It's what every leader and manager dreads - the unwanted and unexpected message (often after hours) that says there's been a fatality, corporate collapse, major fire, governance failure, serious accident, environmental disaster, embezzlement, corruption or harassment allegation - and it's now your responsibility to handle the crisis.

Yes, the police, fire service and ambulance can usually manage an immediate life-threatening emergency, but who looks after the outrage and impact on your business, the government regulators and suppliers and contractors, the families of those affected; and who talks to the media and the stock exchange?

And who looks after the emerging impacts of the immediate peripheral issues, the non-operational response to protect people, assets and reputation?

Equally important, who makes sure your business will quickly recover and continue to operate?

At this point, it's usually too late to be thinking there should have been a detailed crisis management and recovery plan in place that could activate a well-trained team at short notice.

And if you get through the next 24 hours, this could still be make-or-break time for the organisation, even if it's not your fault.

Will you and your business survive the trauma, stigma and publicity of having its operations under the unrelenting forensic probing of regulators, media, shareholders, insurance assessors and lawyers, all intent on finding someone to blame?

This is why it is so important to have a well-established crisis management and recovery plan that can be activated instantly when required.

And this is where Ross Campbell & Associates can help you.

Our professional team works closely with you to develop and implement your fully integrated strategic crisis response, and business recovery plans and processes.