Yusuf Ukaye MBCI: A new leader for the BCI North Midlands Chapter
In this spotlight, the BCI speaks with Yusuf Ukaye MBCI about his role, plans for his Chapter leadership and his views on the issues that are affecting the sector as a whole.
My career in business continuity (BC) started back in 2011, when I was fortunate to work for a niche security assurance consultancy in Halesowen in the West Midlands, UK. My role was fundamentally business development, engaging with a wide range of stakeholders including IT, security, BC, facilities management, and information security to secure the delivery of projects to ensure that organizations had the support and expertise to protect their most critical assets and activities.
It was another two years of working in business development that allowed me to familiarise myself with the delivery of IT managed services and BC. During this time, I was fortunate to meet a number of resilience professionals, through channels such as various BCI Chapters and BCI World, who encouraged further practice and learning. This led me to apply my learning through the BCI with a Diploma in Business Continuity, a postgraduate Diploma in Organizational Resilience, and becoming a certified lead implementer in BC management systems.
As for the company I currently work for, CloudPay is a global payroll solutions provider, with solutions covering over 100 countries globally. It connects all employees’ pay processes – including payroll, payments, and on demand pay – through a unified solution.
It is my role as Operational Resilience Manager to document and work with the business to ensure that colleagues’ health, safety, and well-being are at the forefront of stakeholders’ minds across all the continents that we operate out of, to ensure the continuation of the activities that support the processing of payroll and payments to customers, as well as to ensure that the systems that support this are able to continue each day’s critical activities. I’m also involved in supporting the implementation of new customers and existing customers to CloudPay products. It is a role I thoroughly enjoy and no two days are ever the same. I have had the privilege of meeting some amazing professionals in a number of our offices around the world.
Resilience to threats
I’ve always maintained throughout my career that resilience is a social science and its parameters spread far and wide. Due to this understanding, I go back to basics and the foundations of embedding BC into an organization. With the resources that we have at hand, are we:
- Able to protect the business?
- Able to understand the businesses that we are mostly dependent on?
- Able to articulate and craft a message, so it carries weight long after a feedback form has been filled in?
- Able to forecast the events that could well cripple our business with the right measure and consensus?
In terms of what may be a threat to resilience, I would highlight the following:
An interconnected world: 2023 has given us a risk landscape which includes the dilemma, excitement, advancement, and uncertainty that artificial intelligence has brought to humanity. In addition, the surge in geopolitical threats has demonstrated how interconnected the world’s economies are. Both of these areas were highlighted as the top global risk in the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2023.
Cyber attacks: a risk that can never be taken off the agenda is that posed by cyber attacks. Both a strategic and technological concern to our organizations, since our lives are dominated digitally and we, professionally and personally, depend on technology. We would be foolhardy to take anything for granted in this area. Possibly the biggest ignored factor in mitigating the risk of a cyber attack is not the technical response but the message an organization is able to send out clearly, effectively, transparently, and confidently.
What changes do you want to see in BC and Resilience?
I want to bring a fresh emphasis to the importance the BCI plays for its members, as well as the contributions we have and can make. I look forward to meeting formally with the vice chair and committee members in the next couple of weeks as we look to organize our first Chapter meeting.These are just some of the areas that I believe would be beneficial:
- The experience and support I can bring to attendees who may be new to the industry as I can share what worked for me during my journey into BC, emphasising the wide variety of subjects that is driving the industry.
- Allow for everyone walking through the Chapter door an opportunity to listen, learn, and contribute.
- Drawing in experience from Fellows of the BCI who may be able to support conversations and demonstrate the value that the Chapter holds for the region.
- Offering relevant content to the Chapter attendees that will support their learning. On this point I would like to highlight the valued support of the BCI Events team, as well as the great work Olusola and Oyin provide – thank you!
- The opportunity for guest speakers to share their experiences in order for attendees to benefits from this learning.
- Draw guidance, best practice, and share ideas with my opposite numbers who lead Chapters and Special Interest Groups (SIGs) locally as well as internationally. I have already been amazed at the fantastic work and impact Chapters and SIGs have had.
Final comments
This was the first BCI Chapter that I visited, way back in September 2014, at the TNT Distribution Centre and I still have the agenda for that evening filed away. Nine years later, nearly to the month, I am really pleased to have been given the opportunity to lead this Chapter. This Chapter was one of the major catalysts that played a part in me staying in the industry that I love.
On a final note, I’d like to send a message of gratitude to the BCI, the resilience professionals, the leaders, and the lecturers that have supported me and stretched my thinking and my limits. They have been an important part of my journey both professionally and academically.
Thank you, as I look to contribute further to the craft that is resilience!
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About the author
Yusuf Ukaye
IT Risk and Business Continuity Manager
Hello and thank you for visiting my profile.
I feel privileged to work in the fast-growing industry of Resilience. It’s a fascinating world - whether sharing ideas about Resilience or speaking to fellow peers about the importance of integrating business continuity - planning strategies that minimise the impact of disruption. I fully support the free exchange of ideas, and collaboration with leaders, colleagues and future talent.
I have had ten years of experience where I have had the opportunity to work in Utilities, the Regulated sector and the Private sector which have included IT Managed Services, Financial Services, and the pharmaceutical industry. My current role is the Group IT Risk and Business Continuity Manager at Arrow Group, which is a leading European vertically integrated alternative asset manager specialising in private credit and real estate.
My experience has seen me see both the business development of business continuity services as well as the delivery of business continuity in industry and it has informed and educated me well in the projects and workstreams I am currently undertaking.
Academically, I have qualified as a Diploma in Business Continuity as well as a Postgraduate in Organisational Resilience which both awards were through Bucks New University.
I am an active member of the Business Continuity Institute, a PECB Lead Implementer ISO 22301 BCMS. As a member of the BCI, this supports my passion for continuous learning and professional development. I am committed to the BCI's competencies set out in the BCI Competencies Framework in Leadership and Management, Professional Practices and Ethics and Values.
Thank you for your interest, please feel free to send an invitation to connect or get in touch by email. I look forward to meeting you!
