LG Professionals WA invites you to join us for the next Better Practice Forum - Emergency Management, Recovery and the Impact of Climate Change.
Delegates will hear from Neil Bennet, Retired Weather Forecaster and Broadcast Meteorologist who will discuss weather patterns, the increasing frequency of severe weather events and the impacts of climate change for WA communities. Melissa Pexton, Deputy Commissioner, Strategy and Emergency Management Command will also present at the forum, discussing the State Emergency Management Framework and her experience as State Recovery Controller during the aftermath of Cyclone Seroja in the Midwest region of WA. Nils Hay will also join us for this forum, currently CEO at the Mid West Development Commission, Nils was CEO at the Shire of Mingenew when Cyclone Seroja hit. With a devastated community and reosurces hard to come by, Nils stepped up to lead the recovery of the Mingenew community. Nils will share his story of recovery and resilience and will explore not only the immediate and short-term impacts but also longer-term impacts such as the economic repercussions of population displacement.
Local governments are often the first on the ground and the first to react and respond, when an emergency threatens their local community. Local governments also have an immense responsibility to lead community recovery periods.
As extreme weather events become more frequent and more damaging, local governments need to prepare for disasters in ways that also address climate change adaptation and mitigation. With bushfires, rising sea levels and unpredictable weather patterns on the rise, it is essential that local governments are equipped with the best information to work within these unprecedented conditions and to lead their communities in the recovery efforts.
During this Better Practice Forum, we will explore the impacts of climate change and the role of local government in both proactive mitigation activities and in the recovery efforts including activities that support the reconstruction and/or restoration of infrastructure, and activities that address psychosocial and economic wellbeing.