Dr Peter Williams is a globally recognized expert on disaster risk reduction (DRR)  He was the original lead author of the UN City Disaster Resilience Scorecard (which has been used by well over 400 cities globally) and was lead author or major contributor to many other DRR tools and instruments promulgated by the UN and others.  Peter now leads the US Network of ARISE, the UN DRR's global vehicle for enabling public-private collaboration in disaster risk reduction.  

Peter has over 40 years’ experience in helping businesses and governments adapt to, and make the most of, new technology. By background a strategy and process consultant, he was formerly the CTO of IBM's "Big Green Innovations" unit, where he played a major role in the development of IBM's "smarter planet" businesses in the areas of environmental management, water management, smart cities and disaster resilience: these focused on on the applications of technology to warning systems, public infrastructure and public services.

Peter retired from IBM in 2018, having been accorded the honor of being named an IBM Distinguished Engineer.  He also lectured at Stanford University for several years on Smart Cities and Communities.  In addition to leading ARISE, he is an independent consultant working on the application of information and data technologies to water infrastructure and disaster resilience, and on corporate environmental risk issues; he is a regular judge on VC competitions; and he advises several start-ups.  A native of the UK, he has lived in the US since 1999, and is married with three adult children. His PhD was awarded from the University of Bath, England.

• linkedin