Fund resilience, not disasters

The global cost of disasters is approximately US$202 billion per year. However, the real cost, including social and economic losses and impacts, is closer to US$2.3 trillion. Many governments allocate less than 1% of their budget to risk reduction, however the evidence suggests that increased investment in disaster risk reduction and resilience leads to better outcomes for people, communities, the environment and the economy in the long run. 

AIDR welcomed Natalie Egleton (Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal), Paul Box, (CSIRO) and Jimmy Scott (Queensland Reconstruction Authority) to this webinar for the United Nations International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction to address the 2025 theme: fund resilience, not disasters.

• Natalie spoke about the difference that upfront investment in resilience makes for communities, addressing the grass roots impacts that even small investments can make, and further action that is needed
• Paul discussed the evidence-base for investment in resilience, and the data that funders and policy-makers need to inform resilience investment
• Jimmy explained how funding decisions are made, barriers to prioritising resilience, and examples of successful funding models.

Webinar recording

Guest speakers

Natalie Egleton
CEO, Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal

With more than 25-years in the not-for-profit and philanthropic sectors, Natalie is frequently asked for input by various government agencies, departments and organisations looking to shape their policies and approaches to engaging with remote, rural and regional Australia. In 2024, Natalie was appointed to the She Gives Advisory Group and the Department of Social Services’ Stronger Places, Stronger People National Leadership Group, to which she brings a grounded rural perspective to discussions on policy, equity and economic opportunity.

Since becoming CEO of FRRR in 2015, Natalie has led the organisation through a period of significant growth and impact, facilitating more than $125 million in funding to remote, rural, and regional communities through hundreds of partnerships and collaborations. Before joining FRRR, Natalie consulted with Matrix on Board, working with numerous not-for-profit organisations in program evaluation, undertaking research analysis and developing business plans. Natalie has also held in-house roles at Evolve (Typo Station) and at ANZ Banking Group, implementing projects that made a tangible difference to the lives of people living in remote, rural and regional Australia. She has also held voluntary roles on Boards and Committees of a rural RTO and her local preschool.

Natalie holds a B. Social Science (Public Policy/Research/Public Relations), Grad Dip Applied Science (Organisation Dynamics), and is a Graduate of the Institute of Company Directors.

Paul Box
Senior Principal Research Consultant, CSIRO

Paul Box is a Senior Principal Research Consultant at CSIRO and co-leads the Enabling Resilience Investment initiative. In his role at CSIRO he leads research and development of solutions to address systems challenges. His work spans institutional, policy, and technical concerns.

For the past eight years, he has focused on disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, including a secondment to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide strategic disaster risk reduction policy and program support.

Paul is a geographer with a passion for innovation and the application of science to inform strategic decisions for sustainable development. Prior to joining CSIRO, he worked for 15 years throughout Asia and Africa for the United Nations in international development and humanitarian response sectors.

Jimmy Scott
General Manager, Resilience and Recovery, Queensland Reconstruction Authority

Since joining the Queensland Reconstruction Authority in 2012, Jimmy has held a number of executive roles, coordinating recovery and resilience building efforts following significant disaster events.

Jimmy coordinates the implementation of the Queensland Strategy for Disaster Resilience, putting Queensland at the leading edge of recovery and resilience policy nationally and internationally.

Jimmy is a passionate advocate for resilient investment, having led the development and implementation of a range of Betterment programs in response to major disaster events. He also led the development of Queensland’s Voluntary Home Buy Back Program, a nation leading resilience building initiative, which repurposed our highest risk flood prone land.

Jimmy has been instrumental in advancing efforts to deepen our understanding of the value derived from resilience investments, particularly by recognising intangible benefits that extend beyond simply avoided reconstruction costs.

Jimmy is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the University of Queensland.

Moderators

John Richardson
Executive Director, Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

Mayeda Rashid
Manager Capability Development and Engagement, Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience