The Early- and Mid-Career Academic and Practitioner (EMCAP) Network supports the next generation of natural hazards leaders and fosters excellence in hazard science and management, ensuring collaboration with partners and the community to create a safer and more resilient Australia.
The Network's Executive Committee oversees professional development and networking opportunities, building a strong community of people committed to disaster risk reduction and resilience.
As the EMCAP Network is established, let's get to know the other four of the nine members of the Executive Committee and learn about their backgrounds and reasons for joining the network.
Dr Deb Parkin, Inspector-General for Emergency Management Victoria, Co-Deputy Chair
Dr Deb Parkin has over 25 years in emergency management at national and state levels leading multi-million-dollar programs of works initiated in response to some of Victoria’s major emergency events, including Black Saturday. Programs have focused on community recovery, building the capability and capacity of Victoria’s emergency management sector. In addition to her PhD, Deb’s qualifications include a Master of Leadership and Management (Policing), a Master of Business Administration, a Graduate Diploma in Emergency Management and an Advanced Diploma in Firefighting (Management). Research areas include examination of public value outcomes of projects initiated in response to major emergencies; emergency fire service volunteer workloads, capability and capacity; investigation of the challenges for volunteer-based emergency service agencies and organisations; and the history and motivators of terrorism which included specialist training in understanding the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats.
Why did you join the EMCAP Network?
My commitment to emergency management as a practitioner researcher is unwavering. I’m deeply passionate about fostering connections between academics and sector professionals, a commitment I believe is vital for achieving direct and tangible outcomes in Australia’s emergency management arrangements. I’m dedicated to establishing a research agenda that effectively contributes to improved community safety before, during and after emergencies
Dr Thomas Johnson, The University of Newcastle, Co-Deputy Chair
Dr Thomas Johnson is a lecturer at the University of Newcastle in construction management and disaster resilience. Tom's research examines the root causes of vulnerability with a focus on the effects of human displacement on disaster vulnerability. He has experience with embedded research and has worked alongside local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to improve research outcomes. His PhD focused on NGOs operating in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh and assessing their impact on disaster vulnerability. Tom holds a PhD (disaster management), a Bachelor of Construction Management (Hons) and a Master of Disaster Preparedness and Reconstruction.
Why did you join the EMCAP Network?
I joined EMCAP because it's a unique opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of professionals who are all dedicated to advancing the field of natural hazards and disaster risk reduction. Through my work with NGOs, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of connecting research with practical application, and I believe EMCAP is the right platform to continue building those bridges. For me, EMCAP is about fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and supporting a network that’s focused on making a meaningful impact in how we approach natural hazards.
Dr Kirstin Kreyscher, Deakin University
Kirstin Kreyscher currently works as a sessional and casual academic with both Deakin University and La Trobe University on projects pertaining to the climate change adaptation and disaster space. Her research interests focus on the disaster-conflict nexus and the challenges and opportunities this interface provides for young people with a specific focus on Asia. Kirstin is particularly interested in young people’s risk perceptions in relation to their agency and actions within the climate change and sustainability realm. Kirstin has experience in employing emerging methodologies in arts-based digital and visual crafts and storytelling that harness new ways of working with knowledge.
Why did you join the EMCAP Network?
Joining the network is an incredible opportunity to bring together different groups with different interests collaborating and working on pressing issues, which is a tough undertaking that needs our views and skills to stay informed and prepared. Risk and hazard management is a dynamic space and collaborative environments like the EMCAP network are crucial to provide a platform for sustaining knowledge bridges with practitioners and stakeholders. For me, this space holds great potential to further strengthen research-practitioner relationships and find new ways of collaboration that ultimately ensure communities are properly integrated in hazard planning. I am here because of all these reasons and because research in the hazard and disaster space is what I am passionate about.
Suki Jaiswal, The University of New South Wales
Suki Jaiswal is an Australian registered optometrist and researcher with focus on the impact of bushfire smoke on the eye surface. After clinical practice for 10 years, she was inspired to pursue research after the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires which increased eye problems in her patients. She has spent the last four years investigating the impact of short- and long-term smoke exposure on the eye surface. She works closely with Australian emergency services agencies to understand how occupational smoke exposure can affect the vision, eye health and comfort of wildland firefighters. Suki is passionate about evidence-based eyecare and educating both the general public and firefighters on the risk bushfire smoke poses to eye health and methods to protect against any smoke-induced damage.
Why did you join the EMCAP Network?
The collaboration of industry and researchers in EMCAP appeals to me as I have discovered through my research the benefits of working together to achieve common goals. The strong support of Natural Hazards Research Australia means that the EMCAP Network has a high chance of bringing about change and new opportunities for the growth of early and mid-career researchers. As a health professional, I hope to bring to the EMCAP Network a unique perspective and experience to increase resilience and enhance the capability of the community and the emergency management workforce when faced with natural hazards.
Are you interested in joining the EMCAP Network? Register your interest here and stay tuned for more information.