How do we measure success?

The first AFAC conference was held in Perth 22 years ago, and I can remember presenting at an AFAC conference in New Zealand back in the early days. That conference was very much a small event, boutique almost. It had the feel of a country town; comfortable, we all knew each other. While I haven't seen firsthand the evolution of these events over time, the 2015 Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC & AFAC conference reflected the transformation and maturity of the disaster management sector.

It was a complex program in Adelaide this year, with over 100 presentations, personal development programs, field trips and over 130 trade exhibits.

Effective emergency management requires the integration and harmonisation of a diverse and multidisciplinary skill set. This year's conference showcased Australia’s research in areas such as social sciences, earth sciences, economics, remote sensing, information management and communications. Ultimately, by linking practitioners, the research sector, industry and policy makers, we build a more knowledgeable, capable and dynamic disaster management sector that is able to respond to the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities.

If a measure of success is reaching deep, communicating widely and building linkages, then this years conference has indeed delivered a successful and valuable event. Maintaining relevance in such a dynamic and fast developing sector will necessitate an evolving program working at the cutting edge of opportunity…..much like the theme this year, New directions in emergency management.

I have recently joined the staff of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC in the role of Research Utilisation Manager. Read more about this, as well as another new staff member, Loriana Bethune, here.