Since 2022, Natural Hazards Research Australia’s (the Centre) International Research Advisory Panel plays a significant role in ensuring the quality and scientific rigour of our research, outputs and impact in natural hazard management and disaster risk reduction.
The Panel ensures the Centre’s education, utilisation and training activities are filtered through a global lens while strengthening international research ties. This international collaboration enables diverse perspectives and methodologies to ensure Australian hazard research is of the highest standards while being globally applicable to increase the reach and impact of Centre research.
The Panel met in November 2024 for the second meeting for the year. Member of our community of senior researchers Prof David Bowman (University of Tasmania) presented his ground-breaking project, Leading to Impact: Bushfire risk at the rural-urban interface and its implications for considering and managing bushfire fuel located in residential gardens.
Panel members also provided briefings about disaster research partnerships in their region and opportunities for collaboration. General agreement was also expressed for Australian near-neighbour initiatives with New Zealand in supporting community resilience research and initiatives.
Panel members commended the Centre’s Be Ahead of Ready, Assisted Relocations and Nature Positive Disaster Risk Reduction discussion papers for their thought-provoking insights and practical, achievable outcomes and the conversations they sparked in members’ organisations and networks.
The panel comprises:
- Dr Amy Cardinal Christianson, Policy Advisor, Indigenous Leadership Initiative Canada
- Prof Roland De Marco, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, Fiji National University
- Dr Mark Finney, Senior Scientist and Research Forester, US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory
- A/Prof Susanna Jenkins, Principal Investigator, Earth Observatory of Singapore and Associate Professor of Hazard and Risk, Nanyang Technological University
- Prof Jessica Lamond, Dean for Research and Enterprise, College of Arts, Technology and Environment and Professor in Real Estate and Climate Risk, University of the West of England, Bristol
- Dr Sarah McCaffrey, US Department of Agriculture Forest Service
- Dr Richard Smith, Director, New Zealand’s Resilience Challenge
- Prof Thomas Wilson, Chief Science Advisor, New Zealand National Emergency Management Agency | Te Rākau Whakamarumaru (NEMA), and Professor of Disaster Risk & Resilience, University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha