Conference Program - AFAC24

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Welcome

5 mins

Opening Address

20 mins

Keynote

45 mins

Keynote

40 mins

Morning Tea

35 mins

Topic 1: Who, what, when, where and why?

25 mins
- Innovation Stream
They don't get it': Identifying enablers and barriers to stronger collaborations between disaster practitioners and researchers

25 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC
Dr Kate Brady, Senior Research Fellow / Technical Adviser, UNSW / Red Cross - Senior Research Fellow / Technical Adviser, UNSW / Red Cross
Valuing and including diversity to build capability

25 mins
- Stream 2: AFAC
Celeste Young, z - Victoria University

Janine Taylor, Principle Advisor - Workforce Development Unit - QFES
Blinded by smoke: occupational smoke exposure and eye irritation in Australian wildland firefighters

25 mins
- Stream 3: AFAC
Sukanya Jaiswal, PhD Candidate - UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES

Transition

5 mins

Transition

5 mins

Topic 3: Virtual reality bites

25 mins
- Innovation Stream
Advancing disability inclusive disaster risk reduction: a collaborative framework for action

25 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC
A/Prof Michelle Villeneuve, Associate Professor - University of Sydney - Centre for Disability Research and Policy
Outside the flags ' understanding mortality, behaviours and perceptions of Australian beachgoers at unpatrolled locations

25 mins
- Stream 2: AFAC
Sean Kelly, Research Assistant - Surf Life Saving Australia
TBC

25 mins
- Stream 3: AFAC

Transition

5 mins

Lunch and Exhibtion Opening

60 mins

NSW Smart Sensing Network

25 mins
- Innovation Stream
Peter Runcie, Natural Hazards and Smart Cities Theme Leader - NSW Smart Sensing Network
Enhancing Australia's drought resilience: insights from the Australian climate service hazard teams

25 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC
Dr David Hoffman, Climate Scientist - Bureau of Meterology
TBC

25 mins
- Stream 2: AFAC
Integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning into research for critical infrastructure resilience and sustainability: insights for practitioners and academics

25 mins
- Stream 3: AFAC
Cameron Atkinson, PhD Candidate - University of Tasmania

Transition

5 mins

Transition

5 mins

TBC

25 mins
- Innovation Stream
TBC

25 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC
The time has come for a National approach to 'Telling Your Story Once': unveiling re- traumatisation following the 2019-2020 bushfires

25 mins
- Stream 2: AFAC
Dr Revathi N. Krishna, Research Fellow - Monash University
Designing Training Scenarios - a case Study from NTFRS

25 mins
- Stream 3: AFAC
Rachel Leigh Taylor

Transition

5 mins

Afternoon Tea and Poster Viewing

45 mins

TBC

45 mins

Transition

5 mins

AFAC24 Welcome and Awards Ceremony

45 mins

Welcome Drinks in Exhibition

Opening Ceremony

45 mins

Keynote

45 mins

Keynote | Recalibrating Best Practice - Aboriginality and the Fitzroy Valley Flood Recovery Working Group

45 mins

Douglas D’Antoine, Recovery Executive Officer - Shire of Derby West Kimberley

Morning Tea

60 mins

NERIS and the future of fire data analytics with artificial intelligence

25 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC
Evrim Bunn, Senior Advisor - FEMA/USFA

Rebecca Harned, Senior Advisor - FEMA/USFA
Building resilience, reducing impact: Australian Red Cross responses to the challenges of climate change

25 mins
- Stream 2: AFAC
Marilee Campbell, Senior Specialist - Emergency Services Advocacy and Influence - Australian Red Cross
Bushfire planning and risk reduction behaviours of older people - preparedness and community engagement insights

25 mins
- Stream 3: AFAC
Assistant Chief Officer Alison May, Director Community Risk and Resilience - SACFS

Prof Kirsten Ross, Professor - Environmental Health - Flinders University
The Australian Fire Danger Rating System: improving the system for the future

25 mins
- Stream 4: AFAC
Meaghan Jenkins, Manager AFDRS Program - Nsw State Emergency Service
IFE Keynote

25 mins
- Stream 5: IFE Australia Conference
Jeremy Fewtrell
Creating a more resilient future: how NSW is driving systemic disaster risk reduction at State and local level with the release of the State Disaster Mitigation Plan

25 mins
- Stream 6: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Amanda Leck, Head, Adaptation, Mitigation and Reconstruction, NSW Reconstruction Authority - Head, Adaptation, Mitigation and Reconstruction, NSW Reconstruction Authority
Recipe for resilience

25 mins
- Stream 7: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Vanessa Inkster, Project Support Officer (Community Resilience) - Adelaide Hills Council

Miranda Hampton, Senior Community Resilience Offer - Adelaide Hills Council

Transition

5 mins

Inform and motivate firefighters to target and prioritise prevention and preparedness activities with data

25 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC
Gary White, Manager Community Engagement Unit - Fire And Rescue Nsw

Dr Kamarah Pooley PhD, Researcher - Fire And Rescue Nsw
Innovation and resilience borne from tragedy ' the journey for surf lifesavers since Black Summer

25 mins
- Stream 2: AFAC
Cheryl McCarthy, Emergency Management Coordinator - Surf Life Saving NSW
Piecing the puzzle together - using subsectors to optimise flood emergency management and warning strategies

25 mins
- Stream 3: AFAC
Kirra Waine, Senior Project Officer ' Planning Warnings Project - Nsw State Emergency Service
A class-y approach to assessing future bushfire risk

25 mins
- Stream 4: AFAC
Dr Naomi Benger, Climate Scientist - Bureau of Meterology
FRNSW UAV Capabilities

25 mins
- Stream 5: IFE Australia Conference
Russell Turner
TBC

25 mins
- Stream 6: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Empowering youth in rural Victoria for disaster resilience: initial findings from future proof: young people, disaster recovery and (re)building communities

25 mins
- Stream 7: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Carla Hall, Disaster Resilience Coalition Principal - Youth Affairs Council Victoria

Fiona MacDonald, Principal Research Fellow - Victoria University

Transition

5 mins

Embarking on the flight data revolution

30 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC
Grant Simpson, Director Flight - NPWS

Zane Vohland, Managing Director - Airborne Mission Systems
Beyond aeromedical: the Royal Flying Doctors Service's emergency management journey

30 mins
- Stream 2: AFAC
Daniel Byles, Organisational Resilience Lead - Royal Flying Doctor Service WA
Need for speed ' time critical in-language access to Emergency Management Victoria's disaster warning system

30 mins
- Stream 3: AFAC
Reegan Key, Manager - Operational Communications - Emergency Management Victoria

Tea Dietterich, CEO - 2M Language Services
We have a plan that helps us understand bush fire risk, how do we know if it works?

30 mins
- Stream 4: AFAC
Susannah Bilous, Supervisor Bush Fire Risk Planning - NSW Rural Fire Service
Data Applications for Emergency Response Organisations

30 mins
- Stream 5: IFE Australia Conference
Nieves Garcia
The value of resilience: lessening the risk for our community

30 mins
- Stream 6: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Melanie de Kleyn, Program Manager - Flood Resilient Homes - Ipswich City Council
TBC

30 mins
- Stream 7: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference

Lunch and Poster Viewing

60 mins

Embracing our positive duty ' creating workplaces that are free of sexual harassment

65 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC

Volunteer leaders of the future ' targeting young adult (18-30) as the solution

25 mins
- Stream 2: AFAC
Hannah Schymitzek, Manager Workforce Planning & Programs - NSW Rural Fire Service

Paul Cunningham, Senior Advisor Program Development - NSW Rural Fire Service
Succession planning in volunteer-based emergency services

25 mins
- Stream 3: AFAC
Lisa Clinch, Regional Brigade Support Officer - Country Fire Authority

Kirsten Dudink, Regional Brigade Support Officer - Country Fire Authority
Innovating for climate resilience: development and application of the HydroFire model for post-fire risk management

25 mins
- Stream 4: AFAC
Charlie Showers, Senior Risk Analyst - Post Fire Hydro-Geomorphic Risk - Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
Rail Fire Emergency & FRNSW Rail Incident Response Capabilities

25 mins
- Stream 5: IFE Australia Conference
Brett Richardson

Nick Coney, Senior Firefighter - FRNSW
Community exercises: A collaborative approach to emergency preparedness

25 mins
- Stream 6: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Sumarlinah Winoto, Communities First Project Officer - Nillumbik Shire Council
Partnerships and practice guidance - supporting the workforce to respond to the unique needs of infants and children in disasters

25 mins
- Stream 7: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Ruby Awram, Child Mental Health Advisor - Disasters and Climate, Emerging Minds National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health

Ben Rogers, Manager - Digital Health - Emerging Minds National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health

Transition

5 mins

Youth internship program: engagement tool aiming to build sustainable pathways to Emergency Services Management careers

25 mins
- Stream 2: AFAC
Aylin Basoglu, Manager Volunteer Strategy - Nsw State Emergency Service
Embracing innovation and disruption: designing the future for our sector ' Proud Employer Programme

25 mins
- Stream 3: AFAC
Ryley Webster, Manager Volunteerism - Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Burning issues: the impacts of bushfires on flood preparedness and response

25 mins
- Stream 4: AFAC
Ailsa Schofield, External Agency Liaison, NSW State Emergency Service - External Agency Liaison, NSW State Emergency Service
Rail Tunnel Fire Safety - Operational & Incident Response Considerations

25 mins
- Stream 5: IFE Australia Conference
Craig Hiscock
The Coffs CALD Emergency Grapevine; a community-government-NGO partnership for disaster communications in 22 languages

25 mins
- Stream 6: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Luke Barbagallo, Community Resilience & Recovery Coordinator - City of Coffs Harbour

Biba Honnet, Team Leader, North Coast Settlement Services - St Vincent de Paul

Erik Rau, Recovery & Resilience Officer - Australian Red Cross
Bushfire babies: the Australian Breastfeeding Association's bushfire project, building disaster resilience in Eurobodalla Shire and beyond

25 mins
- Stream 7: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Dr Michelle Hamrosi, Community Engagement Officer, Community Protection for Infants and Young Children in Bushfire Emergencies Project - Australian Breastfeeding Association

Kate Turtiainen, Local Project Officer, Community Protection for Infants and Young Children in Bushfire Emergencies Project - Australian Breastfeeding

Afternoon Tea

45 mins

Invited speaker: Cpt Scales

25 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC
Fire tower cameras for enhanced situational awareness and remote fire detection using AI

25 mins
- Stream 2: AFAC
Ken Hall, Director Operations - ACT RFS

Paul Mahoney, Fire and Weather Analyst - ACT Rural Fire Service

Matthew Connolly, CEO - Watch Towers Networks, an ALERT Wildfire Company
Playdates with emergency services; in response to childhood trauma and challenges from the 2019/2020 bushfires

25 mins
- Stream 3: AFAC
Jacklyn Roque, Community Engagement Co-ordinator | Batemans Bay - Nsw State Emergency Service
Operational use of CSIRO Spark simulator - case studies from the NSW 2023/24 fire season

25 mins
- Stream 4: AFAC
Geoff Goldrick, Fire Behaviour Training Coordinator - NSW Rural Fire Service
Martin Place Metro Station Fire Engineering Project

25 mins
- Stream 5: IFE Australia Conference
Dr Marianne Foley, Arup Fellow - Arup
Masculinities, culture and disaster resilience: a panel discussion

55 mins
- Stream 6: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Bhiamie Williamson, Research Fellow - Fire to Flourish, Monash University

John Richardson, Manager Knowledge Development - Australian Institute For Disaster Resilience

Collin Sivalingum, State Manager Emergency Services - Australian Red Cross
Why and how we need to investigate and strengthen the resilience of lifelines

25 mins
- Stream 7: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference

Transition

5 mins

Decarbonisation of the maritime industry ' disrupting emergency response systems

25 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC
Jamie Storrie, Manager - Response Planning - Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Pretty in pink: art and aesthetic advocacy in democratising disaster science and combating climate fatigue

25 mins
- Stream 2: AFAC
Chad Ajamian, Manager - Emergency Information Coordination Unit - NSW DCS Spatial Services
A totally PAWsome partnership

25 mins
- Stream 3: AFAC
Gary White, Manager Community Engagement Unit - Fire And Rescue Nsw
Bush fire fuel re-accumulation after Black Summer - case studies from NSW 2023/24 fire season

25 mins
- Stream 4: AFAC
David Field, Supervisor Bush Fire Analysis - Nsw State Emergency Service
PFAS Blood Reduction Program

25 mins
- Stream 5: IFE Australia Conference
Mrs Krystle Mitchell, Senior Scientific And Environment Officer - South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service

Ian Deleare
Making the case for climate and disaster resilience investment

25 mins
- Stream 7: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Melinda Morris, Adaptation and Resilience Lead - Climate-KIC Australia

Keynote

45 mins

Keynote | Disruption as innovation: designing for risk in Australia

45 mins

Brendan Moon AM, Coordinator General - National Emergency Management Agency

Morning Tea and Poster Viewing

70 mins

Leading practical, constructive and disruptive actions to accelerate gender equality

25 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC
Cassie Lindsey, Program Director - Champion of Change Coalition
TBC

25 mins
- Stream 2: AFAC
The opportunity offered by an inquiry

25 mins
- Stream 3: AFAC
Catherine Dunlop, Partner/Honorary Senior Fellow University of Melbourne - Maddocks
Embracing new systems and technologies: an agile approach to flood and storm intelligence

25 mins
- Stream 4: AFAC
David Monk, Project Manager - FSISP ' Emergency Management - Nsw State Emergency Service

Stephen McRobert, Director Information Comm and Technology - Nsw State Emergency Service
Keynote

25 mins
- Stream 5: IFE Australia Conference
Hayley Burgess
Community-led recovery: what do we agree on, disagree on and how can we make it easier?

25 mins
- Stream 6: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Dr Kate Brady, Senior Research Fellow / Technical Adviser, UNSW / Red Cross - Senior Research Fellow / Technical Adviser, UNSW / Red Cross

Colin Gallagher, Senior Research Fellow - University Of Melbourne
Locally adapted and sustainable: NEMA is leading investment into nature-based and community-oriented solutions, to improve flood mitigation and resilience across Australia.

25 mins
- Stream 7: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Kelsey Gill, Assistant Director, National Programs - National Emergency Management Agency

Transition

5 mins

Fostering diversity and empowering women: CFA's Women in Leadership mentoring program

25 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC
Tracey Ruse, Program Manager Organisational Development - Country Fire Authority
Empowerment through education: addressing the challenges of keeping communities safe in a hydrogen future.

25 mins
- Stream 2: AFAC
Loren Tuck, Training and Industry Coordinator - Deakin University

Cassandra Curtis, State Training Officer - Quality Assurance & RTO Compliance - South Australian Country Fire Service
Innovative approaches to firefighter training for 2044: a leap into the future

25 mins
- Stream 3: AFAC
Alexandra McFadden, Manager Capability and Training - NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
Athena - bushfire intelligence platform

25 mins
- Stream 4: AFAC
Viki Campbell, Director of State Operations - NSW Rural Fire Service

Thomas Hart, Customer Solutions Manager - Kablamo
Changing evacuation behaviour to meet densified housing needs for our current and future population

25 mins
- Stream 5: IFE Australia Conference
Daniel Nilsson
Tomorrow Ready Project: a place-based, grass-roots initiative building resilience for spontaneous volunteers and disaster recovery

25 mins
- Stream 6: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Jenni Beetson-Mortimer, CEO - Northern Rivers Community Gateway

Fiona Batterham, Business Development Officer - Northern Rivers Community Gateway

Warren Anderson, Manager - Social and Financial Inclusion - Northern Rivers Community Gateway
Learning and systems change for innovative community funding models

55 mins
- Stream 7: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Briony Rogers, CEO - Fire to Flourish

Transition

5 mins

Cultural humility as a tool for transformative leadership in emergency management

25 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC
Melinda McDonald, Research Officer and Firefighter - Fire And Rescue Nsw
Lithium-ion batteries: warning people about the fires hiding in plain sight

25 mins
- Stream 2: AFAC
Kelley Toy, Manager Marketing - Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Craig Pollock, Marketing Advisor - Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Emergency WA Hackathon ' problems to prototypes

25 mins
- Stream 3: AFAC
Kent Acott, Director Media and Corporate Communications - Department Of Fire And Emergency Services
From tweets to tactical insights: leveraging social media for enhanced bushfire intelligence

25 mins
- Stream 4: AFAC
Ben Shepherd, Manager Media & Communications - NSW Rural Fire Service

Thomas Hart, Customer Solutions Manager - Kablamo
Disability confident

25 mins
- Stream 5: IFE Australia Conference
Mr Nick Linton, Branch Councillor - New Zealand Branch Institution of Fire Engineers
Place-based recovery for real ' lessons from the Resilient Towns Initiative

25 mins
- Stream 6: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
David Sanderson, Judith Neilson Chair - Unsw

Andrew Rae - NSW Reconstruction Authority

Lunch and Poster Viewing

60 mins

Australian Government national capability: enhancements in light of increasing consecutive, concurrent and compounding crises

25 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC
Joe Buffone, Deputy Coordinator General, Emergency Management Response - National Emergency Management Agency
A steep learning curve; applying a lessons management methodology to the Cultural Fire Program

25 mins
- Stream 2: AFAC
David Windsor, Cultural Fire Program Coordinator - Department Of Fire And Emergency Services

Peter Galvin, Bushfire Knowledge and Practice Manager - Department Of Fire And Emergency Services
Policies and pacesetters: flexibility in introducing new tools in the emergency setting

25 mins
- Stream 3: AFAC
Aaron Hughes, Geospatial Intelligence Officer - ACT Justice and Community Safety Directorate
Reducing cancer risk among bushfire fighters

25 mins
- Stream 4: AFAC
Christian Bihlmaier, Operations Manager - ACT Parks And Conservation Service

Simon Butt, Assistant Director - Business and Logistics - ACT Parks And Conservation Service
Commercial solar system emergency response guide

25 mins
- Stream 5: IFE Australia Conference
Ivor Kades
Empowering communities: the role of Anglicare's bushfire recovery program in effective rebuilding

85 mins
- Stream 6: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Joanne Murrell, Bushfire Recovery Program Manager - Anglicare NSW South NSW West and ACT
Home insurance affordability: drivers and policy solutions

85 mins
- Stream 7: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Calise Liu, Actuary - Finity Consulting

Sinead Keane, Actuary - Finity Consulting

Sharanjit Paddam, Actuary, Principal - Finity Consulting

Transition

5 mins

Responding to a cyber attack in emergency services: the first 48 hours

25 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC
Chris Moon, Chief Information Officer - Fire Rescue Victoria
Planning evacuations with Indigenous communities

25 mins
- Stream 2: AFAC
Nell Reidy, Research Fellow - National Indigenous Disaster Resilience Program
BioResponse ' a two-way communication tool during biosecurity emergencies and other hazards

25 mins
- Stream 3: AFAC
Tim Anderson, Senior Emergency Management Officer - NSW Department of Primary Industries
SOLAR-m: a mobile phone 'app' to prevent mental injury in Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters

25 mins
- Stream 4: AFAC
A/Prof Tracey Varker, Director of Research - Phoenix Australia - Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health
Building Intergrated Photo-voltaics case study - VBAB approval for contruction

25 mins
- Stream 5: IFE Australia Conference
Blaire Stratton
Placemaking as a catalyst for building resilience'using arts, culture and creative practices to co-design new social and spatial infrastructure for high-risk communities

55 mins
- Stream 6: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Nikhila Madabhushi, Research Fellow - Monash University
Resilience ratings ' practical adaptation technology delivering positive systems impact

55 mins
- Stream 7: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Crystal Fleming, Chief of Partnerships & Impact - Resilient Building Council

Kate Cotter, CEO - Resilient Building Council

Vanessa Beenders, Executive General Manager - Public Policy - Actuaries Institute of Australia

Lisa Harrison, CEO - Suncorp Insurance

Julie Batch, CEO - NRMA Insurance

Transition

5 mins

Examination of the T'rkiye earthquake urban search and rescue response

25 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC
Tim Hassiotis, Superintendent NDH - Fire And Rescue Nsw
Supporting Nitjpurru community with emergency accommodation shelters ' NT Government and NSW RFS working together

25 mins
- Stream 2: AFAC
Heath Stimson, Area Commander North Western - NSW Rural Fire Service
Integrating a UAV safety management system: a step towards future-ready emergency services

25 mins
- Stream 3: AFAC
James Bassam
TBC

25 mins
- Stream 4: AFAC
Using Digital Twins to Engineer Fire Stopping Solutions

25 mins
- Stream 5: IFE Australia Conference
Akshat Malhotra

Transition

10 mins

Closing Panel | Lived experience

55 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC
TBC

30 mins
- Stream 5: IFE Australia Conference
Future proofing Australia's resilience

30 mins
- Stream 6: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Duncan Sheppard, Senior Advisor Resilience - Insurance Council of Australia
100 years of community resilience in Australia: lessons from Australian Red Cross

55 mins
- Stream 7: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Andrew Coghlan, Head of Emergency Services Strategy, Policy & Research - Australian Red Cross

TBC

25 mins
- Stream 5: IFE Australia Conference
Driving systemic change in land use planning policy - the Queensland Resilience Policy Maturity Framework for Land Use Planning (GEOGRAPHIC)

25 mins
- Stream 6: Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
Stephen Dredge, Director - Meridian Urban

Michelle Cottrell, Executive Director - Regional and Spatial Planning - QLD Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works

Transition

5 mins

Closing Ceremony

30 mins
- Stream 1: AFAC

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