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Last updated 16th March 2023
Biography
Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga is a leading international expert in disaster resilience with an international reputation. As of 2022, she collaborates with 288 research partners in 57 countries, delivering a strong research portfolio focused on impact.
Since joining University of Huddersfield in September 2014 as its Professor of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, she co-leads the University’s Global Disaster Resilience Centre , responsible for supporting research on disaster management portfolios. Her interdisciplinary background provides her the opportunities to work across a broader disaster management research agenda including developing partnerships of international research teams, government, NGOs and communities. As a staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion in academia, she is supporting initiatives to generate gender balance; early and mid-career research development; and create opportunities for research benefitting vulnerable 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 500 publications, refereed papers and reports, and has made over 100 key note speeches in around 44 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 Conference on Building Resilience (ICBR) series which she co-created. These events demonstrate her role, as a leader in the field and as a conduit for international collaboration and engagement.
Among several other leadership roles, she is the joint editor chief of the International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, a SCOPUS indexed journal, a member of the European Commission and UNDRR’s European Science & Technology Advisory Group, and 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 an appointed member of the MCR2030 Regional Coordination Committee for Europe, an initiative led by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and its partners to support cities in taking action to reduce disaster risk in alignment with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. She is also a steering committee member of the UK Alliance for Disaster Research (UKADR), motivation of which is to bring together the UK’s rich and diverse disaster research community, to facilitate collaboration and partnership in order to aid representation of the research community at government level in the UK. She is an expert member, IOC-UNESCO (The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO), for ICG/IOTWMS (Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System) WG-1 on Tsunami Risk, Community Awareness & Preparedness. The IOC-UNESCO, established in 1960 as a body with functional autonomy within UNESCO, is the only competent organization for marine science within the UN system. ICG/IOTWMS member List including all Indian Ocean surrounding 28 countries: Australia, Bangladesh, British Indian Ocean Territory, Comoros, Djibouti, France - Reunion, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Her outstanding contributions, publications and services to her field of expertise have been recognised with numerous international awards and prizes. She is the winner of the prestigious 2019 Newton Prize (with colleagues), which recognises the best research and innovation projects which create an impact socially and economically, between Indonesia and the United Kingdom from 2016 to 2019. In 2018, she received the Received the “His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka Award” from His Excellency, Maithreepala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka, for the contribution to Disaster Resilience in Sri Lanka . in 2018, she won the UALL International Award for 2018, which recognises innovative engagement, including partnerships, that create change in an international and transnational context. She is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS); Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, UK; Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK; Fellow/Chartered Manager of the Chartered Management Institute, UK.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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
- Understanding disaster risk
- Preparedness for response
- Post-Disaster Reconstruction
- Gender-Responsive Disaster Risk Reduction
- Women as a force in resilience building
- Capacity building for disaster mitigation and reconstruction
- Post-conflict reconstruction
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- 1 Similar Profiles
Network
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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
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Coordination Challenges Facing Effective Flood Governance in the Ciliwung River Basin
Clegg, G., Haigh, R., Amaratunga, D. & Rahayu, H. P., 3 Feb 2023, Environmental Governance in Indonesia. Triyanti, A., Indrawan, M., Nurhidayah, L. & Marfai, M. A. (eds.). Springer, Cham, Vol. 61 ENPO. p. 313-327 15 p. (Environment and Policy; vol. 61).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Open Access -
Disaster Risk Reduction new dimensions: COVID-19 Preparedness at local level
Amaratunga, D., Haigh, R., Hemachandra, K. & Kamalrathne, T., 20 Feb 2023, 17 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
Open Access -
Identifying gaps in early warning mechanisms and evacuation procedures for tsunamis in Sri Lanka, with a special focus on the use of social media
Jayasekara, R. U., Jayathilaka, G. S., Siriwardana, C., Amaratunga, D., Haigh, R., Bandara, C. & Dissanayake, R., 6 Jan 2023, In: International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment. 14, 1, p. 1-20 20 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Citations (Scopus) -
Internal Displacement in Nigeria: What are the Preventive Measures?
Smart, L. N., Amaratunga, D. & Haigh, R., 20 Feb 2023, Rebuilding Communities After Displacement: Sustainable and Resilience Approaches. Hamza, M., Amaratunga, D., Haigh, R., Malalgoda, C., Jayakody, C. & Senanayake, A. (eds.). Springer, Cham, p. 165-189 25 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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Living with landslide risks: A case of resistance to relocation among vulnerable households residing in the Kegalle district of Sri Lanka
Gunathilake, K. L. W. I., Jayathilake, P. P. G., Fernando, N., Jayasinghe, N., Amaratunga, D. & Haigh, R., 20 Feb 2023, Rebuilding Communities After Displacement: Sustainable and Resilience Approaches. Hamza, M., Amaratunga, D., Haigh, R., Malalgoda, C., Jayakody, C. & Senanayake, A. (eds.). Springer, Cham, p. 145-163 19 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Activities
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A Framework for Empowering Women in Disaster Risk Governance
Kinkini Hemachandra (Speaker), Dilanthi Amaratunga (Contributor to Paper or Presentation) & Richard Haigh (Contributor to Paper or Presentation)
27 Mar 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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A University-Enterprise Collaborative Framework for Disaster Resilience
Kinkini Hemachandra (Speaker), Thisara Uduwarage (Contributor to Paper or Presentation), Dilanthi Amaratunga (Contributor to Paper or Presentation) & Richard Haigh (Contributor to Paper or Presentation)
15 Mar 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Recommendations for Improved Transboundary Flood and River Governance in the Urban Ciliwung River Basin, Indonesia
Georgina Clegg (Speaker), Richard Haigh (Contributor to Paper or Presentation), Dilanthi Amaratunga (Contributor to Paper or Presentation) & Harkunti P Rahayu (Contributor to Paper or Presentation)
15 Mar 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Policy and Legislative Background Applicable to Tropical Agroecosystems Resilience in Sri Lanka
Kinkini Hemachandra (Speaker), Dilanthi Amaratunga (Contributor to Paper or Presentation), Richard Haigh (Contributor to Paper or Presentation), Asitha De Silva (Contributor to Paper or Presentation) & Thisara Uduwarage (Contributor to Paper or Presentation)
15 Mar 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Community Participation in Local Flood Early Warning in England and Scotland: Processes, outcomes and influences
Georgina Clegg (Speaker), Richard Haigh (Contributor to Paper or Presentation) & Dilanthi Amaratunga (Contributor to Paper or Presentation)
8 Dec 2022Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
Press/Media
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Global Disaster Resilience Centre publishes 2022 Annual Report
Dilanthi Amaratunga & Richard Haigh
13/02/23 → 14/02/23
4 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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A perspective on post-disaster and conflict-induced displacement
Dilanthi Amaratunga, Richard Haigh, Chamindi Malalgoda & Chathuranganee Jayakody
15/03/22 → 17/03/22
7 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Multi Hazard Early Warning And Disaster Risks
Dilanthi Amaratunga, Richard Haigh & Nuwan Dias
8/03/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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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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