Associate Professor Robert Heath
Associate Professor (Strategic Risk Management), School of Management, Division of Business and Enterprise, University of South Australia

Dr Robert Heath is a psychologist who has consulted in management and communication issues since 1982, in crisis management since 1986, in risk management since 1995, and in intelligence management since 2001. His doctorate researched how business decisions and decision-maker confidence may be shaped and influenced by available information. At the University of Queensland, he developed the first undergraduate management course in Australia involving elements of crisis management and negotiation skills. In 1990, he provided expert evidence on crisis management issues for the New South Wales State Coronial Inquest into the Newcastle Earthquake of 1989. La Trobe University (Melbourne, Australia) recruited Dr Heath in 1993 to help develop and implement their MBA program.

Dr Heath was Managing Director of Crisis Corp (UK), from 1994 to 2002. The majority of business clients were listed within the global 1000 business. On 27 May 1999, Dr Heath gained the inaugural UK Business Continuity Personality of the Year award, a national award recognising his contribution to the business continuity industry, particularly in advancing the industry into the 21st Century. He is currently listed for his work in developing risk and crisis management theory and practice in the international editions of the Marquis Who’s Who in the World (2003), Who’s Who in the Health Sciences (2003), and Who's Who in Science and Engineering 2003, 2004, (6th & 7th Editions), 2007 and in various 2005 and 2006 editions.

Currently, Dr Heath is Associate Professor in Risk and Strategy for the School of Management, within the Division of Business, University of South Australia.

His book, Crisis Management for Managers and Executives (Financial Times/Pitman Books, 1998) provides a definitive introduction to crisis management for business, industrial and community organisations. The book is translated into Chinese, Russian, and Ukrainian and in 2004 in Greek (in line with preparations for the Olympic Games). Among many refereed and professional papers, Dr Heath has written a standard for the Business Continuity Institute on Crisis Communication and Public Relations and a chapter on the links between business continuity and crisis management for The Definitive Handbook of Business Continuity Management (John Wiley, 1999). He is writing practitioner and theoretic texts on intelligence and on risk management.

Associate Professor Heath is a Fellow of the Business Continuity Institute and a Member of the Australian Psychological Society. He provides integrated advice and consultations on virtually all aspects of intelligence, risk and crisis management (and business continuity) for all levels of government, corporations and businesses. He holds a PhD, BA (Hons Psychology), BA (Hons English Literature and Language) and a BA.