Crisis Designer Podcast

How do you prepare people to make the right decisions when a crisis strikes?In this episode of Crisis Designer Podcast, we're joined by Ed Vafa, Head of Protective Security and Resilience at Bidvest Noonan, to explore what policing can teach us about crisis preparedness and how to design exercises that genuinely test decision-making under pressure.Drawing on his experience in policing, counter-terrorism and corporate security, Ed shares how he creates realistic crisis exercises using unexpected phone calls, competing priorities, misinformation and scenarios inspired by real events. We discuss why training needs to become a lasting memory, how AI can bring exercises closer to participants' reality, and why the consequences of their decisions should shape how a scenario unfolds.Ed also shares lessons from major emergency response exercises, his experience on the TV programme Hunted, and why the real measure of a successful exercise is what an organisation changes afterwards.

What does it take to recreate the pressure, complexity and unpredictability of a live event control room?In this episode of Crisis Designer, we speak with Curtis Harding, Training Manager, and Zain Qureshi, E-Learning Team Leader at ShowSec, one of the UK's leading event security and crowd management companies.Curtis and Zain share how they designed and delivered an immersive training exercise in Hong Kong, bringing together participants from across Asia to practise command, control and coordination in a realistic event environment.We explore how they combined e-learning, face-to-face training and crisis simulation, using evolving weather conditions, radio communications, breaking news and social media to challenge participants' decision-making under pressure.The conversation also explores the importance of creativity in exercise design, how to balance realism with learning objectives, and why effective training is about more than technology. It's about creating experiences that build confidence and prepare people for the unexpected.

What makes a crisis exercise feel real? And how do you design training that encourages people to think, act and make decisions rather than simply follow a script?In this episode of Crisis Designer Podcast, we're joined by Chandrika Ghosh, E-Learning Account Executive at MTI Network, a global crisis response and communications consultancy specialising in the maritime industry.Chandrika shares her experience moving from traditional e-learning to immersive crisis simulations, exploring how realistic scenarios help teams turn knowledge into action. We discuss why fewer injects can sometimes create better exercises, how to balance structure with improvisation, and the role of storytelling, social media and AI in bringing scenarios to life.We also explore an often-overlooked element of crisis preparedness: empathy. How can teams practise responding not just to operational challenges, but to the real people affected by a crisis?A conversation about designing more engaging training, embracing unpredictability and creating experiences that prepare people for the human realities of crisis response.

How do you pass on 26 years of firefighting experience to the next generation of emergency responders?In this episode of Crisis Designer Podcast, we welcome Jack Lopez, founder of Emergency Response Simulations, to explore how immersive technology is transforming the way emergency responders train, collaborate and make decisions under pressure.Combining more than 35 years in technology with a 26-year career in the fire service, Jack brings a unique perspective to simulation-based training. He explains how virtual environments can recreate complex emergencies, from hazardous materials incidents to mass casualty scenarios, giving responders opportunities to practise situations that would be difficult, expensive or impossible to reproduce in real life.We explore what makes a simulation truly realistic, how to introduce pressure without overwhelming participants, the importance of storytelling and evidence-based scenario design, and why even the most serious training needs an element of fun.We also discuss the limits of simulation, the importance of after-action reviews and how repeated practice can help teams develop the judgement and confidence needed when every second counts.

What makes a crisis exercise feel real? And how do you prepare teams across different countries, cultures and languages to respond when things go wrong?In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast,we speak with with Dr. Alexander Grzegorzewski, who works in global crisis management and security at Bayer.Drawing on a career spanning firefighting, corporate security and crisis management, Alexander shares his experience designing and facilitating crisis exercises across Europe, Asia and Africa.From earthquakes and political unrest to cyber incidents and reputational threats, he explains how localising scenarios with familiar media, languages and communication channels helps participants immerse themselves in an exercise.The conversation also explores the importance of information sharing within crisis teams, the challenges of facilitating exercises, the role of AI in after-action reviews, and how to convince leadership that practising for events that may never happen is worth the investment.A practical conversation about realism, teamwork and what it takes to turn crisis exercises into meaningful learning experiences.

In this episode, we’re joined by Tim Klaassen, Senior Crisis Management & Business Continuity Consultant at PwC Netherlands, to explore what it really takes to design exercises that go beyond ticking a box and start changing behaviour.From defining meaningful objectives to creating realism that drives immersion, Tim breaks down the thinking behind effective crisis simulations and why the scenario itself is only part of the story. We discuss how to translate organisational complexity into exercises, how to balance pressure during live play, and what it takes to ensure learning sticks beyond the session.This episode explores four key ideas: designing exercises around real business challenges rather than generic scenarios, using realism to create immersion and engagement, applying the right level of pressure to mirror real decision-making, and turning exercises into lasting organisational change through strong follow-up.If you design, run, or take part in crisis exercises, this conversation will challenge how you think about preparation, realism, and what “good” actually looks like.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, we’re joined by Janette Bonar Law, Information Security Manager for Culture & Awareness at Channel 4.Janette brings a human-centred approach to risk and resilience. Rather than focusing on policies and frameworks alone, her work is grounded in behaviour, culture, and how people actually operate inside organisations.In this conversation, we explore how to design awareness and training that people genuinely engage with, from immersive simulations and interactive formats to unexpected, creative approaches that spark curiosity and conversation.We cover:Why traditional compliance-driven approaches often failHow stress and pressure shape decision-makingDesigning awareness programmes people actually engage withThe role of conversation in building awarenessThis episode offers a different way of thinking about resilience.If you’re designing exercises, awareness programmes, or training, it challenges you to move beyond policy and start designing for how people really think, feel, and act.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, we speak with Bartosz Misiuro, Global Security Incident Management Lead and CERT Process Service Manager at Atos, about how organisations can better prepare for security incidents before they happen.Drawing on years of hands-on experience in global incident response, Bartosz explains what it means to work inside a Computer Emergency Response Team and why preparation matters just as much as response. He shares how tabletop exercises and crisis simulations help teams build muscle memory for the pressure, uncertainty, and coordination challenges that come with cyber incidents.We explore how to design realistic scenarios, how to adapt simulations for technical and non-technical audiences, and why it is so important to align objectives, roles, and responsibilities before the exercise even begins. Bartosz also talks about using real-world threat actor behaviour, ransomware materials, and current attack trends to make exercises feel tangible and relevant.The conversation also covers participant engagement, evaluation reports, practical follow-up actions, and the importance of turning lessons learned into something simple and usable, especially for senior leaders under pressure.If you’re interested in cyber incident preparedness, CERT operations, or designing exercises that genuinely help teams perform better when it counts, this episode is packed with practical insight.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, we’re joined by Scott Campbell, founder of NXUS, where he designs fully immersive war room simulations that test decision-making, collaboration, and self-awareness in high-stakes environments.Drawing from a career that spans journalism, disaster response, cyber incidents, and leadership coaching, Scott shares how real pressure changes behavior and why most leaders are never truly trained for the moments that matter most. We explore how immersive simulations can recreate cognitive overload, emotional stress, and uncertainty in a safe but intense setting, allowing participants to experience crisis before it happens.If you’re designing crisis exercises, training leaders, or exploring how to build confidence and clarity under pressure, this episode offers a deep look into the psychology and craft behind high-impact simulations.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, we talk with Marc Avery, CISO and Managing Partner at Cyber Chain Alliance. Marc has spent his career leading security transformation across critical infrastructure, shaping resilient programs, and putting people at the centre of cybersecurity.Marc explains why the human factor is still the foundation of security, why boards often struggle to truly engage with cyber risk, and how his team designs cyber crisis exercises that go straight to business impact. From worst case scenarios that deliberately “hurt where it counts” to emotionally charged moments that make executives think about their families and their responsibilities, he shows how storytelling, realism, and pressure create learning that sticks.