Showcasing emerging knowledge, research and issues in disaster risk reduction
A responsive series to help us navigate the changing landscape
The purpose of this series is to provide an informative, welcoming and inclusive forum for conversations about emerging issues in disaster risk reduction and disaster resilience. We hope these webinars will support practitioners to be informed, build knowledge and skills, and to identify sound evidence to support effective planning and practice.
This series also provides a platform for AIDR and NEMA to respond to feedback from stakeholders, particularly suggestions for topics and content participants would like to see.
Webinars will be one hour long, with a feature topic and time for discussion and questions at the end. Look out for new webinars as they are developed and added to the events calendar
Webinar 4 - Food security and disaster risk reduction
1pm-2pm (AEST), Wednesday 24 June 2026
Food security is a critical but often underexplored dimension of disaster risk reduction, shaped not only by supply chains but also by social, economic and community systems that influence people’s access to safe, nutritious food. This webinar will explore how disasters affect food security across these interconnected systems, from local community impacts through to national coordination.
The webinar will consider how risks emerge and compound, particularly for vulnerable communities, and how different actors work together to strengthen resilience before, during and after disasters.
We will hear from Dr Nick Rose and Mia Cox at Sustain: The Australian Food Network, who will share insights on community-led and systems-based approaches to building more resilient and equitable food systems. A representative from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) will provide an overview of the National Coordination Mechanism (NCM) and its role in supporting coordinated national responses to disruptions that affect critical systems, including food.
This session is designed for practitioners and decision-makers across emergency management, government organisations, community sectors, as well as researchers, who are interested in integrating food security into disaster risk reduction planning and practice.
Presenters:
Mia Cox Senior Projects Officer, Sustain: the Australian Food Network
Mia is the Senior Projects Officer at Sustain and has 12 years’ experience working in community development in both not-for-profit and local government settings. Mia brings skills in community and stakeholder engagemet, place-based community building, sector development, strategic planning and policy development. She has a Bachelor of Development Studies and Indonesian Language & Studies (UNSW).
Dr Nick Rose Co-founder and Executive Director, Sustain: the Australian Food Network
Nick is a visionary leader dedicated to transforming food systems. As a food systems educator, a Churchill Fellow, editor of two food movement anthologies and established researcher, Nick brings a wealth of knowledge to Sustain. Recognised as one of Australia’s leading champions of sustainable food systems, Nick’s expertise has been a driving force behind Sustain’s impactful initiatives, positioning it at the forefront of food system innovation and sustainability.
Speaker to be announced National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
Host:
Kaitlyn Samson Deputy Director, Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR)
