie Gatehouse