Risk Management Seminar: Beyond the Strait of Hormuz

Geopolitical events pose a risk to organisations of all sizes. What can your organisation – large or small – do to anticipate, prepare for and manage the impact of large-scale events? Explore practical approaches to these challenges through the lenses of crisis management, supply chain resilience, impact mitigation, AI and business continuity management.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints. It effectively closed on 28 February 2026, severely disrupting the flow of global oil and liquefied natural gas, causing energy prices to surge and sending ripple effects through global markets and supply chains. Organisations, from multinational companies to SMEs, experienced first-hand how reliance on suppliers, infrastructure, energy, logistics, technology and markets can leave them exposed to disruptions far beyond their direct control.

The events highlight important challenges for risk professionals: anticipating interconnected risks, managing uncertainty and strengthening organisational resilience. The lead facilitators of TU Delft’s Risk Management Summer Course have developed this unique one-day seminar on TU Delft’s campus to explore how risk professionals and executives can help their organisations prepare for and respond to such complex disruptions. It provides practical insights, real-world examples and immediately applicable approaches for managing geopolitical uncertainty and supply chain disruption.

The seminar also features Willy Steenbakkers from the Dutch National Crisis Centre (Nationaal CrisisCentrum, NCC), who will provide a national perspective on these challenges.

During the seminar, we will discuss crisis leadership and decision-making under incomplete information and explore business continuity strategies that strengthen organisational resilience. We will consider how organisations can identify their most critical dependencies, assess vulnerabilities and prioritise practical measures – even when resources, time and information are limited. We will also look into emerging risks such as AI and cybersecurity in a geopolitical context, and cover taking timely, informed decisions in response.

Schedule
9:30-10:00: Welcome & coffee
10:00-10:30: Introduction by Dr. Shahrokh Nikou (TU Delft, IDE)
10:30-12:30: Interactive discussion facilitated by Willy Steenbakkers (National Crisis Centre/Nationaal CrisisCentrum)
12:30-13:30: Catered lunch
13:30-16:00: Hands-on workshop in teams facilitated by Prof. Sicco Santema (TU Delft, IDE), Rinske Geerlings (Business As Usual, Australia) and Dr. Shahrokh Nikou.
16:00-16:30: Reflections & wrap-up
16:30-18:00: Drinks
Please note that the number of seats for this seminar is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Location: Molengraaffsingel 29, Delft