Australia’s leading natural hazards researchers gather to showcase groundbreaking science that will revolutionise how the nation prepares for and responds to escalating disaster risks
ADELAIDE – Australia's most significant natural hazards research gathering returns to Adelaide next week, bringing together transformative research that promises to fundamentally change how Australia faces increasingly severe and frequent natural hazards.
The Natural Hazards Research Forum 2025, 18-20 June at Adelaide's National Wine Centre, showcases cutting-edge science and bold new approaches that position Australia as a global leader in disaster preparedness and community resilience.
Natural Hazards Research Australia CEO, Andrew Gissing says the forum represents a pivotal moment for Australian disaster science, with researchers presenting breakthrough findings that will shape the next generation of natural hazards response.
“We're not just talking about being ready for disasters – we're talking about being ahead of ready,” Andrew said. “This year’s forum showcases research that will transform how Australia meets the risks of natural hazards well into the future.”
The three-day program features national and international experts including National Emergency Management Agency Coordinator-General Brendan Moon, conservation biologist and 2024 Young South Australian of the Year Tiahni Adamson, and researchers from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University and New Zealand's Natural Hazards Research Platform.
Key research themes include revolutionary risk assessment through advanced modelling techniques, community-centred resilience that incorporates Indigenous wisdom, infrastructure innovation using smart technologies and nature-based solutions, and multi-hazard thinking for compound disasters such as bushfire followed by flash flooding.
“This year's forum brings together the full spectrum of natural hazards research – from bushfire behaviour and flood modelling to community resilience and infrastructure protection,” Andrew explained. “We're seeing research that doesn't just respond to natural hazards but prevent them from becoming disasters.”
This year’s event will launch the refreshed Australian Disaster Resilience Index, providing a snapshot of Australian communities’ capacity for disaster resilience and ends with an expert panel discussion around the lessons towns and cities around Australia can learn from March’s Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
The forum builds on Natural Hazards Research Australia’s comprehensive Be Ahead of Ready report, which draws on the best thinking from across Australia to outline transformative research and actions required to prepare for future natural hazard challenges.
“What sets this forum apart is its commitment to research that creates real-world impact,” Andrew said. “Every collaboration formed here has the potential to save lives and protect communities as Australia faces more intense bushfire seasons and extreme weather events.”
Natural Hazards Research Australia has established itself as the nation's premier destination for natural hazards research, coordinating efforts across universities, government agencies, and emergency services. The forum represents a launchpad for the next generation of disaster preparedness tools and thinking that will protect Australian communities for decades to come.
Media enquiries: Joanna Wood - Natural Hazards Research Australia Phone: 0430 633 234, joanna.wood@naturalhazards.com.au
Media availability: CEO Andrew Gissing is available for interviews during the forum period. Additional expert researchers and forum participants can be arranged for specialist topic interviews.
High-resolution images and b-roll footage available on request.
About Natural Hazards Research Australia: Natural Hazards Research Australia is the nation's leading natural hazards research organisation, coordinating collaborative research efforts to build safer, more resilient communities. Through partnerships with universities, government agencies, and emergency services, the organisation develops evidence-based solutions to Australia's most pressing natural hazard challenges.
About the Natural Hazards Research Forum 2025: The Natural Hazards Research Forum is Australia's premier annual conference bringing together researchers, emergency management professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders to share the latest science, innovations, and best practices in natural hazards research and emergency management. The 2025 forum takes place 18-20 June at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
Natural Hazards Research Forum 2025 18-20 June 2025 National Wine Centre, Adelaide www.naturalhazards.com.au/nhrf25