@article {bnh-8339, title = {Leading through crisis: the leadership experience of Major General Alan Stretton}, journal = {Australian Journal of Emergency Management}, volume = {37}, year = {2022}, month = {04/2022}, pages = {78-80}, abstract = {

Catastrophes present leaders with complex and significant challenges that they have not previously experienced nor have had time to deeply analyse. Leaders must collaborate and demonstrate agility. To develop such leadership skills, it is useful to reflect on the experiences of people who have faced catastrophe before. This paper examines the leadership of Major General Alan Stretton AO, CBE in the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Alan Stretton{\textquoteright}s personal accounts and archival interviews with other leaders were reviewed as source material. These showed that he demonstrated decisiveness and courage and {\textquoteleft}over-responded{\textquoteright} if necessary. He worked collaboratively with community leaders and acted in a confident, empathetic and reassuring manner. He led with agility and with a focus on an overarching plan. He prioritised communication with the community and negotiated political challenges. Lessons from this experience can help to guide leaders who may be called on to lead during times of future disaster events.

}, keywords = {catastrophe, collaboration, community, disaster, leaders}, doi = {http://www.doi.org/10.47389/37.2.74}, url = {https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/media/9299/ajem-19-2022-02.pdf}, author = {Andrew Gissing} } @article {bnh-6629, title = {Shaping future catastrophic disasters}, number = {537}, year = {2018}, month = {08/2018}, institution = {Bushfire \& Natural Hazards CRC}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

This study explores the influence of political, economic, environmental, social and technological factors on our changing riskscape and how these factors might influence the ability of communities to respond and recover from future catastrophic disasters. These factors are explored through a review of relevant literature and short interviews with emergency management leaders.

While there is wide uncertainty regarding future conditions that may shape disaster events, special consideration should be given to the increased risks posed by urban development in at-risk areas; the impact of climate change on the extreme weather events; system inter-connectedness and contagion risks; cyber-security; societal reliance on new technologies, and ageing infrastructure.

There are, however, opportunities to positively influence future risk profiles through the adoption of improved building codes and risk-informed land-use planning; urban renewal to enhance the resilience of existing development; climate change adaptation, especially in respect to the consequences of increased air temperatures and sea-level rise; by incorporating resilience considerations into infrastructure design; and the adoption of technological advances to better understand and manage risk.

}, keywords = {catastrophe, disaster, future}, issn = {537}, author = {Andrew Gissing and Michael Eburn and John McAneney} }