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Constitution of the Disaster Risk Management Professional Practice Group

The name of this Professional Practice Group is: Disaster Risk Management Professional Practice Group (DRMPPG).

Purpose and aims

The purpose and aims of the DRMPPG are to:

Bring together a community of risk-focused professionals covering sectors such as (but not limited to) insurance, governmental and non-governmental organisations, the humanitarian sphere and academia, to promote best practice and uncover latent commonalities in geographical based perspectives and approaches, including:

  • Asset, exposure, and data
  • Disaster preparedness and risk reduction
  • Event monitoring and post damage assessment
  • Communicating and understanding risk

DRMPPG will do this by:

  • Fostering a community of professional geographers who use geographic information and approaches for disaster risk management in their day jobs or in extra-curricular activities.
  • Providing case studies and examples of best practice in the use of geographic information and geospatial technologies across the disaster risk reduction, re/insurance, humanitarian and governmental sectors with regards to disaster risk management alongside helping members explore the commonalities between these sectors.
  • Promoting geography as a professional discipline within re/insurance, including those complementary to other pathways, by holding events and seminars to provide networking opportunities for disaster risk management professionals with a keen interest in geography.
  • Promoting links between academia and industry to advance understanding of the role of geography in disaster risk management.
  • Acting as a conduit between other societies which contain practitioners of disaster risk management principles (such as RSPSoc, AGI, ISCM, ABI, CII, BCS, EPS, ICPEM and AIRMIC).
  • Supporting the development of early careers professionals into the risk management sector by recommending best practice and requirements for geographers entering the workplace.  To include cross-referencing CGeog activities with research groups and other activities within the society. To promote interaction between CGeog and the wider Society’s activities and disciplines.

Organisational status

The DRMPPG is associated with the Royal Geographical Society (with The Institute of British Geographers) and must satisfy the aims and policies of the Society, including Equal Opportunity policy, and the legal and Charity Commissioner requirements including the guidance issued by the Charities’ Commission on campaigning and political activity by charities.

The DRMPPG must deliver an Annual Report to the Society demonstrating that these aims and policies are being adhered to. 

Membership

  • Membership of the DRMPPG shall be open to all current members of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), RSPSoc and AGI, who elect to join the Professional Practice Group, but shall never be less than 20. Membership of DRMPPG will be free of charge. The Society shall maintain records of membership on DRMPPG’s behalf.
  • Other interested persons who are not members of the Society may not join the DRMPPG but may be invited to take part in group activities and opt-in to some communications.

Committee and meetings

  • The business of the DRMPPG shall be conducted by a Committee of no fewer than 3 members. Honorary Offices within the Committee are: Chair and Secretary. Each of these roles shall be undertaken by members of the Society elected by the Group. The Committee will have the power to co-opt no more than two additional members from within their membership. The majority of the Committee should be members of the Society.
  • The Honorary Offices and other committee members shall be elected for a period of three years. Honorary Officers may stand for a second term of three years but must relinquish their post after the sixth year of office. Retiring Honorary Officers shall not be eligible for re-election if they have served for six years without first having a two-year break from the Committee.  
  • Ordinary Committee members shall be elected for a period of not more than three years. Ordinary Committee members may stand for a second term of three years but must relinquish their post after the sixth year of office.
  • Elections to the Committee will be held at the Annual General Meeting of DRMPPG. Members will be informed by email at least 30 days prior to the AGM of all vacancies to be filled. Nominations for Committee membership will be accepted up to the beginning of the AGM. Nominations must be in writing and include the names of the proposer and seconder.
  • The Annual General Meeting can be in person or online. The DRMPPG must present an Annual Report when requested. This is to comply with Charity Commissioners guidelines.
  • An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) may be called by either the Chair and four members (or all other members if fewer than four in total) of the Committee or by any 20 ordinary members of the DRMPPG. The Secretary must give notice of at least 30 days of an EGM in writing to all members of the DRMPPG.

Changes to the Constitution

  • The constitution can be changed only by two-thirds majority vote of those present at an Annual General Meeting, provided that the membership has been individually notified of the proposed changes in writing or by email at least 30 days in advance.
  • Professional Practice Group constitutions that have been altered by the AGM of the Professional Practice Group should then be submitted for approval by the Research and Higher Education Committee of the Society at their next meeting.
  • If the Professional Practice Group alters its constitution without informing the Research and Higher Education Committee by the time of its next meeting, the Research and Higher Education Committee will view this matter seriously and consider whether the group is contravening the aims of the Society.

Activities

  • The activities of the Professional Practice Groups should not contravene the aims of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). The DRMPPG may be dissolved only in accordance with the rules of the Society.
  • Professional Practice Groups and their members shall be expected to follow the Society’s Guidance on Advocacy, Lobbying, Campaigning and Activism and the Chartered Geographer Professional Code of Conduct in all their activities.
  • Committee Members of the Professional Practice Group should familiarise themselves with the latest version of the ‘GDPR: Guidance for Professional Practice Groups’ document, and act according to the principles outlined therein.

Approved October 2020, updated October 2022.