RegNet Seminar: Disaster management leadership and policy making: a critical examination

Many policy makers today accept that climate change poses substantial risks to human and natural systems and that effective adaptation is essential. An important element of adaptation policy making and disaster risk management is how to best combine individual with communitarian approaches to resilience building. The difficulty for effective leadership in this effort resides in comprehending various understandings of, and approaches to, resilience and their real-life consequences for affected populations to deal with disasters induced by climate change.

Here, we conduct a comparative analysis of 89 influential disaster management leaders in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. We examine the extent to which their perspectives on resilience and vulnerability are framed by either communitarian or individual-focused notions. Our quantitative analysis of an initial questionnaire and subsequent content analysis of interview transcripts indicate three core findings.

Firstly, a tendency towards a communitarian understanding of resilience emerging from the questionnaire was replaced by a more diverse picture during the interviews, including a stronger focus on individual resilience.

Secondly, most leaders asserted it was reasonable to expect citizens to be resilient to climate change, particularly when feeling overwhelmed by their responsibility for providing protection during extreme events.

Finally, world views among leaders that encourage individual responsibility occluded systemic or reflexive thinking and action to minimise loss. Our study highlights the need for a relational leadership framework underpinned by an ethic of compassion that supports leaders pursuing and implementing policies that reduce harm and suffering in the face of disasters influenced by climate change.

About the Speaker

Mark Crossweller has 36 years of experience in crisis, national security, and emergency management, leading major strategic reform in governance, strategy, policy, operations, and capability. Between 2012-2019 Mark was responsible for briefing the Prime Minister and Cabinet on disaster management and providing strategic policy advice on climate and disaster risk reduction and resilience.

Mark is now the Founder and Director of Ethical Intelligence and Senior Advisor to KPMG advising on climate and disaster risk and leadership ethics. He is currently finalising his PhD research on the ethical premise of leading people through the adversity and loss of disasters.

COVID protocols

• As there is a maximum capacity for this venue, registration is mandatory for this event. Please register here.

• Places are offered on a first come, first served basis.

• If you do not register, it is possible you may not be accommodated should you attend on the day.

• Please do not attend this event if you feel unwell, are awaiting the results of a test or are required to self-isolate/quarantine. The ANU’s COVID Safety advice can be accessed here.

• Please check in to the event using the Check-In CBR QR or numeric code found at the door to the Hedley Bull building.

This seminar presentation is in-person only.

Time

12:30 - 13:30 AEST