Marco Toscano-Rivalta on human rights, disaster risk reduction, and finding harmony
Elizabeth speaks with Marco Toscano-Rivalta, Chief of United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) for Asia and the Pacific based in Bangkok. Across his career, Marco has worked with the UN and other international organisations in humanitarian relief, refugee protection, promotion and protection of human rights, justice administration, sustainable development and disaster risk management. He holds a law degree from the University of Bologna, Italy. In this episode, Marco shares what it’s like to work at the United Nations including being at the negotiating table in 2015 when the pivotal Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction was reached. They discuss what makes great diplomatic leadership, and how creating true impact starts with understanding yourself as a human being. They touch on managing fear and stress, and even how narcissism plays a role in disasters. Marco advocates for stronger legal frameworks, education, and investment in disaster prevention and how investing in disaster risk reduction fundamentally supports human rights. Enjoy this conversation!Join our newsletter at www.disastrous.co for more resources from this episode.
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55:26
Hon Kiri Allan on crisis communication, localised knowledge, and bridging worlds
Elizabeth speaks with former Cabinet Minister and lawyer, Kiri Allan. Kiri was a member of Parliament in the New Zealand House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023, as a List MP and then representing the Labour Party in the East Coast electorate. She held the positions of Minister for Emergency Management and Minister of Conservation (Nov 2020-June 2022), and Minister of Justice (June 2022-July 2023), among others.In this episode, Kiri and Elizabeth discuss what it’s like managing public communications during a crisis. Kiri shares personal stories of hardship and hope from responding to events like the Whakaari/White Island eruption, Christchurch mosque attack, COVID, and Cyclone Gabrielle. The conversation explores the importance of incorporating local and indigenous knowledge in disaster response, the integration of Mātauranga Māori into emergency management, and the investment and systemic changes needed for a more climate-resilient Aotearoa. Kiri also touches on the personal impact of her roles, the importance of vulnerability in leadership and sharing your story, and about her new book.Join our newsletter at www.disastrous.co for more resources from this episode.
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1:13:46
Megan Stiffler on leadership, inclusivity, and walking your own path
Elizabeth speaks with Megan Stiffler, Deputy Commissioner of Fire & Rescue NSW. Megan is a career firefighter and senior officer, leading the way for change in her industry, while leading Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams on deployment across large-scale events, and representing the sector internationally. She holds an MBA, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and her leadership was recognised as a Queensland Finalist in the 2020 Telstra Business Women's Awards.
In this episode, they discuss Megan’s journey from insurance desk job to joining the fire service, and how her family upbringing shaped her leadership skills. They dive into meaningful experiences with communities on the ground and how they influenced Megan’s perspective on effective disaster response. They speak about what needs to change in the industry, like resourcing, representation and gender diversity, and what it means to truly listen as a leader. They speak about how to process challenging times to grow, agree on the importance of advocacy and storytelling for change, and land on the power of walking your own path with confidence and humility. This one’s a goodie, enjoy!
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54:19
Dan Neely on community development, design thinking, and Vanilla Ice
Elizabeth speaks with Dan Neely, Manager of Community Resilience and Group Recovery Manager at the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office–aka WREMO. Dan began his career in the Peace Corps in Honduras during the recovery from Hurricane Mitch, contributed to post-tsunami efforts in Sri Lanka with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and since 2012 has led teams based in New Zealand reshaping Emergency Management through human-centered community development practices, with their resources being adopted across the globe.
In this episode, Elizabeth and Dan discuss the powerful role communities play in emergency response, and how WREMO’s Community Emergency Hub model enables local communities to support each other immediately after a disaster better, faster, and safer. They cover Design Thinking, the sector’s responsibility to ask better questions, and why building on existing community capacities and capabilities (a ‘strengths-based’ approach to Community Development) is imperative. They draw inspiration from Vanilla Ice and The Big Lebowski, agree that everyone in society is an emergency manager and why we should all ‘Provoke with love.’ Ultimately, they land on why they’re hopeful for the future.
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40:42
Dr Carrie Timko Santos on diplomacy, purpose, and women in leadership
Elizabeth speaks with Dr Carrie Timko Santos. Carrie is currently based in Poland, working for American Red Cross, supporting the national Red Cross societies impacted by the Ukraine war and influx of refugees. Among her many roles, she has served as CEO of Entrepreneurs’ Organization, led international programs for the American Red Cross, and managed a $150 million portfolio in humanitarian donations for the U.S. Department of State. She is the mother of two grown daughters that she considers her best investment in the future.
In this episode, Elizabeth and Carrie cover the importance of diplomacy, gender disparity and what it’s like to be a woman in leadership. They discuss entrepreneurial mindsets, finding purpose through your values, and the power of bearing witness to others’ experiences. Carrie shares insights on the impact of storytelling in humanitarian diplomacy, and how the many threads in her own story have led her to this moment.
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This is a podcast about doing disasters differently, because our future demands it.
Join Elizabeth McNaughton in conversation with disaster experts from around the world. They’ll share stories and learnings from their work, all while discussing how we can change the way we do disaster preparedness, response and recovery to rise to the level of today’s climate challenges.
Elizabeth is a disaster specialist and founder of Disastrous, a professional development and innovation hub for those working in disasters. www.disastrous.co
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