The year’s end is rapidly approaching and as a still relatively new CEO of the Centre it is timely to look back on what’s been achieved and point forward to where we are going.
I want to firstly acknowledge that for many communities and families around the country, this time is a busy one dealing with the enormous impacts of flooding and the added prospects of storms and bushfires.
The recent floods and forecast for more severe weather over the summer reinforce the continued need for research to help us prepare for and face this future and highlights the value of Natural Hazards Research Australia’s mission to lead and deliver usable research and knowledge that creates safer and more resilient communities.
2022 has been a big year for the Centre in establishing our ongoing research program. We have more than 35 projects in progress, with researchers currently out and about testing floodwater for contamination, talking to flood-affected communities, supporting community-led recovery programs, working with schools on fire safety education, connecting Indigenous communities with the sector, and more.
We are continuously in the process of engaging researchers with our upcoming projects to contribute to an increasing and improved evidence base to support our partners in their decision-making. In so doing, our knowledge network is rapidly expanding, with more projects beginning and new sector partners joining us to develop a coordinated national research effort in natural hazards.
Part of this effort is seen in the sharing of knowledge, which we saw at our inaugural Natural Hazards Research Forum in October. The Forum brought together a diverse group of more than 300 people from over 120 organisations including research, government, industry and community to contribute to the current state and future of natural hazards research in Australia – what it is, what’s being done, how it can be used and what should be done in future. We also partnered with many other industry events—including Fire & Climate, AFAC22, the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, and more—tying into our focus of working with our partners to translate knowledge into something that is useful and used.
This is our key vision for 2023.
With the new year comes significant changes across the Board. This past week we welcomed our new Chair, Iain MacKenzie who has stepped up to replace Dr Katherine Woodthorpe. We thank Katherine for her contributions across her three-year term, most notably for leading the successful transition of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC to the Centre as it is today.
We have also recently established our International Research Advisory Panel to help guide the Centre into the future, providing an invaluable international perspective on research trends, collaboration opportunities, and professional and research development opportunities. It is important that as Australia’s national research centre for natural hazards, we are collaborating across the globe to ensure valuable knowledge flow to inform decision-making.
For 2023, we are embracing our role to identify the knowledge gaps and develop the research needed to better deal with natural hazards into the future. The challenge is large but together we can come up with the BIG ideas to build future capabilities and inspire major policy shifts. This will require significant contributions of ideas and issues from you as a partner in the Centre that will build on the outcomes of our Natural Hazards Research Forum.
Thank you for being part of Natural Hazards Research Australia this year. I have thoroughly enjoyed these first few months as CEO. We are looking forward to seeing what we can continue to do together in the next.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year.