Travel Risk Management roundtable: gaps, grey areas and governance

The event, Moving the dial: Accelerating the development of Travel Risk Management (TRM) programmes that protect people and reputation, brought together a select group of travel and security risk managers.

Setting the scene: framing the risk

The event opened with a thought-provoking presentation by GSA, who challenged attendees to consider a fundamental question: “How much risk is your organisation willing to bear to get the mission done?” 

Drawing on their extensive experience, GSA outlined some common TRM models they observe across different organisations – ranging from the “black box” approach, where medical screenings are commonplace and details to keep individuals safe must be declared, through to organisations who instead rely on setting out the lists of risks and ask their employees to agree they are fit for travel.

Real-world insights: Johnson Matthey’s TRM journey

Healix then facilitated an interview with Johnson Matthey, who shared their journey in driving forward their own TRM programme, their global mobility standard how they utilise clear risk threshold for travel approvals.

The wider discussion also emphasised the importance of proportionality and practicality in TRM, leveraging tools such as independent assessments to help with gap analysis and to drive continuous improvement.

Key themes discussed

Participants were highly engaged throughout the session, contributing to a rich and candid discussion. Several key themes emerged:

• Internal communication is critical
  Effective TRM adoption hinges on strong internal communications. The power of face-to-face briefings, and clear messaging around the benefits of travel apps and training were highlighted as success factors.
• Overcoming complacency and resistance
  Many organisations face challenges with employees bypassing TRM processes or underestimating their importance. Strategies such as linking compliance to expense reimbursement or travel approvals were discussed as potential solutions.
• Grey areas in Duty of Care:
  The group explored complex scenarios to manage, such as “bleisure” travel, employees working abroad but in a personal capacity, and the challenges of managing employees who are nationals of and working in high-risk countries, who often have higher risk appetites. These discussions underscored the need for clear policies and consistent application of duty of care principles.
• Resource constraints and organisational buy-in
  A recurring concern was the limited size of risk teams relative to organisational needs. While many companies express a commitment to employee safety, participants agreed that sentiment must be backed by robust policies, processes, and accountability.

Looking ahead

The roundtable concluded with a shared recognition that travel risk management is not about restricting travel, but enabling it safely and responsibly. As global mobility continues to evolve, organisations must remain agile, informed, and proactive in their approach to TRM.

Healix International, GSA and Johnson Matthey extend their thanks to all participants for their valuable contributions and look forward to continuing the conversation in future forums.

If you would like to join our next roundtable, please email enquiries@healix.com to be added to our list.