When a real crisis hits – fast, messy and deeply public – even the most established and trusted organisations can falter. Recent system failures, from international airports to national retailers, have shown how quickly resilience erodes when pressure is high, time is limited, and decisions carry reputational, operational and human consequences.  

Launched in a keynote speech at crisis conference #RISKEurope, DRD partner Claire Davidson and Andy Roe, former Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, unveiled a new crisis leadership programme for boards and executive teams. The specialist service is designed to strengthen decision-making, capability, and confidence under pressure – bridging the persistent gap between risk management on paper and crisis performance in practice. 

This offer blends real-world crisis leadership with strategic communications expertise. Most organisational leaders who have been at the helm of the response to a worst-case-scenario event learn that even the most robust risk management framework or crisis plan is simply not enough to prepare for the speed of required decision-making, the pressure to act decisively, or the need to manage unforeseen blind spots. The programme aims to equip leadership teams with the clarity, judgement and coordination needed in a real crisis, using decision-making models proven in emergency and high-risk environments.  

Through a tailored combination of advisory sessions, simulations, and coaching, DRD and Andy Roe will provide meaningful crisis readiness training through two types of learning: 

In-the-moment handling – developing the fluency, judgement, and composure to make decisions when the clock is running and information is incomplete. 

Deep resilience – embedding the systems, roles, and behaviours that enable a coordinated and credible response across an organisation. 

Built around a five-module framework, the programme is delivered as a standalone intervention, or alternatively can be integrated into ongoing leadership and risk initiatives. It helps organisations build institutional readiness: the ability to withstand disruption, act with clarity, and lead with credibility when it matters most. 

Andy Roe said: “You may think you’re prepared. You’ve got the policies, the frameworks, the people. But when a real crisis hits, all of that gets tested in ways you can’t respond to with a paper manual.”

“In the most intense moments of my career, I’ve had to make decisions that were life-altering, nationally scrutinised, and made under immense time pressure. You don’t get to press pause.” 

“What you learn in those moments is that readiness isn’t about process. It’s about making clear, confident decisions when information is incomplete, when your team is uncertain, and when the world is watching. You find out very quickly where your systems work – and where they fall apart.” 

“Together with DRD, we’ve turned those lessons into a structured, practical approach that makes your systems stronger, your people sharper, and your leadership more confident when it’s needed most.” 

For more information about our crisis leadership programme, contact us at info@drdpartnership.com