Griffith University researchers are delving into the business aspects of disasters and resilience to understand and reduce the future costs to the community of disasters.

Researchers from Griffith Business School recently showcased their research projects, with the common theme of solving the problems disasters create for people.

The breadth of what business incorporates was on display with projects ranging from climate risk, insurability, and resilience creativity to problem solve in disasters.

Projects focussed on identifying the risks associated with climate change and how to build capacity to manage these risks at an organisational level, and how to build problem solving capability in first responder teams. Other projects focussed on building the preparedness of island and tourism communities and understanding how lessons are passed onto others between events. This is of importance in industries where there is a high level of staff turnover. 

The theme underpinning the day was the importance of multi-disciplinary research that can be used, is useable and will be used by government, industry, and communities.

A common feature of the research presented was the focus on people, with researchers working to solve the social problems that people and first responders experience across all phases of disasters.

Our researchers are passionate about ensuring their work has positive outcomes for communities through prevention (building in the correct locations), improving preparedness (understanding local and organisational level risks), building response skills (problem solving and communication) and recovery outcomes (resilient supply chains and establishing relationships to facilitate “plan b”).

The researchers welcome inquiries about their projects from communities, government, industry and non-government groups, as they are keen to build further cross-sector partnerships.

Research presentations included: