The coronavirus crisis may require companies to tap expertise in business continuity planning and communications as well as advice around accessing government stimulus programs, First Light Consulting says.

“It is an understatement to say we are dealing with a new world order,” Principal Advisor Chris Gray says.

“Every business is now confronted with a vastly different operating environment that is testing our organisation resolve and capacity to evolve quickly to new business models.”

The Risk Management Institute of Australasia this month completed a series of workshops providing advice to senior executives seeking to activate and coordinate business continuity planning.

Mr Gray says First Light and partner firm Complete Crisis Solutions have formed a dedicated crisis response team that completed the workshops and will be focused on helping organisations deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many organisations have activated business continuity plans but are overwhelmed by the complexity of the problems they are now facing across their operations, he says.

Areas where businesses may need advice also include workplace and occupational health and safety, branding and reputation support and accounting, legal and insurance counsel, First Light says.