Risk management policies and strategies at community-sponsored events : a metropolitan and a regional perspective

This paper focuses on the "gap" between the theory and practice of risk management in the events management industry. The paper reports on a study into the risk management policies and strategies employed at a community-sponsored event staged in metropolitan Sydney, and at a similar event in regional New South Wales. The conclusions consider the application of risk management practices in the events studied, the marketing of the events in order to meet event objectives more effectively and community involvement in staging such events in the future. The risk management policies and strategies identified by the managers of the events appeared appropriate for the types of events staged, and the conclusions identified some areas for improvement. One conclusion is that because of the wide range of events in the industry, there is no best practice for managing risks at special events. In fact, the practice of risk management would seem variable according to the nature and characteristics of events.