While the definitions of ‘Resilience’ can be debated at length, it is possible that more consensus is possible when discussing common characteristics.  Over the last couple of years I have interacted a lot with the National Infrastructure Unit in New Zealand on this subject, whom have identified the following attributes of resilience:

Service Delivery
– Focus on national, business and community needs in the immediate and longer term

Adaptation
– National infrastructure has capacity to withstand disruption, absorb disturbance, act effectively in a crisis, and recognises changing conditions over time

Community Preparedness
– Infrastructure providers and users understand the infrastructure outage risks they face and take steps to mitigate these. Aspects of timing, duration, regularity, intensity, and impact tolerance differ over time and between communities

Responsibility
– Individual and collaborative responsibilities are clear between owners, operators, users, policy-makers and regulators. Responsibility gaps are addressed

Interdependencies
– A systems approach applies to identification and management of risk (including consideration of interdependencies, supply chain and weakest link vulnerabilities)

Financial Strength
– Financial capacity to deal with investment, significant disruption and changing circumstances

Continuous
– On-going resilience activities provide assurance and draws attention to emerging issues, recognising that infrastructure resilience will always be a work in progress

Organisational Performance
– Leadership and culture are conducive to resilience, including: Leadership & Culture, Networks and Change Ready. Future skills requirements are being addressed