Dr. Herbert M. Koch LL.M.

President & Founder

Herbert Koch founded the International Association of Risk and Crisis Communication in May 2013.

As president of the Association he commissioned and led research projects in cooperation with the French engineers school Arts et Métiers ParisTech, gave lectures and presentations at various conferences such as the Chosun Forum on Crisis Management in Seoul, South Korea or at the Emergency, Rescue and Safety Management Exhibition and Conference in Sofia, Bulgaria.

He published the online publication The Journal of Risk and Crisis Communication.

Herbert Koch started his career in communication as Senior Consultant and owner of de concert communication, a communication agency founded and domiciled in Paris, France, from 2004 until 2014.

Since 2014, the agency has been based in Zurich, Switzerland.   Parallel to his activities in communication, Herbert Koch works as an independent legal consultant for HMK Law in Zurich, Switzerland. 

Philippe Borremans

Vice President

Philippe Borremans is an independent Emergency Risk & Crisis Communication Consultant specialised in epidemic & pandemic preparedness.

He works on strategic communication projects with organisations like the World Health Organization, the European Union, and the West African Union.

For ten years, he held several Public Relations positions at IBM, including Corporate and Online Communications on national and European level. Philippe started his career at Porter Novelli International in Brussels.

He is a regular guest lecturer at universities and business schools across Europe and North Africa. Philippe is Board Member of the European Association of Communication Directors (EACD) and a former President of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA 2021).

Philippe previously lived in Casablanca, Morocco and is now based in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.

Sheena Thomson

Member of the Board

Sheena Thomson is an accomplished issues and crisis communications speaker, advisor, trainer and entrepreneur who helps both public and private organisations to plan and manage their communications efforts when under intense scrutiny and pressure.  

Based in the UK, Sheena specialises in high risk events, situations and issues. Through her consultancy and international associate network Conduit Associates Ltd (UK), Sheena provides crisis response support during complex events, missions, projects and situations, as well as preparedness training.  

Sheena draws upon substantial crisis communications experience, which began in the early 1990s with her role as a Royal Navy Media Operations Officer.

Thomas Brun

Member of the Board

Thomas Brun is a corporate communications consultant who has been advising companies and public administrations for over 15 years. He assists them in the development and management of their communication strategies, including reputation management, CSR and crisis communication.

Thomas is based in Casablanca, Morocco, where he develops consulting and training activities with large organisations (OCP Group, Johnson & Johnson, Ministry of Agriculture, Casablanca Stock Exchange etc.) and throughout the African continent (Central Bank of West African States, Ministry of Economy of Cameroon, etc.).  

He also teaches in several international institutions (emlyon business school, Toulouse Business School, Com'sup, etc.) 

Luciano Luffarelli

Member of the Board

Luciano is currently Head of Communications and Government Affairs at Piaggio Aerospace and Adjunct Professor in Issues and Crisis Communication at the Università IULM.

He started his professional career as a financial journalist in Milan. After being appointed International Press Officer at Olivetti, he served as Head of Communication in Autogrill, Allianz-Ras and Banca Monte Dei Paschi di Siena.

After a gap year, he has worked for more than a decade as a crisis expert and communication consultant.  

Luciano graduated, Magna cum Laude, at EMScom, the Executive Master of Science in Communication Management, at the Università Della Svizzera Italiana and the UCLA Anderson School of Management (Los Angeles, CA).