Rupert Miller
Diary update: 30 June 2008

As Private Sector Emergency Coordinator, Rupert's role is to facilitate the mobilisation and coordination of the private sector response.

I thought I would send you an update on what I've been up to out here and a few of the headlines.

I've been in Bangkok for the last three weeks after ten days in Myanmar. The story of the Cyclone locally is now almost completely out of the news,

After time spent talking with the Country Director in Myanmar and Greg Duly, the Save the Children Regional Director based in Bangkok, the story I've been telling is more than just what Save the Children is doing in Myanmar, but more general profile raising of the organisation and what is happening in the region. People have been very interested in the relationship between Impact and Save the Children. For many people my  introduction has been their first to Save the Children's activities in Thailand and the region.

I have been speaking at a number of venues including the American Chamber of Commerce, Business Network International and a presentation to 30 people at Bangkok's CSR group, Net Impact's, monthly meeting.

I have spoken to people from a number of different organisations, and have three great potential corporate relationships for Save the Children. A couple of small companies are also going to make cash donations and I introduced Save the Children's regional communications manager to a PR agency who have been able to provide some new contacts with the local media.  Greg has also now been invited to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce for drinks and I will
hopefully join them! 

It is still not clear where all this will lead for Save the Children, but it could be the start of some really positive relationships that go way beyond just pure fund raising. 

It's also worth noting that Save the Children has always planned to employ someone in the next six months to engage the corporate sector in this region. In the light of the success of our work here, they employed someone on Friday.

If you are interested in/ or can link us to people who can participate in forums hosted by Rupert in Bangkok and/or Yangon, or can actually get involved in the relief effort then please contact us.