Notes from the field

Australian & New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference.

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Article

The Australian & New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference was held at the QT Gold Coast from the 5-7 May 2014.

The Conference themed “EARTH; FIRE AND RAIN” was a great success with the program including 11 keynote presenters, 60 session presenters, 10 optional workshops and 21 poster presentation over the three days.

The program examined what we have learnt in the past few years and provided a comprehensive forum to address the expertise, competencies and systems relating to the preparedness for future disasters, emergencies and hazards and the ability to recover from them quickly and efficiently.

Streams covered risk and crisis management, policy and governance, social media, volunteer and community involvement, business continuity, relief and recovery. Delegates heard Keynote addresses from:

• Associate Professor Brett Aimers, Chief Professional Officer, St John Ambulance Australia
• Dr Paul Barnes, Deputy Director & Leader, Infrastructure Program, QUT Centre for Emergency & Disaster Management
• Dr Penelope Burns, Senior Lecturer, Department of General Practice, University of Western Sydney
• Mr Neil Comrie, Bushfires Royal Commission Implementation Monitor
• Mr Mark Crosweller, Director General, Emergency Management Australia
• The Honourable Lianne Dalziel, Mayor of Christchurch
• Associate Professor Dale Dominey-Howes, School of Geosciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney
• Dr John Durkin, Director, BeTr Foundation, London UK
• Dr Michael Eburn, Barrister, Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, The Australian National University
• Dr Ljubica Mamula-Seadon, Director, Seadon Consulting & Research, New Zealand
• Major General Stuart Smith, Commander 1st Division/Deployable Joint Forces Headquarters

The hosting associations would like to thank all of those who participated in this year’s conference; the speakers who provided very beneficial, powerful and thought-provoking presentations, the dedicated efforts of our sponsors and supporters, our Conference Chair Associate Professor Brett Aimers and Committee members. Without the huge efforts of those involved this event would certainly not be possible.

Image: ANZDEMC

The Honourable Lianne Dalziel, Mayor of Christchurch – Keynote address.

Image: ANZDEMC

Major General Stuart Smith, Commander 1st Division / Deployable Joint Forces Headquarters – Keynote address.

Image: ANZDEMC

Over 350 delegates attended.