PROGRAMME
For the last 15 years EMPA has brought together expert practitioners and researchers from around Australia, the US, New Zealand and Europe. They share frameworks and lessons learned – to stimulate thinking, encourage conversation and create change.
If you have any questions regarding your registration or wish to register, please contact conferences@empa.org.au.
THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER 2023
Day 1
Programme
TIME
SESSION
8:00
Registration
Chair: Karl Ferguson
9:00
Mihi whakatau / Welcome
9:10
KEYNOTE
Promote the Dog Sitter: Principles for Leading During Disasters
Ed Conley, fmr US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), NATO, United States
Crisis leaders never feel completely prepared. From your first response to your hundredth, you feel the same nerves, anticipation, and desire to serve with each crisis you encounter. But when disaster strikes, you’re there to make a difference – and you’ll need to rely on more than just your good intentions.
Former FEMA responder and NATO advisor Ed Conley shares proven principles for acting decisively and leading dynamically throughout any disaster. Drawing upon extensive experience, Ed has an eye-of-the-storm perspective that shows crisis responders how to overcome setbacks, develop teams, respond compassionately, and serve with integrity.
Based on his first-hand observation that leadership during a crisis can emerge from anyone regardless of their title, position, and stature, Ed presents lessons and strategies for those who heed the call to make a positive difference when disaster strikes.
9:50
KEYNOTE
Communication and public trust: lessons from COVID-19 and other emergencies
Sir Ashley Bloomfield, Public Health Official, University of Auckland
Drawing on New Zealand’s experience with COVID-19 and other emergencies, this presentation will highlight communication successes and what didn’t go well. Key communications lessons will be drawn out to help answer two key questions: what do we need to do to be better prepared, and how can we ensure an excellent response next time?
10:30
Morning tea
Chair: Glyn Walters
11:00
PANEL: Leading from the front
Facilitator: Kris Faafoi, former Minister for Emergency Management
Mayor Nadine Taylor, Marlborough District Council
Mayor Jamie Cleine, Buller District Council
Mayor Rehette Stoltz, Gisborne District Council
12:05
Lunch
Afternoon workshops | run parallel | repeated after break – must be pre-booked
13:00
WORKSHOP 1
Trauma-informed Communications
Facilitator: Dr Sarb Johal, clinical psychologist and emergency management and disaster expert
**Content warning: subject matter may be difficult or triggering for some participants.
WORKSHOP 2
How to engage effectively with Iwi in an emergency.
Facilitator: Kareama Katu, FENZ
WORKSHOP 3
Public Information Management – are YOU ready?
Building your PIM Manager survival kit.
Facilitator: Michele Poole, FENZ | EMPA New Zealand
15:00
Afternoon tea
Afternoon workshops | run parallel | repeated after break – must be pre-booked
15:30
WORKSHOP 1
Trauma-informed Communications
Facilitator: Dr Sarb Johal, clinical psychologist and emergency management and disaster expert
**Content warning: subject matter may be difficult or triggering for some participants.
WORKSHOP 2
How to engage effectively with Iwi in an emergency.
Facilitator: Kareama Katu, FENZ
WORKSHOP 3
Public Information Management – are YOU ready?
Building your PIM Manager survival kit.
Facilitator: Michele Poole, FENZ | EMPA New Zealand
17:30
Conference Close
18:30
Conference dinner - Oceania, Te Papa, Wellington
FRIDAY 20 OCTOBER 2023
Day 2
Programme
TIME
SESSION
8:30
Registration
Chair: Anthony Frith
9:00
KEYNOTE
Leadership challenges for emergency communicators
John Price, Director, Civil Defence Emergency Management, NEMA
9:25
Communicating risk reduction and catastrophic planning
Prof Tom Wilson, Canterbury University
10:05
Awards for Excellence in Communications 2023 Showcase -
Readiness & Resilience and Recovery category winners
10:15
Morning tea
Chair: Jo Davidson
10:45
Building media stand-ups
Rachel Kelleher, Auckland Council
11:20
Weathering the storm: effective social media in an emergency
Karen Jones, Waka Kotahi | NZ Transport Authority
Matthew Floratos, Waka Kotahi | NZ Transport Authority
How Waka Kotahi used social media to communicate with communities during the Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle and their aftermath—our strategic approach, how we told our stories, what worked and what didn’t, and what we’ve learned.
11:55
Reliance on traditional media during Cyclone Gabrielle
Naomi Fergusson, Hastings District Council
Melanie Thornton, Gisborne District Council
When all the comms went down in Cyclone Gabrielle the PIM team had to pivot and use more traditional communications strategies to reach their community. From co-writing issues of the Herald and hand delivering them to 22,000 households, to Civil Defence updates going up in 50 local shops and businesses.
12:40
Lunch
Chair: Sonia Gerken
13:40
Awards for Excellence in Communications 2023 Showcase -
Community Engagement category winner
13:50
Media Panel
Alice Wilkins, TV3/NewsHub
John Freer, CoromandelFM
Samantha Gee, RNZ
14:50
Planning, preparing for and communicating sensitive national risks – Exotic Animal Disease Preparedness
Joe Buffone, Deputy Coordinator-General, NEMA Australia
15:35
Afternoon tea
Chair: Kathryn Ruge
15:55
Power to the People: restoration communications following Cyclone Gabrielle
Kim Parker, Unison Networks
Following the destructive impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, over 70,000 customer connections across Unison’s network regions, including Hawke’s Bay, were left without power. This session will outline Unison’s communication strategy centred around people, pictures, stories and connection – what went well, what didn’t go so well, and the valuable lessons learned along the way.
16:30
Conference Close
THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER 2023
Day 1
Programme
TIME
SESSION
8:00
Registration
Chair: Karl Ferguson
9:00
Mihi whakatau / Welcome
9:10
KEYNOTE
Promote the Dog Sitter: Principles for Leading During Disasters
Ed Conley, fmr US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), NATO, United States
Crisis leaders never feel completely prepared. From your first response to your hundredth, you feel the same nerves, anticipation, and desire to serve with each crisis you encounter. But when disaster strikes, you’re there to make a difference – and you’ll need to rely on more than just your good intentions.
Former FEMA responder and NATO advisor Ed Conley shares proven principles for acting decisively and leading dynamically throughout any disaster. Drawing upon extensive experience, Ed has an eye-of-the-storm perspective that shows crisis responders how to overcome setbacks, develop teams, respond compassionately, and serve with integrity.
Based on his first-hand observation that leadership during a crisis can emerge from anyone regardless of their title, position, and stature, Ed presents lessons and strategies for those who heed the call to make a positive difference when disaster strikes.
9:50
KEYNOTE
Communication and public trust: lessons from COVID-19 and other emergencies
Sir Ashley Bloomfield, Public Health Official, University of Auckland
Drawing on New Zealand’s experience with COVID-19 and other emergencies, this presentation will highlight communication successes and what didn’t go well. Key communications lessons will be drawn out to help answer two key questions: what do we need to do to be better prepared, and how can we ensure an excellent response next time?
10:30
Morning tea
Chair: Glyn Walters
11:00
PANEL: Leading from the front
Facilitator: Kris Faafoi, former Minister for Emergency Management
Mayor Nadine Taylor, Marlborough District Council
Mayor Jamie Cleine, Buller District Council
Mayor Rehette Stoltz, Gisborne District Council
12:05
Lunch
Afternoon workshops | run parallel | repeated after break – must be pre-booked
13:00
WORKSHOP 1
Trauma-informed Communications
Facilitator: Dr Sarb Johal, clinical psychologist and emergency management and disaster expert
**Content warning: subject matter may be difficult or triggering for some participants.
WORKSHOP 2
How to engage effectively with Iwi in an emergency.
Facilitator: Kareama Katu, FENZ
WORKSHOP 3
Public Information Management – are YOU ready?
Building your PIM Manager survival kit.
Facilitator: Michele Poole, FENZ | EMPA New Zealand
15:00
Afternoon tea
Afternoon workshops | run parallel | repeated after break – must be pre-booked
15:30
WORKSHOP 1
Trauma-informed Communications
Facilitator: Dr Sarb Johal, clinical psychologist and emergency management and disaster expert
**Content warning: subject matter may be difficult or triggering for some participants.
WORKSHOP 2
How to engage effectively with Iwi in an emergency.
Facilitator: Kareama Katu, FENZ
WORKSHOP 3
Public Information Management – are YOU ready?
Building your PIM Manager survival kit.
Facilitator: Michele Poole, FENZ | EMPA New Zealand
17:30
Conference Close
18:30
Conference dinner - Oceania, Te Papa, Wellington
FRIDAY 20 OCTOBER 2023
Day 2
Programme
TIME
SESSION
8:30
Registration
Chair: Anthony Frith
9:00
KEYNOTE
Leadership challenges for emergency communicators
John Price, Director, Civil Defence Emergency Management, NEMA
9:25
Communicating risk reduction and catastrophic planning
Prof Tom Wilson, Canterbury University
10:05
Awards for Excellence in Communications 2023 Showcase -
Readiness & Resilience and Recovery category winners
10:15
Morning tea
Chair: Jo Davidson
10:45
Building media stand-ups
Rachel Kelleher, Auckland Council
11:20
Weathering the storm: effective social media in an emergency
Karen Jones, Waka Kotahi | NZ Transport Authority
Matthew Floratos, Waka Kotahi | NZ Transport Authority
How Waka Kotahi used social media to communicate with communities during the Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle and their aftermath—our strategic approach, how we told our stories, what worked and what didn’t, and what we’ve learned.
11:55
Reliance on traditional media during Cyclone Gabrielle
Naomi Fergusson, Hastings District Council
Melanie Thornton, Gisborne District Council
When all the comms went down in Cyclone Gabrielle the PIM team had to pivot and use more traditional communications strategies to reach their community. From co-writing issues of the Herald and hand delivering them to 22,000 households, to Civil Defence updates going up in 50 local shops and businesses.
12:40
Lunch
Chair: Sonia Gerken
13:40
Awards for Excellence in Communications 2023 Showcase -
Community Engagement category winner
13:50
Media Panel
Alice Wilkins, TV3/NewsHub
John Freer, CoromandelFM
Samantha Gee, RNZ
14:50
Planning, preparing for and communicating sensitive national risks – Exotic Animal Disease Preparedness
Joe Buffone, Deputy Coordinator-General, NEMA Australia
15:35
Afternoon tea
Chair: Kathryn Ruge
15:55
Power to the People: restoration communications following Cyclone Gabrielle
Kim Parker, Unison Networks
Following the destructive impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, over 70,000 customer connections across Unison’s network regions, including Hawke’s Bay, were left without power. This session will outline Unison’s communication strategy centred around people, pictures, stories and connection – what went well, what didn’t go so well, and the valuable lessons learned along the way.
16:30
Conference Close