The Business Continuity Institute has unveiled its Next Generation Network, a landmark global initiative designed to unite and empower the future leaders of the business continuity and resilience industry. Officially launched on January 26, the network addresses a long-standing need for a dedicated, accessible platform where younger professionals can connect, share unique experiences, and cultivate the skills necessary to navigate an increasingly complex world. Conceived from the realization that no such global community existed, the NGN evolved from an idea in 2020 into a fully supported initiative backed by the BCI’s central office and board. Its mission is to be the definitive platform for individuals in the early stages of their careers, including students, career-switchers, and those new to the field. Guided by a philosophy of being “by the next generation, for the next generation,” the network is built on core values of innovation, diversity, and inclusion, aiming to foster an inter-generational ecosystem where fresh perspectives are not just welcomed but are central to the profession’s evolution.
Navigating a Transformed Risk Landscape
The timeliness of the Next Generation Network is underscored by a radical transformation in the global risk landscape. A decade ago, the professional environment was vastly different; risks were often perceived as more linear and isolated, and trust in major institutions was significantly stronger. Today, however, resilience professionals operate in a world where threats are no longer siloed events but are deeply interconnected, overlapping, and frequently amplified by technology. This new paradigm is characterized by a confluence of modern challenges—including sophisticated cyber-attacks, pervasive geopolitical instability, fragile supply chains, and the disruptive power of Artificial Intelligence—that influence and exacerbate one another. This complex reality demands a fundamental shift in approach, moving professionals away from simply reacting to individual crises and toward developing a more sophisticated understanding of the systemic relationships between these interdependent risks, a core challenge the new network is designed to address.
This intricate environment presents a unique dichotomy for the next generation of resilience leaders, who are often native users of advanced AI tools yet simultaneously face anxieties about job security and the disintegration of traditional career paths. The proliferation of AI, for instance, has accelerated the spread of misinformation and disinformation, now recognized as major structural risks. However, this technological shift does not signal the obsolescence of professional skills but rather a fundamental reordering of which capabilities are most valuable. The network’s formation is a direct response to this evolution, positing that in the future of resilience, the most crucial skills will be distinctly human. This strategic adaptation away from rote tasks and toward higher-order thinking is essential for professionals aiming to provide genuine value in a world where technology can support, but never fully replace, the human element at the core of effective resilience strategy and crisis management.
The Enduring Value of Human-Centric Skills
In an age increasingly dominated by automation and artificial intelligence, the Next Generation Network places a strategic emphasis on cultivating skills that remain uniquely human. The most critical capabilities for future resilience leaders will not be technical prowess alone, but rather a sophisticated blend of judgment, critical thinking, and interpersonal acumen. The ability to analyze complex, ambiguous situations and make reasoned decisions under pressure is paramount. Furthermore, the capacity to communicate clearly and calmly during a crisis, navigate ethical gray areas with integrity, and provide steady leadership in the face of profound uncertainty are skills that technology cannot replicate. The network is founded on the principle that while technology serves as a powerful tool to augment resilience efforts, it is the cultivation of these enduring human qualities that will ultimately determine the success of organizations and the professionals who guide them through disruption.
Central to this human-centric vision is the foundational concept of trust, which serves as the central nervous system of resilience. Effective crisis response, strategic partnerships, and systemic integrity are all underpinned by the strength of human relationships forged long before a crisis occurs. This is precisely where the NGN aims to provide immense value—by creating a trusted professional environment for early-career relationship-building and inter-generational learning. The experiences of seasoned professionals, who often credit their development more to daily collaboration with colleagues across different generations and continents than to any single formal qualification, inform the network’s structure. By institutionalizing this dynamic mix of varied experience and fresh thinking, the NGN seeks to accelerate the development of trust and collaborative patterns, ensuring that the next generation understands that knowing people and their perspectives is just as critical as knowing processes and platforms.
A Blueprint for Collaborative Growth
The launch of the Next Generation Network established a clear roadmap for providing tangible benefits and fostering a member-driven community, ensuring its relevance and impact for years to come. Participants can anticipate a diverse range of offerings, including global events and discussions centered on future-focused topics, new volunteer roles specifically created for early-career professionals, and robust structures for peer mentoring and shared learning. The network is also committed to developing tailored content that directly addresses the needs of its members at their specific career stages, with dedicated opportunities designed for students and those transitioning from other professions. This comprehensive approach ensures that the NGN is not a static program but a living, evolving community that will be continually shaped by the creativity, experiences, and active participation of its members, empowering them to build meaningful careers and contribute to the profession from day one.
A significant outcome of the initiative’s introduction was the enthusiastic reception from experienced professionals, who recognized the network’s value not only for emerging talent but for the entire industry. When questioned about how senior members could support the initiative, the response was unequivocal: the network is for everyone. Allies, mentors, and seasoned practitioners are actively welcomed, as the NGN champions reverse mentoring and cross-generational learning as profound strengths. This collaborative spirit was a defining feature of the launch, reinforcing the message that the future does not wait for perfect timing or extensive experience; it rewards active participation. The network therefore stands as a powerful call to action for a new generation of leaders to step forward, engage with their peers and mentors, and begin shaping the future of resilience today.
