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      • Defining a disaster
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      • An emerging model
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  • Home
  • Framing Disasters
    • Defining a disaster
    • Avoiding a disaster
    • A symphony of action
    • Links to Sendai
    • An emerging model
    • Governance Accountability
    • Targets & economics
    • Earth observations
    • Tools & techniques
  • Case Studies
    • Case Studies list
    • Map view
  • General Information
    • Our articles and papers
    • Our interviews
    • Related activities
    • Liaison with UN agencies
    • Going beyond the SDGs
    • Urban Disaster Risk
    • Contact us
  • News
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Our interviews

Talking with people about various aspects of avoiding disasters

Part of our work involves interviewing experts in different fields about aspects to avoiding and minimising disasters. This section contains our interviews. We intend to keep adding interviews to this section over time.

If you have any suggestions for people we could interview, please let us know.

Our interviews

An interview with Terry Gibson of Inventing Futures

An interview with Terry Gibson of Inventing Futures

An interview with Terry Gibson of Inventing Futures

In this interview held in May 2025, Terry talks about his research and about his book, Disaster Makers, which focuses on how disasters are made, and what we can do to learn lessons properly and stop them from happening...



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An interview with Wendy Saunders of the NHC

An interview with Terry Gibson of Inventing Futures

An interview with Terry Gibson of Inventing Futures

Wendy Saunders, Champion of Land Use Planning at the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake in New Zealand, talked with us in May 2025 about how we can improve urban development through better land use planning, and ways to make change happen...



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An interview with Marcos Concepcion Raba of GNDR

An interview with Terry Gibson of Inventing Futures

An interview with Nishanie Jayamaha and Natasha Westheimer, Climate Charter

In March 2025 we talked with Marcos Concepcion Raba, Executive Director of GNDR, a global network of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for disaster reduction about their work and focus areas with their member organisations across 131 countries...



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An interview with Nishanie Jayamaha and Natasha Westheimer, Climate Charter

An interview with Nishanie Jayamaha and Natasha Westheimer, Climate Charter

An interview with Nishanie Jayamaha and Natasha Westheimer, Climate Charter

In March 2025 we talked with Nishanie Jayamaha and Natasha Westheimer of Climate Charter about their work on the integration of climate change and other environmental hazards into humanitarian design planning...




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An interview with John Chettleborough of Practical Action

An interview with Nishanie Jayamaha and Natasha Westheimer, Climate Charter

An interview with John Chettleborough of Practical Action

In January 2025 we talked with John Chettleborough of Practical Action about the activities of this NGO to support regenerative agriculture, and how good agricultural practices and markets have an important role in contributing towards climate and disaster resilience...


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An interview with Jenty Kirsch-Wood about UNDRR's GAR

An interview with Nishanie Jayamaha and Natasha Westheimer, Climate Charter

An interview with John Chettleborough of Practical Action

Jenty spoke with us in October 2024 about how the UNDRR Global Assessment Report (GAR) 2024 was formed, and how it's recommendations can be operationalised by the public and private sectors and NGO teams globally, plus UNDRR's plans for the next Global Assessment Report (GAR) to be published in 2025...

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An interview with Hayley Gryc about the work of Arup

An interview with David Nash and Chris Anderson on the ZCRA

An interview with David Nash and Chris Anderson on the ZCRA

In this enlightening interview held with Hayley, an Associate Director of Arup in December 2024, we discuss the work of the Arup International Development team, including examples of their work that demonstrate capacity building with clients and partners and how to set up development initiatives for long-term sustainable outcomes...

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An interview with David Nash and Chris Anderson on the ZCRA

An interview with David Nash and Chris Anderson on the ZCRA

An interview with David Nash and Chris Anderson on the ZCRA

We were delighted to hold a discussion in December 2024 about the work and ethos of the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance with David Nash, Head of Adapting to Climate Change at the Z Zurich Foundation and Chris Anderson, a Programme Manager at one of the Alliance partners, Practical Action...


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An interview with Terry Kinyua of UNDRR's ARISE Network

An interview with David Nash and Chris Anderson on the ZCRA

An interview with Terry Kinyua of UNDRR's ARISE Network

We were delighted to find out in November 2024 about the activities and plans of the UNDRR ARISE network, and the benefits to businesses of linking their business resilience efforts to disaster resilience, in an interview with Terry Kinyua, ARISE Co-Chair + Global Board Member...

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An interview with Maddie Vann of Resiliency Co.

An interview with Maddie Vann of Resiliency Co.

An interview with Terry Kinyua of UNDRR's ARISE Network

In this discussion with Maddie Vann, Head of Strategy at The Resiliency Company in November 2024, we reviewed a range of poignant and powerful examples of how businesses are supporting disaster resilience, with a particular focus on the USA...


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An interview with Melodie Yashar of ICON

An interview with Maddie Vann of Resiliency Co.

An interview with Melodie Yashar of ICON

We caught up with Melodie Yashar of ICON in December 2024 to discuss their work using robotics for construction - to benefit planet Earth and beyond. ICON are using their technology to create resilient urban environments and to support community disaster resilience...

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Our interviews (cont.)

An interview with Anita van Breda: Disasters are not natural

An interview with Anita van Breda: Disasters are not natural

An interview with Anita van Breda: Disasters are not natural

 We discussed with Anita, a Senior Director of Environment and Disaster Management for World Wildlife Fund, in September 2024 why disasters are not natural, and how we can reduce disaster risk by working with nature...

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An interview with Kevin Blanchard about #NoNaturalDisasters

An interview with Anita van Breda: Disasters are not natural

An interview with Anita van Breda: Disasters are not natural

 We caught up with Kevin in September 2024 to discuss the #NoNaturalDisasters campaign and why, when people stop using the term “natural disasters”, it can help with reframing how we prepare for a recover from them...

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An interview with José Lopes about Cabo Verde

An interview with Anita van Breda: Disasters are not natural

An interview with Viliame Kasanawaqa about Fiji

 José spoke with us in May 2024 about the activities taking place on and for Cabo Verde to reduce disaster risk and avoid disasters, and what more can be done for this nation of ten Atlantic islands off the coast of Africa...

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An interview with Viliame Kasanawaqa about Fiji

An interview with Bethan Lewis about the work of Plan International

An interview with Viliame Kasanawaqa about Fiji

Viliame spoke with us in April 2024 about the challenges Fiji faces to reduce disaster risk, and what more can be done to avoid disasters on this nation consisting of over 800 volcanic islands and islets...


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An interview with James Ellsmoor of Island Innovation

An interview with Bethan Lewis about the work of Plan International

An interview with Bethan Lewis about the work of Plan International

This interview with James held in April 2024 discusses the disaster risks facing societies that live on small islands, how they can respond to the threats that exist, and how they can be supported with their efforts...


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An interview with Bethan Lewis about the work of Plan International

An interview with Bethan Lewis about the work of Plan International

An interview with Bethan Lewis about the work of Plan International

In May 2024 Bethan spoke with us about the work of Plan International UK (and Plan International globally), their work to advance children’s rights and equality for girls, and how children can best be supported when they are caught up in different types of disasters...

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An interview with Bernadette Sexton about RedR UK

An interview with Navneet Yadav about the work of Doers (in India)

An interview with Navneet Yadav about the work of Doers (in India)

We interviewed Bernadette in April 2024 about the work of RedR UK including their focus on providing training and technical support to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), aid workers, and community groups who respond to disasters around the world...


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An interview with Navneet Yadav about the work of Doers (in India)

An interview with Navneet Yadav about the work of Doers (in India)

An interview with Navneet Yadav about the work of Doers (in India)

Navneet sat down with us in March 2024 to discuss the work and activities of Doers in India, how to respond to challenges local communities face, and what more can be done to ensure such communities are equipped and trained to avoid disasters...


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An interview with Everbridge about business support to society

An interview with Navneet Yadav about the work of Doers (in India)

An interview with Everbridge about business support to society

 We had the pleasure of interviewing Everbridge's CEO, Dave Wagner, their CSO Tracy Reinhold and their Public Affairs Manager, Lorenzo Marchetti in March 2024, about the work of Everbridge for population alerting and communications and also the role businesses can play to support society...

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Our interviews (cont.)

An interview with Ms Mizutori about the work of UNDRR

An interview with Ruth Ryan about wildfire management in Australia

An interview with Ruth Ryan about wildfire management in Australia

Ms Mizutori, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)  spoke with us in November 2023 about the mission of UNDRR and the UNDRR Work Programme 2024-2025... 

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An interview with Ruth Ryan about wildfire management in Australia

An interview with Ruth Ryan about wildfire management in Australia

An interview with Ruth Ryan about wildfire management in Australia

Ruth spoke with us in early 2024 about the way that wildfire disasters are being avoided in Australia. We discussed how the country has learned from previous major fires and how it is moving forwards in an inclusive way...



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An interview with Rajeev Issar about avoiding disasters

An interview with Ruth Ryan about wildfire management in Australia

An interview with Guillermo Franco about insurance and disaster risk

Rajeev spoke with us in March 2024 about  about the work of UNDP in urban resilience and disaster risk, and how people across multiple organisations can work together to make the world’s cities and towns more resilient and sustainable.


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An interview with Guillermo Franco about insurance and disaster risk

An interview with Guillermo Franco about insurance and disaster risk

An interview with Guillermo Franco about insurance and disaster risk

Guillermo spoke with us in December 2023 about the role of insurance in avoiding disasters. We discussed new solutions that are being developed and how the insurance industry needs to change to equip itself for the future...


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An interview with Gordon Woo about counterfactuals

An interview with Guillermo Franco about insurance and disaster risk

An interview with Gordon Woo about counterfactuals

We caught up with Gordon in November 2023 to discuss how counterfactual thinking can help us to avoid disasters.

In this interview we discussed whether counterfactual analysis is used enough today, and opportunities to increase its usage...


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An interview with the team at ImageCat

An interview with Guillermo Franco about insurance and disaster risk

An interview with Gordon Woo about counterfactuals

We were delighted to discuss the work of Shubharoop Ghosh and Marina Mendoza ImageCat in October 2023...





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An interview with Peter Williams and Ben Ryan about cities

An interview with Peter Williams and Ben Ryan about cities

An interview with Peter Williams and Ben Ryan about cities

We spoke with Peter and Ben in September 2023 about the work of ARISE-US for cities in avoiding disasters...

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An interview with Michel Bruneau about engineering

An interview with Peter Williams and Ben Ryan about cities

An interview with Peter Williams and Ben Ryan about cities

Michel spoke with us in September 2023 about the importance of good structural engineering in avoiding disasters...

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An interview with Pete McArdle about EWB Australia

An interview with Peter Williams and Ben Ryan about cities

An interview with Pete McArdle about EWB Australia

We caught up with Pete in June 2023 about the work of Engineers Without Borders Australia and their perspectives...

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An interview with Armen Chilingaryan about Armenia

An interview with Emily Wilkinson about SIDS and avoiding disasters

An interview with Pete McArdle about EWB Australia

In this interview with Armen we discuss the details of how disaster risk management is being approached in Armenia...

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An interview with Emily Wilkinson about SIDS and avoiding disasters

An interview with Emily Wilkinson about SIDS and avoiding disasters

An interview with Emily Wilkinson about SIDS and avoiding disasters

We discussed the challenges that SIDS face with Emily Wilkinson of the ODI...


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An interview with SVRK Prabhakar about climate adaptation

An interview with Emily Wilkinson about SIDS and avoiding disasters

An interview with Emily Wilkinson about SIDS and avoiding disasters

We spoke with SVRK Prabhakar of IGES in June 2023 about climate adaptation and the linkage with disaster risks...

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Interview downloads

You can access all our interviews here (more will be added over time):

1-CCA-DRR_Interview_SVRKP_June23 (pdf)Download
2-DRR_Interview_EW-ODI_Sept23 (pdf)Download
3-DRR_Interview_MB_Sept23 (pdf)Download
4-DRR_Interview_Cities-scorecard-Sept23 (pdf)Download
5-DRR_Interview_UF-Yerevan-Armenia-DRR_May23 (pdf)Download
6-DRR_Interview_ImageCat_Sept23 (pdf)Download
7-DRR_Interview_GW_Nov23 (pdf)Download
8-DRR_Interview_PM_EWB_Sept23 (pdf)Download
9-DRR_Interview_MM-UNDRR_Nov23 (pdf)Download
10-DRR_Interview_Guillermo Franco_Dec23 (pdf)Download
11-DRR_Interview_RR_Feb24 (pdf)Download
12-DRR_Interview_BL-PlanUK_May24 (pdf)Download
14-DRR_Interview_Everbridge_Mar24 (pdf)Download
15-DRR_Interview_BS-RedR_Apr24 (pdf)Download
16-DRR_Interview_NY-Doers_Mar24 (pdf)Download
17-DRR_Interview_JS-Cabo-Verde_May24 (pdf)Download
18-DRR_Interview_JE-II_Apr24 (pdf)Download
19-DRR_Interview_UNDP_RI_Mar2024 (pdf)Download
20-DRR_Interview_VK-Fiji_Apr24 (pdf)Download
21-DRR_Interview_KB_Sept24 (pdf)Download
22-DRR_Interview_AvB-WWF_Sept24 (pdf)Download
23-DRR_Interview_UNDRR-JKW_Oct24 (pdf)Download
24-DRR_Interview_ARISE_Nov24 (pdf)Download
25-DRR_Interview_TRC_Nov24 (pdf)Download
26-DRR_Interview_Arup_Dec24 (pdf)Download
27-DRR_Interview_ZurichFdn-Practical-Action_Dec24 (pdf)Download
28-DRR_Interview_ICON_Dec24 (pdf)Download
29-DRR_Interview_Practical-Action_Regen-Farming_Jan25 (pdf)Download
30-DRR_Interview_MCR-GNDR_Mar25 (pdf)Download
31-DRR_Interview_CC_Mar25 (pdf)Download
32-DRR_Interview_TG-DM_May25 (pdf)Download
36-DRR_Interview_WS-NHC_May25 (pdf)Download

Please let us know if you have any feedback on our outputs

We are always looking for feedback on our outputs.

If you have any feedback or suggestions for us about our interviews and any suggestions for us to interview people, please let us know!

Contact us

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