BCI Board Nominee Spotlight: Maura Santunione MBCI | BCI

Full name: Maura Santunione
Membership grade: MBCI
Country of residence: Italy
Professional role: Business resilience digital transformation manager

About the nominee

I am Maura Santunione, resilience and digital transformation manager, bringing over two decades of experience spanning logistics, quality, and enterprise resilience.

I hold the MBCI certification and actively contribute as the   Italian Leader and an active member of the BCI Special Interest Group on Operational Resilience, BCI Cyber Resilience, as well as the BCI 'Women in Resilience' network.

My professional foundation includes a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering and current certifications such as CISM (2024), Lead Auditor ISO 22301, Lead Implementer ISO 22301, and the ASCM Supply Chain Resilience Certificate.

My expertise is focused on integrating Business Continuity & Resilience with Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) and utilizing Lean/Agile methodologies to optimize recovery processes. 

I am a committed thought leader, having published with the BCI on supply chain dependencies and spoken at major events like CLUSIT on cyber risk. I am motivated to serve on the board to bring a strategic, cross-functional perspective, informed by my Strategic foresight and Futures Thinking mindset, ensuring the BCI effectively addresses the emerging digital and systemic risks facing our global community.  I strongly believe in the power of professionals to build an innovative and antifragile culture and future.

Any prior board governance experience?

I'm the leader of BCI Italy Chapter, a member of ISACA, Clusit, ASCM and other international Professional Groups. I'm one of the founders of 'What's going on' community, dedicated to the building of resilience and innovative culture.

Why serve on the BCI Board?

I am driven to serve as a BCI Board Director to ensure the Institute remains the definitive global authority on resilience, proactively tackling the digital and systemic risks that define today's world.

With my background as a Global Business Continuity Manager and my active leadership in the BCI's Operational Resilience Special Interest Group, I am committed to bringing a strategic, cross-functional perspective to the Board. My expertise in integrating Business Continuity with Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), coupled with my certifications like CISM, Certified Resilience Supply Chain Manager, Lead Implementer, and Lead Auditor ISO 22301, allows me to translate complex operational and cyber challenges into clear strategic priorities for the BCI.

What excites me most is the opportunity to shape the BCI's future direction by embedding a Strategic Foresight and Futures Thinking mindset into its strategy. I believe this is crucial to help our members navigate this fast-changing epoch and build a new resilience culture.

My aim is to ensure the BCI provides the cutting-edge tools and thought leadership necessary for our members to effectively address the dynamic risk landscape. I strongly believe in the power of our community to build an innovative and antifragile culture and future, and the difference we can make together.

What skills and experience do you bring to the board?

I will bring a powerful combination of strategic foresight, deep GRC expertise, and cross-functional leadership to the BCI Board to support strategic decision-making. 

1. Strategic and Leadership Skills Strategic Foresight: I practice Futures Thinking and foresight-based planning, which is essential for setting the BCI's long-term strategic direction and anticipating emerging threats. 
2. Digital Transformation Expertise: I am currently attending an MIT Professional Course on "Digital Transformation," which covers AI, IoT, Cloud, and Cybersecurity, providing a cutting-edge perspective on the future of the profession. 
3. Leadership & Collaboration: I have demonstrated the ability to lead cross-border and enterprise-wide initiatives as a Global Business Continuity Manager and through my active leadership in the BCI's Operational Resilience Special Interest Group.
4. Governance and Financial Expertise Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC): I possess advanced skills in GRC, Operational Risk and Resilience. I am experienced in implementing and auditing ISO 22301 and ISO 27001 systems. 
5. Auditing Acumen: I hold the Lead Auditor ISO 22301 certification, indicating my ability to assess organizational effectiveness and compliance, a key skill for board oversight. 
6. Information Security Governance: I hold the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification, which is crucial for guiding the BCI's strategy around the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape. 
7. Industry and Business Expertise Global Corporate Perspective: My current role as Global Business Continuity Manager at Philips provides direct insight into the resilience needs of a major multinational corporation. 
8. Supply Chain Focus: I hold the ASCM Supply Chain Resilience Certificate and have published with the BCI on supply chain dependencies, highlighting expertise in a critical systemic risk area. 
9. Business Optimization: I have experience applying Lean, Agile, and Scrum principles to optimize recovery processes and drive operational efficiency, which supports sound business decisions for the Institute itself. 
10. Community Insight: I serve as the Italian Leader for the Operational Resilience SIG and am a member of the BCI "Women in Resilience" network, ensuring the Board hears diverse and active perspectives from the membership. 
11. Business Optimization: Experience applying Lean, Agile, and Scrum principles to optimize recovery processes and drive operational efficiency, which supports sound business decisions for the Institute itself. 

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