AWE Newsletter November 2025
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AWE News
Bridging continents, building resilience
Australasia and the USA
When AWE was first established, we searched the world for kindred organisations, but found very few. That’s why we’re absolutely thrilled to have recently connected with a new sister organisation in the United States: Women in the Field of Emergency Management (WTFem).
Like AWE, WTFem exists to connect, support and champion women in emergency management and disaster response. WTFem hosts panels, webinars, keynote presentations, and networking gatherings, creating powerful opportunities for women to come together, share knowledge, and strengthen one another.
Jeanne Landry

Diana Rosayn
In October, we had the pleasure of connecting with Jeanne Landry and Diana Rosayn from the WTFem leadership team where we shared notes about our respective organisations and explored opportunities for collaboration.

Jeanne said: “WTFem aims to increase the representation of women at every level of emergency management to achieve the industry’s objectives of building resiliency and of effective and equitable planning, response and recovery. We provide easily accessible resources and content that supports women as they explore, engage, and grow in emergency management careers.

Our conversation with AWE reminded us how powerful collaboration can be. Whether in the U.S. or Australia, women in emergency management face many of the same challenges and triumphs. Together, we can share lessons learned, celebrate achievements, and strengthen the professional community that supports safer, more prepared communities everywhere.”
We are very excited about the possibilities this connection holds. Together, AWE and WTFem will explore opportunities for members of both organisations to come together – to share knowledge, learn from one another, and build lasting relationships. Stay tuned for updates as we build this international sisterhood – the foundation on which we can create bridges of strength, resilience, and solidarity.
Learn more about WTFem: WTFem LinkedIn Group
2025 AWE AGM – Announcing our new strategy!
AWE AGM: 5-6.30pm AEDT Tuesday 11 December.

Join the AWE Committee, AWE members, friends, and allies to hear about our activities over the past year, find out who’s been elected to the AWE Committee, and learn about our exciting new strategy.

Book now!
Join the AWE Committee
Nominations are now open for the 2025 AWE Committee! This is your chance to step up, connect with inspiring women, and help shape the future of our network. The Committee drives AWE’s strategy, delivers programs like mentoring, scholarships, events and the AWE Recognition Awards, and meets monthly online.
We’re looking for passionate women ready to share (or grow) their skills in areas such as communications, events, finance, governance, inclusion, IT, and more. If you’re keen to make an impact, we’d love you to nominate! Email us at [email protected] to get started.
Concerned about climate change?
The recently released National Climate Risk Assessmentpaints a disturbing picture for Australia’s future, with bushfires, floods, heatwaves, tropical cyclones, storms and other hazards projected to change in frequency, severity and complexity. If you’re interested in building collective capacity to create inclusive, just and transformative adaptation futures through climate policy, practice or research, check out the newly relaunched Climate Change Exchange.
And if you, your family, or someone you know is worried, visit Psychology for a Safe Climate or try one of the following:
AWE Mentoring Program
AWE Mentoring: Small but Mighty!
This year’s AWE Mentoring Programme may have been small in numbers, but it was big on impact. Our mentors and mentees brought diverse life experiences and specialties, from recent graduates bringing fresh academic knowledge to seasoned professionals with years of lived experience.
Each participant brought something valuable to share and something meaningful to learn, showing that everyone, both mentor and mentee alike, has both wisdom to offer and room to grow.
The programme once again highlighted the power of connection, reflection, and encouragement. Whether working towards a specific goal, developing confidence in a new area, or growing as a leader by supporting others, participants found the experience rewarding and energising. As we wrap up the 2025 programme, planning is already underway for next year’s intake. More information and registration for both mentors and mentees are available on the AWE website at www.awenetwork.org.au/mentoring.
Call for AWE Mentoring Sub-Committee Members
The AWE Mentoring Sub-Committee is seeking new members to help shape and support the 2026 Mentoring Programme. Joining the sub-committee is a great opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of women in emergencies, build networks, and help others reach their potential.
If you are passionate about mentoring and want to strengthen AWE’s support for women in the sector, we would love to hear from you. Contact: [email protected]
AWE Member Profiles
Lisa Sprlyan – Senior Operations Specialist

Orange Sky Australia

Lisa Sprlyan has been a driving force behind Orange Sky’s Disaster Relief Program since 2018, providing free laundry, warm showers, and safe spaces for Australians affected by disasters. Her leadership has facilitated 1,335 disaster relief shifts, mobilizing volunteers to support communities across the country. Lisa’s ability to collaborate with local providers, councils, and volunteers ensures timely, effective aid where it’s needed most. Recently, she led Orange Sky’s response to Tropical Cyclone Jasper, sacrificing her holiday to assist affected communities. Her dedication, adaptability, and leadership embody AWE’s values, making a profound impact on disaster recovery and community resilience. Lisa received a 2024 Promoting Volunteerism Recognition Award in acknowledgment of her work.
Kate Williams – Committee Chair, Geospatial Emergency Management Aotearoa

Kate Williams has been a driving force in geospatial emergency management for over eight years. Her leadership has advanced geospatial collaboration, significantly enhancing situational awareness during crises like Cyclone Gabrielle. She played a key role in facilitating surge capacity for geospatial support in the National Crisis Management Centre and affected regions. Kate’s dedication, vision, and support have strengthened New Zealand’s emergency response capabilities. Her humility, professionalism, and commitment to interoperability make her an invaluable asset to the sector and those she works alongside. Kate received a 2024 AWE Knowledge Development & Advancement Recognition Award in acknowledgement of her contribution.
AWE Member Profiles showcase the diversity, skills, and experience of our members. They also highlight the vast range of roles, paid and volunteer, that make up the emergency and disaster resilience sector. We’ve been featuring recipients of the 2024 AWE Recognition Awards in this year’s newsletter and will be featuring the recipients of the 2025 AWE Recognition Awards next year.

AWE Australian Chapters
AWE VIC

AWE CBD Melbourne Breakfast Catch-Up

8.00am Tuesday 3 February 2026

Brunetti Oro on Flinders Lane, 250 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Pop the date in your calendar so you don’t forget!

Connect with other AWE Network members for a relaxed coffee/ breakfast on the first Tuesday of the even months Feb, April, June, August, October in 2026. Please email us if you’d like to connect!

Details and more dates here

AWE Port Melbourne Breakfast Catch-Up

8.30am Monday 24 November 2025
Rock, Paper, Scissors, 36/138 Rouse St, Port Melbourne
Come along for a gentle coffee/breakfast and informal chat with other AWE members. Parking is easy, so pop in on your way to work. Please RSVP to Kathy at [email protected], or just decide to join us on the morning.  All welcome!

Details and more dates here.

AWE Yarra Ranges Breakfast

AWE members living or working in or around the Yarra Ranges and outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne are invited to come along to breakfast at Hutch & Co, 251 Main Street Lilydale at 8.30am on the third Wednesday of each month. Email Amanda at [email protected] to let us know if you can make it.

AWE New Zealand
Update from AWE NZ

As we head into the final stretch of the year, we’re gearing up for one last event to round out 2025 with connection and care – see our Reflecting on Self-Care in Emergencies and Disasters session below.

AWE NZ monthly breakfast
Join AWE NZ for breakfast on the first Tuesday of every month in Wellington.

Drop in to Dillinger’s from 7:30am – have a coffee or breakfast before work and connect with AWE members and others in our sector.

Book now!

In case you missed it: Disaster First Aid: Self-Sufficiency and innovation in the field

On 20 October, we heard from two medical professionals who support Taskforce Kiwi and its volunteers, sharing their experiences delivering first aid in challenging disaster environments. The session introduced participants to FACET (First Aid Complexity Engagement Tool), explored their Disaster First Aid (DFA) curriculum, and offered a fascinating look inside their DFA kit—complete with an impressively colour-coded system designed for speed and clarity in the field.
We also had some great questions and discussions that deepened our understanding of how practical training and smart design can enable safe and effective deployments.

Catch the replay here: Watch on YouTube

Coming up soon: Reflecting on self-care in emergencies and disasters

Join us for the final AWE NZ session for 2025 where we’ll be focusing on self-care, burnout prevention, and sustaining wellbeing in demanding emergency roles. This event will be held in person in Wellington and online for those joining from afar.

6:00–7:30 pm Tuesday 25 November

Register on Humanitix

Auckland networking: Drinks with the Mangrove Collective

5:30–9:00 pm Thursday 20 November

1 Albert St, Auckland Central
If you’re based in Auckland, here’s a great chance to connect in person. The Mangrove Collective is hosting an evening gathering for women leaders from international NGOs and has kindly invited AWE members in Auckland to join them for casual drinks and conversation.

This is an informal opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals and expand your local humanitarian and emergency management network. Save the date and contact  [email protected] for queries or further details.

Connect in February — Visiting emergency professional

We’re excited to share that an AWE member currently in the process of emigrating from the United States will be visiting New Zealand in February 2026. She’s keen to meet others working in the emergency sector, exchange insights, and learn more about the NZ context.

Auckland: 11–14 February

Wellington: 16–17 February

Tauranga: 20–24 February

If you’re interested in a coffee catch-up, informal networking chat, or even helping to host a small local gathering, email us at [email protected]. It’s a great opportunity to welcome a future colleague and share perspectives from across the AWE community.

Looking Ahead: Local events in 2026
We’re keen to see more local AWE meetups and events around New Zealand next year! If you’re interested in hosting a casual coffee catch-up, a learning session, or a site visit in your area, we’d love to hear from you. The AWE Network can support you with ideas, speakers, and promotion.

Get in touch to start a conversation about what could work in your region — big or small, every connection helps build our community.
If you have any specific news or information to share with other AWE NZ members, or queries,
please forward them to AWE NZ Chapter Lead Amy.

AWE Pacific
Please note that AWE Pacific is taking a temporary pause from regular activities due to capacity challenges.

We’ll keep you updated on developments, and hope to advise members soon.

Women in Emergencies for Climate Action
The Women in Emergencies for Climate Action meetings are a great opportunity to meet, learn from and support other AWE members working in climate related roles, or with an interest in climate action. We all learn from each other at every meeting. Make sure you register the dates for the upcoming meetings in your diary and come along and share and learn with us. Meeting dates and registration details can be found here.

Professional Development
Supporting young families in emergencies
Insights from the Australian Breastfeeding Association’s (ABA) Community Protection for Infants and Young Children in Bushfire Emergencies research project showed that parents and carers who had lived through a bushfire had little time to pack and evacuate. The study also showed that if they were to go through a similar experience again they would have a pre-packed evacuation kit for their child, leave earlier, but would choose to stay with friends or family rather than in evacuation centres.

ABA offers a valuable suite of resources to help emergency planners, responders, and community organisations better support young families in times of crisis. These include practical information you can share with parents and caregivers about being prepared and how to manage before, during and after an emergency or disaster.
For your own professional development, ABA also provides a FREE 15–20 minute eLearning Module. This short course gives you simple, practical ways to support babies, toddlers, and their caregivers during emergencies — a must for anyone working in the emergency management sector.

Sector News & Resources
ADRC proceedings: AIDR has released proceedings from ADRC 2025 with details of keynote speakers, presentation papers and slides, and more.

AJEM: The October 2025 edition of the Australian Journal of Emergency Management (AJEM) is now available with plenty of great research, articles and news.

Building back better: This article shares how building back better in Chile uses disaster recovery to enhance community resilience by integrating risk reduction measures into rebuilding efforts.

Children as ambassadors of change: This article shares how schools across Europe are building children’s resilience and civic roles.

Emotional preparedness for disasters: This blog explores how and why psychological and emotional preparedness is so important.

Flood and nature-based solutions: New national guidelines show how various nature-based solutions can be used effectively in different regions to reduce the impact of floods.

Gender and Disaster Australia: GAD Australia has released its new strategic plan, focused on enhancing the awareness and understanding of how gender and disaster intersect, and on eliminating the harms caused by outdated understandings of gender and gender-based stereotypes.

Insurance lessons for Australia: A new Winston Churchill Fellowship Report explores how Australian insurers can de-risk and scale new climate and resilience solutions.

Insurance losses in Australia: The recently released Insurance Council of Australia’s report ranks Australia second in the world in extreme weather-related losses.

Mental health before disaster: This IFRC report shares how mental health is central to how communities withstand and recover from crises, and what is needed to ensure this.

Mental Health Vulnerability Index: This new report provides a new approach to help agencies identify communities most vulnerable to developing mental ill health during climatic hazards.

Psychosocial hazards in police, fire or rescue services: As part of a research project, QC University is looking for emergency services workers to participate in a paid interview relating to psychosocial hazards and mental wellbeing. Email [email protected] for information.

Queensland Disaster Management Research Forum: This IGEM event is designed to foster meaningful connections between research and practice, encouraging dialogue and innovation in disaster resilience.

Research: Check out Gender perspectives in disaster response: An evidence-based review and The adaptive shift: Embracing complexity in disaster and emergency management.

US Scholarship: The Mary Fran Myers Scholarship supports emerging leaders in disaster research and practice to attend the Annual Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop in the USA, along with either the Researchers Meeting or Practitioners Meeting.

Victorian Disaster Research Forum: This free in-person forum brings together Victoria’s impact-focused disaster and natural hazards research community to strengthen impact and collaboration. 10 November, Melbourne CBD.

Workforce equity: The 2025 Gender equity insights 2025 report finds that workforce gender equity in Australia remains a story of both progress and fragility.
What we’re watching: The ABC’s second season of I Was Actually There includes first hand stories from the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires, the September 11 terrorist attack, the Cronulla riots and the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race tragedy, sharing how and why emergencies and disasters can have long lasting impact. Please note some content may be distressing.
If you’ve got news or resources you would like shared in the AWE Newsletter, please email us the details by the end of the calendar month in time for publication the first week of each month.

Sector Events
2026

8 March International Women’s Day

14-15 July       Emergency Management Conference (Vic)

27-28 July Disaster and Emergency Management Conference

21-24 April              Floodplain Management Australia National Conference

18-21 August          AFAC26
If you are attending any of these major events and would like to meet up with other AWE members, please email us at [email protected] and we’ll help you to connect.

About AWE
The Australasian Women in Emergencies Network (AWE) promotes, supports and recognises the contributions of women in emergency management and disaster resilience

Visit www.awenetwork.org.au. Email us at [email protected]

Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, YouTube and Instagram

To become an AWE member, please visit www.awenetwork.org.au/join-us

 

AWE acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present. AWE acknowledges the injustices committed against First Nations people and recognise Sovereignty has never been ceded. Australian land always was, and always will be Aboriginal land.

AWE recognises the unique role of Māori, and embraces the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti), NZ’s foundation document confirming Māori as tangata whenua, the first people of Aotearoa, New Zealand. It recognises that they have tino rangatiratanga (absolute authority or sovereignty) over their lands, resources, and taonga (treasured possessions) while embracing the three guiding principles of the Te Tiriti – partnership, participation and protection.

AWE acknowledges, values and celebrates the rich diversity and intersectionality of our members, workplaces and communities. We are committed to creating an inclusive, equitable, respectful and safe network, where people of all identities, cultures, backgrounds, abilities and experiences feel they belong and are empowered and able to strive and thrive.

Newsletter Contributions: The AWE Newsletter is published monthly and is distributed to more than 2400 AWE members across Australasia. For contributions, queries or to let us know what you would like to see in the newsletter, please email us at [email protected]. Check out past Newsletters here.