Issue 161 - July 2025
NEWS: WORTHY
Featured Sessions at the 2025 Forum
Some sessions that may be of particular interest to members are:
Managing Complaints Made Against Local Officials
Take a dive into the real-world challenges of handling high-stakes investigations involving appointed and elected local officials with integrity and confidence. This session offers a clear, practical roadmap for conducting fair and thorough investigations—covering everything from fact-finding and interviews to maintaining discretion under pressure. Just as crucial, it tackles what comes next: how to communicate outcomes, restore trust, and turn challenging situations into opportunities for growth. Attendees will walk away with actionable strategies to lead with transparency and strengthen public confidence when it matters most.
Public Sector Incident Response—Minimizing Downtime and Maintaining Public Trust
A rapid response to a cyber incident is crucial for maintaining operations and public confidence. This session covers building an incident response team, essential communication strategies, and technical best practices to help municipalities recover quickly and securely.
Governing in Contentious Times
This interactive panel discussion will examine the increasingly contentious and high-stakes environment local government chief executives face and its implications for organizational risk. As public discourse becomes more polarized and external pressures intensify, agency leaders navigate complex dynamics that can expose agencies to reputational, operational, and even legal risk. This session will bring together experienced local government executives to explore real-world scenarios, identify emerging threats, and share practical strategies for mitigating risk while maintaining effective leadership. Attendees will gain insights into how proactive communication, internal alignment, and strong governance practices can help their organizations remain resilient, compliant, and mission-driven in challenging times.
Crime vs. Cyber—Understanding the Overlaps and Minimizing the Exposures
Cyberattacks can be financially devastating for local governments. This session explores how traditional crime concerns (e.g., theft, fraud, and embezzlement) overlap with modern cyber threats (like ransomware and data breaches), offering practical guidance for identifying vulnerabilities and implementing proactive safeguards. Attendees will learn essential strategies to mitigate risk, protect municipal assets, and foster resilience in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.
Securing Municipal Financial Systems—Preventing Fraud, Data Breaches, and Cyber Attacks
As local governments increasingly rely on digital financial systems, ensuring security against cyber threats and fraud is paramount. Experts will delve into the critical aspects of safeguarding financial infrastructures within municipalities. This session will explore the latest strategies, technologies, and best practices for protecting municipal financial data, maintaining public trust, and complying with regulatory standards.
Visit the Risk Management Educational Forum website page for more information or to register. Questions about the Forum can be directed to staff via email.
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