Imagining Emergency Services’ Recovery Operations in a Climate-Challenged World Through Application of Transformative Scenarios
Tracks
Southport Room 1
| Tuesday, July 28, 2026 |
| 1:25 PM - 1:45 PM |
| Southport Room 1 |
Overview
Matt Dyer & Natalie Oliver, Queensland Fire Department
Details
Three Key Learnings
1. Strengthen recovery planning and collaboration: Effective recovery relies on robust planning and strong interagency collaboration. Updated Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) and improved communication channels can optimise resource alignment and expertise sharing.
2. Focus on wellbeing support: Structured debriefs, wellbeing programs, and trauma-informed training enhance resilience and support staff in managing emergency response demands.
3. Adopt scenario-based planning: Transformative Scenarios help organisations anticipate challenges, foster innovation, and build adaptability for future risks
Speaker
Matt Dyer
Executive Manager
Queensland Fire Department
Imagining emergency services’ recovery operations in a climate-challenged world through application of transformative scenarios
Abstract
The Queensland Fire Department (QFD) is at the forefront of providing fire and emergency services that are responsive to the evolving challenges of weather and climate. This project, “Imagining emergency services’ recovery operations in a climate-challenged world through application of transformative scenarios,” explores how recovery operations may evolve over the next decade, offering actionable insights to strengthen resilience in Queensland communities.
Grounded in the Transformative Scenarios approach that was originally developed in collaboration with Natural Hazards Research Australia and emergency services across Australia and New Zealand, this study examines the role of departments such as QFD in post-emergency response and recovery. With climate change intensifying the frequency and severity of disasters, the project adopts a forward-thinking perspective to challenge traditional notions of recovery. By engaging key informants in a multidisciplinary inquiry, the research identifies barriers, opportunities, and innovative pathways to ensure adaptive and equitable recovery processes.
The project aligns with the conference core topic “Human Impacts: Mental Health, Wellbeing and Recovery,” and highlights the significance of fostering transformative leadership and shifting recovery mindsets. By conceptualising recovery as a precursor to preparedness and response, the study underscores the importance of embedding recovery as a foundational element in resilience building. This includes existing rapid post-event operations, damage assessments, debris removal, and environmental recovery, all undertaken with a commitment to local leadership and integrated disaster management.
Through this initiative, QFD aims to refine its appreciation of hazard and risk and embed scientifically underpinned risk-informed decision-making within future recovery planning. By envisioning future recovery through transformative scenarios, the project provides a blueprint for emotionally intelligent leadership and practical strategies to ensure adaptive, inclusive, and sustainable recovery practices. In doing so, QFD enhances its role as a vital and trusted partner in building safer communities in a climate-challenged world.
Grounded in the Transformative Scenarios approach that was originally developed in collaboration with Natural Hazards Research Australia and emergency services across Australia and New Zealand, this study examines the role of departments such as QFD in post-emergency response and recovery. With climate change intensifying the frequency and severity of disasters, the project adopts a forward-thinking perspective to challenge traditional notions of recovery. By engaging key informants in a multidisciplinary inquiry, the research identifies barriers, opportunities, and innovative pathways to ensure adaptive and equitable recovery processes.
The project aligns with the conference core topic “Human Impacts: Mental Health, Wellbeing and Recovery,” and highlights the significance of fostering transformative leadership and shifting recovery mindsets. By conceptualising recovery as a precursor to preparedness and response, the study underscores the importance of embedding recovery as a foundational element in resilience building. This includes existing rapid post-event operations, damage assessments, debris removal, and environmental recovery, all undertaken with a commitment to local leadership and integrated disaster management.
Through this initiative, QFD aims to refine its appreciation of hazard and risk and embed scientifically underpinned risk-informed decision-making within future recovery planning. By envisioning future recovery through transformative scenarios, the project provides a blueprint for emotionally intelligent leadership and practical strategies to ensure adaptive, inclusive, and sustainable recovery practices. In doing so, QFD enhances its role as a vital and trusted partner in building safer communities in a climate-challenged world.
Biography
Matt Dyer has more than twenty years’ experience in disaster management in Queensland, making significant contributions to disaster research, policy and practice, and has guided disaster response through events that impacted regional Queensland communities, receiving the National Emergency Medal in recognition of his service and commitment to community safety. Matt is Executive Manager of the Hazard and Risk Unit within State Operations at the Queensland Fire Department.
Natalie Oliver
Manager– Hazard and Risk Unit
Queensland Fire Department
Imagining Emergency Services’ Recovery Operations in a Climate-Challenged World Through Application of Transformative Scenarios
Abstract
The Queensland Fire Department (QFD) is at the forefront of providing fire and emergency services that are responsive to the evolving challenges of weather and climate. This project, “Imagining emergency services’ recovery operations in a climate-challenged world through application of transformative scenarios,” explores how recovery operations may evolve over the next decade, offering actionable insights to strengthen resilience in Queensland communities.
Grounded in the Transformative Scenarios approach that was originally developed in collaboration with Natural Hazards Research Australia and emergency services across Australia and New Zealand, this study examines the role of departments such as QFD in post-emergency response and recovery. With climate change intensifying the frequency and severity of disasters, the project adopts a forward-thinking perspective to challenge traditional notions of recovery. By engaging key informants in a multidisciplinary inquiry, the research identifies barriers, opportunities, and innovative pathways to ensure adaptive and equitable recovery processes.
The project aligns with the conference core topic “Human Impacts: Mental Health, Wellbeing and Recovery,” and highlights the significance of fostering transformative leadership and shifting recovery mindsets. By conceptualising recovery as a precursor to preparedness and response, the study underscores the importance of embedding recovery as a foundational element in resilience building. This includes existing rapid post-event operations, damage assessments, debris removal, and environmental recovery, all undertaken with a commitment to local leadership and integrated disaster management.
Through this initiative, QFD aims to refine its appreciation of hazard and risk and embed scientifically underpinned risk-informed decision-making within future recovery planning. By envisioning future recovery through transformative scenarios, the project provides a blueprint for emotionally intelligent leadership and practical strategies to ensure adaptive, inclusive, and sustainable recovery practices. In doing so, QFD enhances its role as a vital and trusted partner in building safer communities in a climate-challenged world.
Grounded in the Transformative Scenarios approach that was originally developed in collaboration with Natural Hazards Research Australia and emergency services across Australia and New Zealand, this study examines the role of departments such as QFD in post-emergency response and recovery. With climate change intensifying the frequency and severity of disasters, the project adopts a forward-thinking perspective to challenge traditional notions of recovery. By engaging key informants in a multidisciplinary inquiry, the research identifies barriers, opportunities, and innovative pathways to ensure adaptive and equitable recovery processes.
The project aligns with the conference core topic “Human Impacts: Mental Health, Wellbeing and Recovery,” and highlights the significance of fostering transformative leadership and shifting recovery mindsets. By conceptualising recovery as a precursor to preparedness and response, the study underscores the importance of embedding recovery as a foundational element in resilience building. This includes existing rapid post-event operations, damage assessments, debris removal, and environmental recovery, all undertaken with a commitment to local leadership and integrated disaster management.
Through this initiative, QFD aims to refine its appreciation of hazard and risk and embed scientifically underpinned risk-informed decision-making within future recovery planning. By envisioning future recovery through transformative scenarios, the project provides a blueprint for emotionally intelligent leadership and practical strategies to ensure adaptive, inclusive, and sustainable recovery practices. In doing so, QFD enhances its role as a vital and trusted partner in building safer communities in a climate-challenged world.
Biography
Natalie Oliver is an accomplished professional with experience across federal, state, and private sectors, specialising in climate change, hazard risk assessment, and resilience planning. Natalie has led the development of new and updated hazard and risk assessments for Queensland, with a strong interest in understanding and addressing the impacts of climate change on hazard management and community resilience.
