Australia's foremost natural hazards researchers, emergency management professionals and industry leaders are gathering in Adelaide this week for the Natural Hazards Research Forum 2025 (18-20 June), with a spotlight expert panel examining the devastating impacts and recovery lessons from Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
The forum's closing panel on Friday 20 June will bring together four leading experts to discuss how Australia can build stronger, more resilient communities following the March 2025 cyclone that caused widespread damage across Queensland and New South Wales, affecting thousands of residents and businesses.
Panellist Dr David Henderson from James Cook University and Natural Hazards Research Australia, emphasises the critical importance of translating local disaster experiences into national resilience strategies.
“Tropical Cyclone Alfred highlighted vulnerabilities in our infrastructure, communications networks, and emergency response systems that we simply cannot ignore,” David said. “This panel will examine how we can take the hard-learned lessons from affected Queensland and New South Wales communities and apply them to strengthen resilience across Australia.”
Moderated by Natural Hazards Research Australia's Science and Innovation Director, Prof Cheryl Desha, the expert panel features:
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Liz Drumm (Local Government Association of Queensland) – Local government perspectives and community resilience
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Dr David Henderson (James Cook University and Natural Hazards Research Australia) – Research insights and hazard science
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Jai O'Toole (Australian Red Cross) – Community response and recovery coordination
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Glen Dolan (Energex, Energy Queensland Group) – Energy infrastructure resilience and restoration
Three key themes will anchor the discussion: building energy resilience to withstand extreme weather events, strengthening communications systems for emergency response, and developing more resilient infrastructure that can better protect communities during major disasters.
The wind damage caused by Cyclone Alfred resulted in widespread structural impacts, including fallen tree branches, blocked roads, and uprooted trees throughout the Gold Coast and Tweed regions, underscoring the urgent need for infrastructure that can withstand increasingly severe weather events.
Energy networks bore the brunt of Alfred's impact, with thousands of customers losing power for extended periods,” Natural Hazards Research Australia CEO, Andrew Gissing said. “In the panel, a network provider will provide perspective on how we can build back better – not just repairing what was damaged but creating systems that are fundamentally more resilient to future extreme weather events.”
The Local Government Association of Queensland's Liz Drumm will share insights on how councils can better prepare their communities, drawing from the experiences of affected local governments during Alfred's impact and recovery phase.
“Local governments are on the front line when disasters strike. The lessons from Tropical Cyclone Alfred show us where our emergency management systems worked well and where critical gaps remain,” Andrew said. “This forum provides an essential opportunity to share these insights with colleagues across Australia.”
Jai O'Toole from the Australian Red Cross will focus on community response coordination and the vital role of clear, timely communications during emergency events.
The Natural Hazards Research Forum 2025 represents Australia's most significant annual gathering of natural hazards researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. This year's forum is bringing together over 300 delegates from across Australia and internationally, reinforcing Natural Hazards Research Australia's position as the nation's leading research organisation for natural hazards science and its practical application.
Andrew Gissing highlights the forum's role in translating research into real-world outcomes.
“Natural hazards and the resulting emergencies like Tropical Cyclone Alfred remind us why our research matters. This forum is connecting the latest science with the practitioners who protect our communities every day,” Andrew said.
The Tropical Cyclone Alfred panel session will take place on Friday 20 June at 2:30 pm at the National Wine Centre as part of the forum's final day program.