During the Heliview Business Continuity Management symposium that took place on the 19th of May 2009 in Zeist, The Netherlands, the BCM Academy Award for Business Continuity Manager of the year 2009 was awarded to René Cornelisse of the Dutch bank and insurance company SNS REAAL.
This year an independent board of experts selected, based on research, three nominees for the BCM Academy Award 2009 from a broad range of candidates. The three nominees stood out from the other candidates by demonstrating outstanding skills, innovatory capabilities and creativity. During the finals the nominees were presented with a fictitious company that was hit by a pandemic outbreak. They had to complete three crisis management assignments which each of them had to present to the audience. The audience could then vote by sending a text message. René Cornelisse was proclaimed winner of the BCM Academy Award 2009 and received a bronze sculpture.

René is the successor of Hans Boudestein of the Dutch Ministry of Defense, who was the winner of the BCM Academy Award in the year 2008.