Vinod Thomas Launches Risk and Resilience in the Era of Climate Change at the Asian Institute of Management
Distinguished Fellow in Development Management, Vinod Thomas PhD, recently launched his book titled Risk and Resilience in the Era of Climate Change, an insight-laden 197-page examination of the topic of resilience, prevention, and action during the climate crisis.
The book was unveiled at a book launch held at the Aboitiz Tech Space in the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) on 1 June 2023. AIM President and Dean, Dr. Jikyeong Kang kicked off the launch with a primer on the topic of climate change and how it is increasingly encroaching on our daily lives. According to her “It is something we cannot ignore these days” and that she is confident that “Dr. Thomas’ book will provide much-needed guidance and insight, as well as hope.”
Dr. Thomas opined that the Executive Master in Disaster Risk and Crisis Management (EMDRCM) program has a special place in his heart and that he’s glad it’s in the good hands of AIM professors. Stressing the importance of crisis management, he states “Management of risk and disasters clearly has to be at the top of the list of priorities in the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and worldwide, and yet it is not.” Dr. Thomas further expounds how “We all recognize that climate is changing. What we are not recognizing, which is critical for policy making, is that it’s not a natural change in climate. It’s human-made climate change. Unless that link is made clearly and squarely, actions will lag.”
Following this discussion, the Head of the Stephen Zuellig Graduate School of Development Management (SZSDM), Professor Olivier Roche PhD, shared that “there is a certain symbiosis between what Vinod is talking about in his book, and what we do at AIM with our EMDRCM program” and that Dr. Thomas’ book “provides a solid foundation in theory and practice.” He concluded with a statement that the program “is the next step for the next generation to actually move, find, and implement solutions.”
Dr. Thomas, Chief of Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Thematic Group and concurrent Director of the Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Division of the Asian Development Bank, Ms. Noelle O’Brien, and Researcher from ThinkPlace Global and EMDRCM 2023 Alumnus, Ms. Anna Liza Gaspar, joined a panel discussion moderated by the Chief of Staff of Secretary Robert E.A. Borje of the Climate Change Commission, Attorney Carol Paquera. They tackled questions from Distinguished Fellow in Development Management and retired World Bank Country Director for East Asia and the Pacific, Motoo Konishi, and London Business School and AIM Alumna, Ms. Lalaine Rodriguez-Valdez, as well as from viewers online.
Risk and Resilience in the Era of Climate Change may be purchased from Amazon through vinod-thomas.com/services/.
