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Biography
Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga is a leading international expert in disaster resilience with an international reputation. Dilanthi’s vision has always been to be an international leader in disaster risk reduction and management with specific emphasis on the built environment, and to champion the under representation of women in this key research area. She began her academic career as a lecturer at the University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka in 1994, which she commenced immediately after the completion of the BSc (Quantity Surveying) Degree with First Class Honours at the same University in 1993. Subsequently, in October 1997, she was awarded the prestigious Overseas Research Scholarship Award, which enabled her to begin her doctoral studies at the University of Salford, UK. In 2001, she received her PhD and since then, she has continued to develop her research in a manner that demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence, to encouraging colleagues and students to fulfil their full potential.
In 2007, Dilanthi was promoted to the post of Professor with a focus on disaster management. Since joining University of Huddersfield School or Art, Design and Architecture in September 2014 as its Professor of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, she leads the University’s Global Disaster Resilience Centre , responsible for supporting research on disaster management portfolios. An interdisciplinary background in Quantity Surveying, Facilities and Business Continuity Management, Education and Training, Gender and Disasters and Disaster Mitigation and Reconstruction provides her the opportunities to work across a broader disaster management research agenda including developing partnerships of international research teams, government, NGOs and communities.
She has project managed to successful completion a large number of international research projects generating significant research outputs. To date, she has produced over 300 publications, refereed papers and reports, and has made over 100 key note speeches in around 30 countries. She is regularly invited to provide expert advice on disaster resilience by national and local governments and international agencies. She has lead and chaired a large number of international conferences, including the International Confernece on Building Resilience (ICBR) seires which she co-created. These events demonstrate her role, as a leader in the disaster mitigation and reconstruction field and as a conduit for international collaboration and engagement. Many of these conferences have brought together major international networks to address global challenges and advance research agendas.
Among several other leadership roles, she is the Chair of the United Nations Working Group on Words into action on Accountability and Governance. She is a member of the Steering Committee of the UNISDR "Making Cities Resilient" Campaign. She is the joint editor chief of the International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, a SCOPUS indexed journal. Her outstanding contributions, publications and services to the disaster resilience and management have been recognised with numerous international awards and prizes. She is a member of the European Commission and UNISDR’s European Science & Technology Advisory Group representing the UK. she is also a Steering Committee member of the Frontiers of Development programme, a Collaborative Programme of The Royal Academy of Engineering, The Academy of Medical Sciences, The British Academy and The Royal Society). She is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Research Expertise and Interests
- Disaster Risk Reduction in the Built Environment - Understanding disaster risk
- Preparedness for response and Post-Disaster Reconstruction
- Gender-Responsive Disaster Risk Reduction - Women as a force in resilience building, gender equality in DRR
- Disaster resilience from the perspective of the social/political, economic and physical sciences
- Social impact of reconstruction
- Capacity building for disaster mitigation and reconstruction
- Post-conflict reconstruction
- Women in construction
- Facilities and business continuity management
Research Expertise and Interests
- Built Environment
- Process Improvement
- Disaster Management
- Performance Measurement
- Natural Disasters
- Disaster Preparedness
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Vulnerability Assessment
- Disaster Studies
- Vulnerability Analysis
- Resilience
- Risk
- Disasters
- Vulnerability
- Resiliency
- Post Disaster Reconstruction
- Capacity Building in Disaster Risk Reduction
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Network
Projects
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ANDROID: Academic Network for Disaster Resilience to OptImise educational Development
1/10/11 → 30/09/14
Project: Research
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CADRE: Collaborative Action towards Disaster Resilience Education
Amaratunga, D., Haigh, R. & Keraminiyage, K.
1/10/13 → 31/01/17
Project: Research
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CASCADE: Collaborative Action towards Societal Challenges through Awareness, Development and Education
1/10/13 → 31/03/15
Project: Research
Research Output
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Role of higher education institutions toward effective multi-hazard early warnings in Asia
Hemachandra, K., Haigh, R. & Amaratunga, D., 15 Jan 2021, Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance to Manage Disaster Risk. Mendes, J., Kalonji, G., Jigyasu, R. & Chang-Richards, A. (eds.). 1st ed. Netherlands: Elsevier, p. 27-46 20 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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A GIS-Based Simulation Application to Model Surface Runoff Level in Urban Blocks
Abenayake, C., Jayasinghe, A., Wijayawardana, N., Kalpana, L. D. C. H. N., Dias, N., Amaratunga, D. & Haigh, R., 8 Nov 2020, In: FARU Journal. 7, 1, p. 56-64 9 p., 7.Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review
Open Access -
A micro scale study of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in coastal urban strategic planning for the Jakarta
Rahayu, H. P., Haigh, R., Amaratunga, D., Kombaitan, B., Khoirunnisa, D. & Pradana, V., 1 Jan 2020, In: International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment. 11, 1, p. 119-133 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
An Evaluation of Disaster Preparedness Strategy in Sri Lankan Governance Structure
Hemachandra, K., Amaratunga, D. & Haigh, R., 13 Jan 2020, Book of Abstracts 9th International Conference on Building Resilience ICBR 09 & 4th ITB Centennial International Conference IC04 P100: Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Building Resilient Cities. Rahayu, H. P., Putra, B. D., Khoirunnisa, D., Mangkoesoebroto, G. G., Rafdi, M. A. & Rohman, D. S. (eds.). Bandung, Indonesia: Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), p. 63 1 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review
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A study of people-centered early warning system in the face of near-field tsunami risk for Indonesian coastal cities
Rahayu, H. P., Comfort, L., Haigh, R., Amaratunga, D. & Khoirunnisa, D., 16 Jan 2020, In: International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment. 11, 2, p. 241-262 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus)
Activities
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International Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Disaster Risk Reduction (Event)
Dilanthi Amaratunga (Editor), Richard Haigh (Editor), Nuwan Dias (Editor), Sudantha Ranasingha (Editor), Sunil Jayaweera (Editor) & Chandana Siriwardana (Editor)
14 Dec 2020 → 16 Dec 2020Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial work
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Multi Hazard Early Warning and Disaster Risk Reduction symposium: Linking science, policy and practice
Dilanthi Amaratunga (Speaker)
14 Dec 2020Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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International Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Disaster Risk Reduction
Dilanthi Amaratunga (Chair), Richard Haigh (Chair), Nuwan Dias (Organiser), Asitha De Silva (Organiser), Malith Senevirathne (Organiser), Chamindi Malalgoda (Member of programme committee), Chathuranganee Jayakody (Member of programme committee), Maheshika Sakalasuriya (Member of programme committee) & Dias Hemachandra (Member of programme committee)
14 Dec 2020 → 16 Dec 2020Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organising a conference, workshop, ...
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Redesigning and repurposing healthcare facilities for the new normal, COVID-19: A review on new approaches in hospital systems
Ravindu Jayasekara (Speaker), Chandana Siriwardana (Contributor to Paper or Presentation), Dilanthi Amaratunga (Contributor to Paper or Presentation) & Richard Haigh (Contributor to Paper or Presentation)
12 Dec 2020Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Modelling and simulation practices of critical infrastructures: A review
Bawantha Sandaruwan (Speaker), Chandana Siriwardana (Contributor to Paper or Presentation), Dilanthi Amaratunga (Contributor to Paper or Presentation) & Richard Haigh (Contributor to Paper or Presentation)
12 Dec 2020Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
Press / Media
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'We Can't be Complacent about Disaster Management’ - Dilanthi Amaratunga
14/09/18
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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BDC Magazine - Uni Takes Lead At International Conference On Building Resilience
Dilanthi Amaratunga & Richard Haigh
15/01/18
1 item of Media coverage, 1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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RICS Building Control Magazine - Risk and Resilience
30/11/17
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Boxing day Tsunami Disaster
Dilanthi Amaratunga & Richard Haigh
9/11/17
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research