Western Australia now has a Natural Hazards Research Australia presence with a new WA Node. Additionally, two new Node Research Managers join the Centre, and new office spaces in Sydney.
Node opening strengthens partnerships in Western Australia
The Western Australian Node in Perth was officially opened by Department of Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM and Natural Hazards Research Australia CEO Andrew Gissing on 1 December 2023.
“The opening of the Perth Node hosted by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services will assist the Centre to work closely to its stakeholders to progress research, which is useful, useable and used,” Andrew said.
“The Centre is appreciative of its strong relationships with Western Australian stakeholders and looks forward to the next chapter of growth.”
Photo: (DFES) Deputy Commissioner Strategy and Emergency Management Melissa Pexton, Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM, Andrew Gissing, Brendon McAtee
Welcoming two Node Research Managers
The Centre welcomes Dr Brendon McAtee and Dr Rowena Morris to the team.
Dr Brendon McAtee is Western Australia’s inaugural Node Research Manager, based in Perth. Brendon will oversee research operations in both Western Australia and South Australia.
Brendon has a background in science, innovation and collaboration and has worked in government, industry, and the not-for-profit and research sectors. Brendon has a PhD in Applied Physics with a focus on earth observation, and deep experience with the use of earth observation in natural hazard risk and resilience. Brendon works to bridge divides between science, research and application, translating the needs of users into problems that science, technology and data can be leveraged to solve.
Dr Rowena Morris is the Centre’s new Node Research Manager for NSW and ACT, based in Wollongong.
Rowena has a BScHons in Geomorphology, Graduate Diploma in Education and a Bushfire CRC PhD on managing post-fire erosion in the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia. She has been involved in many incident management teams, developing multi-agency fire management plans, frontline bushfire response, planning and conducting prescribed burns. Rowena enjoys connecting and translating between operational staff and researchers to create applied research solutions to improve policy and standard operating procedures.
New office space for NSW staff
The NSW staff had a change of scenery recently and are now co-located within the NSW RFS building at Homebush.