Presentation by Dr Marlene Kanga FIEAust CPEng
The Royal Society Room TMAG 19 Davey St Hobart
Tuesday, 7th May 2013 Commencing 8.00 pm until 9.00 pm
Combined lecture with Members of Engineers Australia
About the Speaker
Dr. Marlene Kanga is National president of Engineers Australia and one of the most influential engineers in Australia. She is a Chartered chemical engineer with extensive experience in risk and safety engineering. Marlene is an experienced business leader and is Director of iOmniscient Pty. Ltd. which has developed patented software technology for automated camera based surveillance systems, currently used in smart city projects and winner of a National Engineering Excellence Award in 2010. As a member of the Engineers Australia Council since 2007, she has been responsible for many transformational changes especially to make the profession more inclusive. In 2012, she was Chair of the Innovation Task Force promoting innovation in engineering. Marlene was Chair of the National Committee for Women in Engineering in 2008 and 2009 and is currently a Board Member of the International Network for Women Engineers and Scientists. She represents Australia at the World Federation of Engineering Organisations and hosts an international committee which is developing resources for natural disaster risk management in developing countries. To hear Dr Kanga interviewed by Ryk Goddard, 936 ABC Hobart Breakfast Show paste this link into your browser. http://blogs.abc.net.au/tasmania/2013/05/how-to-plan-for-natural-disasters-and-why-women-dont-have-to-be-better-than-men-anymore.html
Brief Abstract of the Talk
The increasing trend in the number and severity of natural disasters has increased the level of devastation and loss to people all around the world. These events threaten the sustainable development and security of people. The application of sound principles of systematic natural disaster risk management is therefore becoming increasingly important. This presentation will provide an overview of systematic natural disaster risk management and the role of both structural and non-structural measures for sustainable construction and development. The use of such measures, supported by high level government policy, is important for all countries but especially less developed ones where widespread damage after a natural disaster has a significant human and economic cost. Approaches to natural disaster risk management used by in different parts of Australia will be presented as case studies to demonstrate the benefits of good practices for sustainable development.
