ICMC 2026 Opens in Newport with Insight, Connection, and Momentum

The 11th Annual International Crisis Management Conference opened this week in Newport, Rhode Island, bringing together professionals from crisis management, business continuity, resilience, security, emergency preparedness, cyber, and leadership.

The conference began on June 15th with the opening Meet & Greet, sponsored by PREPAREDEX, on the scenic patio at the Wyndham Newport Hotel. The reception gave attendees a relaxed way to reconnect with colleagues, meet new peers, and start conversations before the full agenda got underway.

Our first full day of programming featured a strong lineup of sessions focused on the risks and challenges organizations are navigating right now. Speakers included David Balcar of NeXasure, Alissa Stuckey of M&T Bank, Rich Widup, Jr. of The Widup Group, Chris Hart of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, and The Hon. Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response for Ontario, Canada.

Together, their sessions gave attendees practical insight into deepfakes, operational resilience, threat assessment, coordinated evacuation, travel risk management, and emergency preparedness. The conversations reflected the complexity of today’s risk landscape and the need for stronger planning, clearer communication, and better coordination across teams and sectors.

The afternoon shifted into hands-on training sessions that helped attendees move from discussion into application. “The Future Operations Center: Seismic Shifts to AI, Automation, Virtualization, and Multidisciplinary Resilience,” led by Bruce McIndoe, explored how emerging technology, governance, and multidisciplinary coordination can support faster and better decisions.

“The Capacity Trap: Preserving Judgment When Plans Break,” led by Bob Keller, focused on decision-making under pressure and gave leaders a practical look at how to protect judgment, maintain alignment, and prevent internal breakdowns during high-consequence events.

The exhibitor area added another valuable layer to the day, connecting attendees with tools, expertise, and services that support preparation, response, recovery, and long-term resilience. These conversations gave attendees a chance to explore resources and partnerships that can support their work beyond the conference.

As the day wrapped, attendees, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors headed to the Coastal Queen for the Newport Harbor Networking Cruise, sponsored by Big Weather Gear. With Newport Harbor as the backdrop, the evening kept the conference’s collaborative spirit going and gave attendees more time to continue conversations from the day.

Special thanks to RockDove Solutions, who supported ICMC not only as a conference sponsor and exhibitor, but also as a year-round Industry Partner. Their involvement reflects the kind of sustained collaboration that helps strengthen the crisis management and resilience community beyond the conference itself.

Day 1 & 2 set a strong tone for ICMC 2026. The combination of expert-led sessions, practical training, exhibitor conversations, and networking gave attendees meaningful opportunities to learn, connect, and think critically about the challenges ahead.

For those looking to stay engaged with the ICMC community beyond the conference, membership offers a way to continue the conversation, access year-round opportunities, and stay connected with peers across the crisis management and resilience profession.