The transformative power of Grief
We talk too little about the transformative power of grief . And how a new style of leadership might help us heal.
The Grenfell Inquiry: The hearing I can’t stop thinking about…
The 21st July 2022 was the final day of evidentiary hearings at the Grenfell Inquiry. Attending that hearing changed me. I’ve struggled over the last months to articulate this and am only beginning to understand and confront the implications of what I heard.
The LFB Review of Culture: A quick blog…
Someone I spoke with today spent nearly 5 years in a Fire Service but took 15 years to get over it. She told me that the actions of her colleagues… Read more The LFB Review of Culture: A quick blog… →
Making the water visible: A Methodology
Making the water visible: A methodology.
Crisis response journal article
Systemic Change in Complex Times
I recently published an article: Systemic Change in Complex Times in the Crisis Response Journal. For more information about the journal and how to subscribe, follow this link.
The 3 Cs of Resident Engagement
Despite the many post-Grenfell promises we continue to see terrible examples of a failure to engage effectively with residents. This blog explores the difference between consultations, collaboration and co-design and suggests that moving away from tick-box consultations may help restore trust.
RBKC fail to learn from Grenfell: A former MP’s perspective
Former MP Emma Dent Coad accuses the RBKC of deliberate obfuscations that are not in the spirit of post-Grenfell engagement to which the Council committed.
RBKC fail to learn from Grenfell: A resident’s perspective
Trellick Tower Development, RBKC fail to listen to residents.
Grenfell, Fish & Systemic Change
Nicky Venables, CEO of New Build Database interviews me about my book, Systemic change and whether we will learn from Grenfell.
In memory… The Lakanal House Fire
On 3 July 2009, 3 week old Michelle Udooka died with her mother, Helen, in the Lakanal House Fire. Lessons were not leaarned and on 14 June 2017, the youngest victim t Grenfell was Logan Isaac Gomes, still-born at seven months.
In memory… Grenfell: The 21st Floor
Watch the BBC Newsnight documentary Grenfell: The 21st Floor.
Grenfell and the tacit knowledge of those at the sharp end – Ed Daffarn speaks to LBC’s James O’Brien.
LBC’s James O’Brien speaks to Ed Daffarn the author of the blog that predicted a catastrophic event at Grenfell.
An Analysis of the Design, Installation & Materials of the Rainscreen Cladding System at Grenfell Tower:
A technical analysis of what happened at the Grenfell Tower Fire.
This report looks objectively at the design of the cladding system and the way in which it was installed, whilst explaining some of the evidence heard at the Inquiry.
Grenfell, the conservative vote & why we are missing the point
The coverage of the conservative vote against the Grenfell Recommendations is missing the point.
The danger of the narratives we use to silence: Grenfell and the Rebel Residents
Evidence by main contractor #Rydon at the #Grenfell Tower Inquiry reveals the narratives used to silence the voices of residents.
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The Great Fire of London (1666) and Grenfell (2017).
Lessons from the Great Fire of London. What are the similarities to Grenfell.
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Power and Accountability: The psychological contract & responding to catastrophic event
Power and Accountability. The failure of politicians to be accountable for the psychological contract in the face of catastrophic events such as Grenfell, COVID19 and Hillsborough.
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Grenfell, COVID-19 and our inability to learn: Risk Guru Podcast with Matt Hodges- Long & Gill Kernick
Grenfell, COVID-19 and Learning. Will we learn? Risk Guru podcast.
Cummings & our unwritten Psychological Contract: Are we asking the right questions?
This blog explores the Cummings’ crisis through the lens of a failure to attend to and restore an unwritten psychological contract in the aftermath of catastrophic events.
Rather than asking ‘how can we ‘move on’ from the Cummings’ crisis?’ those in power might instead seek to understand what a country in grief needs from them, to understand what it would take to restore the psychological contract and build trust.
Why we fail to prepare for disasters… Tim Harford article.
Link to Tim Harford article about why we fail to prepare for disasters.
Covid-19: UK unheeded Warnings and some success stories #3… useful articles (Updated)
COVID-19, collection of useful articles
COVID-19 Unheeded Warnings #2: Centre for Health and Public Interest 2013 Report
Adaptive capacity is a cornerstone of resiliance. Those that failed to ensure this capacity whilst listing a pandemic as a top civil risk need to be held to account.
A 2013 Report by the CHPI warns that the new NHS structure would impact the ability to fight a pandemic.
From interruption to disruption: Leadership and Covid-19
Rather than viewing #Covid-19 as an interuption and wait for things to return to normal. It offers a unique #leadership opportunity to untether ourselves from the past and step into the Fourth Industrial Age.
COVID19 Unheeded warnings: #1 Bill Gates 2015
Failures to learn and heed warnings about the impact of a global pandemic.
Personal Reflections: COVID-19 and Grenfell
Personal reflection on #Grenfell and #COVID19
Diversity and Role Models: a podcast
Podcast reflecting on working in high hazard industries as a non-technical woman.
Recorded for International Women’s Day.
Supply chains and deferring risk: Week 1 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry
What lessons are there for us to learn from week 1 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry
The Grenfell Inquiry, Phase Two: Some background
Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 details and background.
Grenfell, Leadership & the Symbolic Dance: Lessons from Mehra; Barwell; Jenrick & others…
Recent decisions about Benita Mehra, Gavin Barwell and Robert Jenrick are perplexing in the symbolic dissonance with the intent for learning and change.
Heroes and Villains – The narratives displacing our ability to learn from Grenfell
This blog looks at the failures of the LFB in preparing for Grenfell and explores the narratives displacing our ability to learn from Grenfell.
A conscious unwillingness to learn… Bolton, Worcester, Barking, Crewe, Grenfell …
A conscious unwillingness to learn from Grenfell
Grenfell; Space Ships and the Shard – the problem with the London Fire Brigade Commissioner’s statement.
LFB Commissioner Dany Cotton said that preparing for Grenfell would be like a space shuttle landing on the shard. This article explores why this statement is problematic.
It looks at the failures of the LFB to understand and mitigate catastrophic risk and to create a learning culture.
‘The real failure of Grenfell – complexity, ambiguity and competency.’ Prof. Torero Transcript
Transcript of Prof Torero speech – the real lesson of Grenfell. Accountability, complexity
Grenfell: What actions should the government take?
Grenfell Never Again. Transcript of speech given at Fire Brigade Union event at the Labour Party Conference.
Reality, Compliance and Leadership: Learning from Grenfell
Grenfell Tower systemic change and learning. Compliance, Leadership and reality.
Grenfell: Building reform consultation fails to ensure strong voice from residents.
In another bizarre and ironic twist post-Grenfell, the MHCLG has issued a consultation on the proposed regulatory reform based on the Hackitt review. It calls for a stronger resident voice but fails to ensure this through the consultation process.
Grenfell What have we learnt? BBC Radio 4 Beyond Today Podcast
BBC Radio 4 Beyond Today Podcast. Gill Kernick with Matthew Price and Kate Lambe.
BBC Radio 4 Today Program Interview – 16 June 2017: Our continued failure to learn & reflections on the Barking Fire
Grenfell Tower Interview Gill Kernick BBC R4 Today program 2 days after the Grenfell Tower Fire
Transparency and Trust: The failure to respond to concerns about air & soil contamination post-Grenfell
How can authorities respond to concerns around air and soil contamination in a way that builds, rather than erodes, trust?
Not just the cladding… The Grenfell Tower Fire: Summary of the Expert Evidence
Summary of the expert evidence heard at the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in November 2018.
Grenfell – Are firefighters to blame? Understanding human error
We cannot allow firefighters to be blamed for actions whilst those with accountability at senior levels in the fire brigade, government and contracting firms ‘seek refuge in a judicial cocoon’.
Catastrophic Risk and Equality of voice: learning from the Grenfell Tower disaster (LSE Article)
Learning from the Grenfell Tower Fire, Gill Kernick
Grenfell Tower Inquiry: learn lessons & implement changes (University of Manchester Blog)
Uploading a blog Martin Stanley and I wrote in September 2017. I believe this thinking will be important for Phase 2 of the Grenfell Public Inquiry.
Submission to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry re including the thinking and learning from Major Accidents
The first submission I made to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Arguing for including the thinking of Major Accidents in understanding what happened at Grenfell.