Direct Relief International President and CEO Thomas Tighe spoke on a panel today in Geneva, Switzerland to an international audience of security experts, diplomats, and private industry at the inaugural Geneva Security Forum (GSF) hosted by the Canton of Geneva, Palexpo, and WISekey.

Tighe's panel, entitled "Crisis management and post-conflict reconstruction and investment: the challenges and opportunities," addressed the difficulties that organizations face in the most remote and inaccessible parts of the world, and what role information technology and investors can do play in building a lasting peace.

Other topics to be addressed at GSF, which began today and continues through tomorrow, include cyber security, cryptology, infrastructure security, and the interconnectedness of 21st century threats.

The GSF aims to bring together leaders from business, politics, and academia that are at the forefront of thinking on security with the aim of producing concrete recommendations, developing new innovative strategies for managing security threats and sharing knowledge on best practices in coping with risk. More information on the forum is available at its Web site, http://www.genevasecurityforum.org.

About Direct Relief International
Founded in 1948, Direct Relief International is a Santa Barbara, California-based nonprofit organization focused on improving the quality of life by bringing critically needed medicines and supplies to local healthcare providers worldwide. In 2006, Direct Relief provided over $200 million in direct aid through medical material assistance and targeted cash grants to more than 300 healthcare facilities and organizations in 56 countries, providing 23.8 million courses of treatment. Direct Relief is one of two charities ranked by Forbes that has received a perfect fundraising efficiency score for five consecutive years.

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