Policy Forum Pod

Hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes and landslides – headlines this month have been overflowing with natural disasters. The Asia-Pacific is known as the most disaster-prone region in the world, and its policymakers are under pressure to design its rapidly growing urban centres to withstand catastrophe. How can they prepare for events which are destructive, unpredictable, and don’t respect national borders? In this episode of The Brief, Edwina Landale talks to David Sanderson about why poor countries suffer the worst disasters, how urbanisation and technological change could shape the future of disaster resilience, and how Australia is failing its Pacific neighbours. Professor David Sanderson is the inaugural Judith Neilson Chair in Architecture at UNSW, and is an expert in designing for disaster. David has over 25 years’ experience working in development and emergencies and has carried out a number of assignments for NGOs and donors across the world. Edwina Landale is the presenter of The Brief. She is a studen