The research poster display was a highlight of the AFAC16 Research Forum
How can we influence communities to develop and implement practices that will make them more resilient to natural hazards? This is one of the questions that will be asked at the Research Forum of AFAC17 powered by INTERSCHUTZ in Sydney this September.
Research Forum keynote speaker Professor Shane Cronin will share his work with The Resilience to Nature’s Challenges, National Science Challenge, NZ. The organisation conducts research into innovation in building and lifelines engineering, planning and regulation, emergency management practice, as well as understanding how natural hazard systems work and how to monitor them.
Plenty of great research and insights will be shared throughout the conference which takes place at the International Convention Centre, Sydney from Monday 4 to Thursday 7 September.
The Research Forum will open the conference with a range of CRC and natural hazards research to be showcased, including: bushfire and smoke modelling, communication, mental health and wellbeing, flood and wind, capability, communities, policy, predictive services and more.
Taking an all hazards approach Prof Cronin will give the closing keynote, outlining his approach to resilience in the New Zealand context.
“In the ‘Resilience Challenge’ we address New Zealand’s natural hazards. Alongside severe metrological threats, New Zealand also faces one of the highest levels of earthquake and volcanic hazard in the world, Prof Conin explains.
The Research Forum is not just for scientists, it’s an excellent opportunity for anyone involved in emergency management to learn about the latest research developments that will benefit Australian communities, says CRC CEO Dr Richard Thornton.
More broadly the conference will explore ‘Collaborating for Success – Improving performance in emergency management’ with multiple streams across three days.
In addition to Prof Cronin, keynote speakers include:
Research Forum
Prof Ed Galea, University of Greenwich UK – on engineering safety, security and efficiency through fire and evacuation simulation
Ann Bostrom, University of Washington, USA – on research utilisation and innovation
AFAC conference
Bart van Leeuwen, Data expert and firefighter, NL – on smart data for smarter firefighters
Graeme Head, NSW Public Service Commissioner – on collaborating for success
Kristen Hilton, Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission – on strengthening organisations
Paul Baxter, Commissioner Fire & Rescue NSW – on Male Champions of Change initiative
Stuart Ellis, CEO AFAC – on becoming a profession
Steve Vamos, non-executive Director Telstra – on creating and enabling innovation.
CRC researchers and students have been advised directly about registrations, while staff and volunteers of fire and emergency service agencies should contact their agency to find out about internal selection processes for conference attendance.