In this special 40th episode of Doing Disasters Differently, Renae reflects on standout conversations from the last ten episodes with thought leaders in disaster resilience. Renae highlights the growing momentum around social capital, the importance of shared responsibility, and how Resilient Ready is translating policy and research into action for communities and small businesses across Australia.

In this week’s episode of Doing Disasters Differently Renae chats with Dr Briony Towers, founder of Leadrrr and expert in child-centered disaster risk management. They explore the role of schools in building social capital and how empowering children and youth can drive real change in disaster resilience. From bushfire education to youth-led initiatives, Briony shares how schools can be true hubs of preparedness and community strength.

In this week’s episode of Doing Disasters Differently, Renae is joined by Joe Buffone, Deputy Coordinator General at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). With over 40 years in security and disaster management, Joe has played a key role in emergency response across Australia and internationally. Today, we explore his journey—from the Country Fire Authority (CFA) to leading efforts in disaster resilience—along with the National Emergency Management Stockpile (NEMS) and how it ensures communities have access to critical resources during crises.