Knowledge Sharing Forum: Multi-hazard public information and warning platforms

Time

10am-12pm (AEST)

Knowledge Sharing Forum

What really works when it comes to warning communities about disasters—and what doesn’t?

Join us for a two-hour global knowledge-sharing session exploring how multi-hazard public information and warnings platforms operate in practice. This forum will bring together experts to share case studies, examine community perceptions and usage, and unpack what’s working well, what isn’t, and where we go from here.

You'll hear firsthand insights into how different countries approach multi-hazard warnings, the real-world barriers and facilitators to implementation, and how these systems align with the global Early Warnings for All initiative (EW4All).

This session is part of Natural Hazards Research Australia’s project “Multi-hazard public information and warning platforms of the future.” It sets the stage for a comprehensive report due in December, which will consolidate academic and grey literature findings on how communities and agencies engage with these platforms. And we want your input if you have relevant research or reports to share!

Whether you're a practitioner, policymaker, researcher, or simply curious about disaster communication, this forum is your chance to connect, learn, and contribute.

Let’s build smarter, more effective early warning systems—together.

Speakers 

(Full bios here)

Professor Jeannette Sutton (University at Albany) 

Talking all things The Warn Room (thewarnroom.com) and US case studies on public information and warning use.

Kia Wahl (Google) and Karen O’Connor (Earth Fire Alliance) 

Sharing how Google provides timely alerts and trustworthy information from authoritative sources to help people and communities be safe and informed, and introduce the newly launched FireSat, a partnership lead by Earth Fire Alliance. 

Jochen Luther (World Meteorological Organization) 

Explaining Early Warnings for All (EW4All) and WMO case studies on public information and warnings in developing countries.

Anni Fordham CF (Department of Fire and Emergency Services) 

Advocating technology is a tool not the solution and sharing global case studies from her Winston Churchill Fellowship.

Associate Professor Paula Dootson (Queensland University of Technology) 

Sharing insights from a global systematic review of literature on multi-hazard platform use and future of public information and warnings.

Andrew Gissing (Natural Hazards Research Australia) 

Offering formal welcomes and overview of NHRA and the impactful work they are doing in Australia.

The event aligns with DRR Priority 4 in the Sendai Framework.