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Australian Disaster Resilience Conference 2024

Conference program

Date

4-5 September 2024

Maintaining momentum: driving systemic change to create a more resilient future

We have entered the new normal, but we are not unprepared. The 2023 Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction revealed we have much to be proud of. A shift in mindset is underway.

The Australian Disaster Resilience Conference returns in 2024 with the latest ideas and innovations in disaster resilience and risk reduction on 4-5 September 2024.

The conference features a program with two streams, offering a comprehensive conference experience that delegates can tailor according to their interests.

The Australian Disaster Resilience Conference will showcase and celebrate the exceptional work taking place across our country and explore the systemic disaster risk mindset that will enable us to create a more resilient future.

The Australian Disaster Resilience Conference is sponsored by

About the conference

Key information for 2024

Speaker profiles

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PDF Program

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Program by day

Australian Disaster Resilience Conference | Day 1

Wednesday 4 September

8.30am	Opening Ceremony
9.15am	KEYNOTE: Dr Lori Moore-Merrell - US Fire Administration
10.00am	KEYNOTE: Douglas D’Antoine, Recovery Executive Officer - Shire of Derby West Kimberley
10.45am	Morning tea and poster session
	POLICY TO PRACTICE	SUPPORTING, PARTNERING AND EMPOWERING
11.55am	State Disaster Mitigation Plan - Driving systemic disaster risk reduction in NSW Amanda Leck (NSW Reconstruction Authority)	Recipe for resilience Vanessa Inkster, Miranda Hampton, Pia Charlton and Sophie Millsteed (Adelaide Hills Council)
12.25pm	PANEL Lessons in collaboration Georgia Whitbread (IAG), Liz Connell (South Australia State Emergency Services) and Lara Beattie (Australian Red Cross)	Empowering youth in rural Victoria for disaster resilience: initial findings from future proof: young people, disaster recovery and (re)building communities Carla Hall (Youth Affairs Council Victoria) and Fiona MacDonald (Victoria University)
12.55pm	The value of resilience: lessening the risk for our community Melanie de Kleyn (Ipswich City Council)	Tackling Australia’s silent killer: from hot policy to cool hubs Beck Dawson (Resilient Sydney) and Jon Swain (City of Sydney)
1.20pm	Lunch and poster session
	LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION	INFANTS AND CHILDREN
2.35pm	Community exercises: A collaborative approach to emergency preparedness Sumarlinah Winoto (Nillumbik Shire Council)	Partnerships and practice guidance - supporting the workforce to respond to the unique needs of infants and children in disasters Ruby Awram and Ben Rogers (Emerging Minds National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health)
3.05pm	The Coffs Coast multi-lingual emergency warnings network: a community-government-NGO partnership for disaster communications in 22 languages Luke Barbagallo (City of Coffs Harbour), Biba Honnet (St Vincent de Paul) and Erik Rau (City of Coffs Harbour)	Bushfire babies: the Australian Breastfeeding Association's bushfire project, building disaster resilience in Eurobodalla Shire and beyond Dr Michelle Hamrosi and Kate Turtiainen (Australian Breastfeeding Association)
3.30pm	Afternoon tea
	MASCULINITIES, CULTURE AND DISASTERS	SYSTEMS, COLLABORATION AND INVESTMENT
4.25pm	PANEL Masculinities, culture and disaster resilience: a panel discussion Moderator: Dr Emma McNicol (Monash University) Bhiamie Williamson (Monash University), John Richardson (Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience), Steve O'Malley (Gender and Disaster Australia), Collin Sivalingum (Australian Red Cross) and Antony Ruru (Fire and Emergency New Zealand)	Why and how we need to investigate and strengthen the resilience of lifelines Lauren Rickards (La Trobe University)
4.55pm		PRE-RECORDED SESSION Making the case for climate and disaster resilience investment Melinda Morris (Climate-KIC Australia)
5.25pm	Networking Function

Australian Disaster Resilience Conference | Day 2

Thursday 5 September

*Program subject to change

8.30am	KEYNOTE: Dr Catriona Wallace - Responsible Metaverse Alliance
9.15am	KEYNOTE: Brendan Moon - National Emergency Management Agency
10.00am	Morning tea and poster session
	COMMUNITY-LED AND PLACE-BASED	INNOVATIVE THINKING
11.20am	Community-led recovery: what do we agree on, disagree on and how can we make it easier? Kate Brady (University of New South Wales/Australian Red Cross/University of Melbourne) and Colin Gallagher (University of Melbourne)	Disaster resilience is built for the community by the community Anne Crestani (Resilient Villages Project), Karen Cody and Catherine MacNamara (ABCD Inc.)
11.50am	Tomorrow Ready Project: a place-based, grass-roots initiative building resilience for spontaneous volunteers and disaster recovery Jenni Beetson-Mortimer and Fiona Batterham (Northern Rivers Community Gateway)	PANEL Learning and systems change for innovative community funding models Briony Rogers, Lindsey Goodman, Kizzy Nye (Fire to Flourish), John Walters (Cobargo Community Development Corporation) and Sam Henderson (Northern Rivers Community Foundation)
12.20pm	Place-based recovery for real – lessons from the Resilient Towns Initiative David Sanderson (University of New South Wales), Andrew Rae (NSW Reconstruction Authority) and Joanne Murrell (Anglicare)
12.45pm	Lunch
	CREATIVE PRACTICES	HOUSEHOLD RESILIENCE
1.55pm	Empowering communities: the role of Anglicare's bushfire recovery program in effective rebuilding Joanne Murrell, Liam McManus and Von Hutcheson (Anglicare)	Home insurance affordability: drivers and policy solutions Calise Liu, Sinead Keane and Saroop Philip (Finity Consulting)
2.25pm	PANEL Placemaking as a catalyst for building resilience—using arts, culture and creative practices to co-design new social and spatial infrastructure for high-risk communities Nikhila Madabhushi, Professor Mel Dodd, Roxanne Smith, Cara MacLeod and Pamela Denise (Monash University)	PANEL Resilience ratings – practical adaptation technology delivering positive systems impact *Moderator*: Sharanjit Paddam (Finity Consulting), Kate Cotter (Resilient Building Council), Alix Pearce (Insurance Council of Australia), Vanessa Beenders (Actuaries Institute of Australia), Jennifer Cobley (NRMA Insurance) and Jessica Forrest (NAB).
3.30pm	AFAC24 Closing Panel: Lived experience: reflecting and celebrating
	PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE	LEARNING FROM PAST AND PRESENT
3.30pm	Future proofing Australia's resilience Duncan Sheppard (Insurance Council of Australia)	110 years of community resilience in Australia: lessons from Australian Red Cross Andrew Coghlan, Bridget Tehan and Antonia Mackay (Australian Red Cross), John Richardson (Australian Institute of Disaster Resilience) and Dr Kate Brady (UNSW and Australian Red Cross)
4.00pm	Driving systemic change in land use planning policy - the Queensland Resilience Policy Maturity Framework for Land Use Planning Stephen Dredge (Meridan Urban) and Anna Nottingham (QLD Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works)
4.30pm	Closing Ceremony

Event Partner

AFAC24 powered by INTERSCHUTZ

AIDR Funding Partner

National Emergency Management Agency

Industry Partner Sponsor

IAG Limited

Knowledge Stream Sponsor

Fire to Flourish

Supporting Partner Sponsor

NSW Reconstruction Authority

Conference Delegate Lanyard Sponsor

WeatherZone