Doing Disasters Differently: The Podcast with Renae Hanvin

In this episode of Doing Disasters Differently: The Podcast, host Renae Hanvin speaks with Dr. Margaret Moreton about gender and disaster.  

She discusses the critical importance of integrating gender perspectives into disaster management. She highlights how disasters impact different genders unequally and shares practical ways to create more inclusive, resilient communities. 

Together, we explore practical insights, lived experience, and real-world strategies to help communities, businesses, governments, and leaders build stronger disaster resilience in an increasingly uncertain world.  

In this episode, we cover:  

• The meaning of gender and disaster 
• Disasters do not discriminate, but impacts do 
• The importance of inclusive disaster planning 
• The role of social capital in resilience 
• Addressing gender-based violence post-disaster 
• Changing mindsets to embed gender considerations 
• The significance of community connection and social infrastructure 
• The challenge of translating evidence into policy 

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In this episode of Doing Disasters Differently: The Podcast, host Renae Hanvin speaks with Allie Guegan & Zac Zorn about Linking Council and Community.

Together, they explore innovative community resilience projects led by the City of Casey, focusing on co-design and social capital building to enhance disaster preparedness and response. 

If you’re passionate about emergency preparedness, disaster recovery, community resilience, business continuity, or resilience leadership, this show is for you. 

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In this episode of Doing Disasters Differently: The Podcast, host Renae Hanvin speaks with Dr. Libby McCourt about the critical role of pharmacists in disaster preparedness and response. She shares insights from her research, experiences during disasters, and how the healthcare sector can better integrate pharmacists into emergency management systems. 

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Today’s guest is Nicole Blackwell, an experienced emergency management leader working at NBN Co, helping strengthen preparedness, response and resilience across complex systems and critical infrastructure.

With deep expertise in emergency management, stakeholder collaboration and cross-sector coordination, Nicole sits at the intersection of technology, connectivity, and community resilience - working to ensure critical services and partnerships are ready when disruption strikes.

She also contributes to the broader emergency management community through her involvement with organisations such as Red Cross and Safe Australasia.

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Today’s guest is Dr Barbara Ryan - an award-winning disaster behaviour researcher, communicator and long-time leader in emergency management communication across Australia.

Barbara has spent more than 40 years working across journalism, public relations, research and teaching, with a strong focus on how people seek information, respond to risk and engage during disasters.

She is the founder of Cicada Research and Communication and was a founding director of Emergency Media and Public Affairs (EMPA) — helping shape the emergency communication profession across Australia and New Zealand. 

Barbara’s work explores one of the biggest challenges in disaster resilience: how we better connect research, communication and human behaviour to real-world preparedness and recovery. 

She’s also a volunteer firefighter and community educator, bringing both academic insight and lived frontline experience to the conversation.

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In this episode of Doing Disasters Differently,  Renae talks with Professor Daniel Aldrich, a full professor at Northeastern University. They explore the groundbreaking development of a national framework for measuring social capital and social infrastructure in Australia, featuring insights from Professor Daniel Aldrich. 

Discover how these tools can transform community resilience, disaster preparedness, and everyday social cohesion.

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In this episode, I'm talking with Tony Pearce about Tony's Trek.

Tony shares his inspiring journey of raising awareness for mental health in emergency services through daring treks, including walking from Melbourne to Brisbane, Everest Base Camp, and paddling the Murray River. Discover how community engagement, early intervention, and systemic change can improve mental health support for responders and their families.

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In this episode of Doing Disasters Differently, Renae is joined by John de Rooy, a respected business and community leader with a strong background in regional development and business chambers. A leader of the Malanda Chamber of Commerce in Far North Queensland, he’s spent years helping local businesses stay connected, supported, and resilient - especially in times of disruption.

This episode explores the vital role of business chambers in regional communities, highlighting how they foster resilience, support local businesses, and collaborate with emergency services to prepare for and recover from disasters. John de Rooy shares practical insights from Malanda, North Queensland, demonstrating the power of community-driven initiatives.

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In this episode of Doing Disasters Differently, Renae is joined by Dave Owens, an experienced emergency manager and former police officer who now works with governments and organisations to strengthen risk and crisis leadership. Drawing on more than three decades of experience across emergency management, Dave shares why traditional leadership approaches often fall short in complex and uncertain disaster environments. The conversation explores the shift from tactical response to strategic thinking, and why leaders need new skills to navigate increasingly frequent and compounding disasters. 

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In this week's episode of Doing Disasters Differently, Renae is joined by David Younger, a clinical psychologist and consultant to governments and communities who is deeply passionate about stress and wellbeing when it comes to before, during and after disasters. David especially recognises the double impact that business people have and how important everyday self-care is so you can thrive through the unexpected challenges. 

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