Disaster Seminar Series

Winter 2026:

Jan. 8, 2026
Speakers: Dr. Na-Koshie Lamptey, Acting Medical Officer of Health, City of Toronto

Topic: Pearls from peril: Protecting public health in local emergencies

Jan. 15, 2026
Interactive, Role-Playing Session with Students: Dr. Evalyna Bogdan, Co-Director of Y-EMERGE; Assistant Professor in the Disaster and Emergency Management program, York University

Topic: How students can succeed in job interviews

Jan. 22, 2026
Speakers: Dr. S. Harris Ali, Professor, Department of Sociology, and CITY Institute Interim Director, York University (event is co-sponsored with the City Institute at York University)

Topic: The urban dimensions of wildfires

Abstract: This presentation will consider how contemporary urban theory may be used to gain some insight into the proliferation and impacts of wildfires.  Particular attention will be on how the analysis of the “urban” no longer simply involves an exclusive focus on the city core as traditionally emphasized, but rather involves a consideration of the interdependencies between the city and the peripheral areas around the city – including suburban and exurban areas.  In that light, I will briefly introduce and explain such perspectives as “extended urbanization” or “planetary urbanization” and discuss the implications of such perspectives for understanding the politics and ecology of wildfires. 

Jan. 29, 2026
Speakers: Colleen Simpson & Katarina Garpenfeldt, York Region Emergency Management

Topic: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) Implementation - Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract: This presentation aims to offer an overview of the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) process as implemented in York Region. For more than 15 years, York Region Emergency Management has conducted an annual HIRA to meet compliance requirements. Over time, significant effort has been invested in addressing methodological challenges and optimizing the process to ensure that the results deliver meaningful value and strengthen the overall emergency management program.

Feb. 5, 2026
Speakers: Hayston Lam & Cameron Wilson, Emergency Management Ontario

Topic: Ontario Corps Volunteer Organization

Abstract: This presentation will focus on the creation, the partners, and the mission of Ontario Corps. This provincially led organization was formed to assist Ontarians during emergencies or natural disasters. Ontario Corp includes highly trained and experienced NGOs, as well as Ontarians from all backgrounds and experience levels who want to help their communities in times of need. We will do a brief overview of ‘What is Ontario Corp’ and then focus on recent real-world emergencies where Ontario Corp was a key partner in local disaster response.

Feb. 12, 2026
Speakers: Randy Reid, Director Nuclear Radiological and Scientific Response Programs, Emergency Management Ontario

Topic: Ontario’s Nuclear Emergency Management Program (NEMP)

Feb. 19, 2026 - READING WEEK - no session

Feb. 26, 2026
Speakers: Ben Gallagher, EM City of Mississauga

Topic: Day in the life of an emergency manager

Abstract: Even though no two days are ever the same, Ben will provide an overview of what a typical day in the life of an emergency manager may look like in the context of a large-urban setting. This includes the challenges and opportunities that emergency managers can expect to encounter in their roles, especially as we look towards the future. Ben will share insights and practical advice based on his role as a municipal emergency manager for those entering or working in the field of emergency management.  

Mar. 5, 2026
Speakers: Alisha Khan, Senior Manager, Reliability & Emergency Response, Hydro One Networks Inc.

Topic: Critical infrastructure emergency management

Abstract: Alisha’s presentation will focus on the realities, challenges, and practical strategies of applying Emergency Management and Business Continuity frameworks within a complex organization. Drawing from her professional experience, rather than speaking on behalf of any specific employer, she will discuss how frameworks are operationalized, where theory meets real world constraints, and the organizational and cultural barriers that practitioners must navigate.

The session will explore:
• How Emergency Management and Business Continuity concepts translate into day to day operations
• Common challenges organizations face when implementing these programs
• Practical examples from real events and EOC activations
• Lessons learned from working across multiple critical infrastructure sectors

Mar. 12, 2026
Speakers: Katie Subbotina, Corporate Lead, Emergency Preparedness at Trillium Health Partners

Topic: Many Days, Many Settings: A Career in Emergency Management 

Abstract: Drawing on experience across hospital settings and in a consulting role supporting emergency management operations across Canada, Katie will discuss how emergency management practice varies across organizational contexts. The presentation will highlight skills developed in different roles, how governance and organizational structures shape emergency programs, and key lessons learned for those entering or working in the field of emergency management.   

Mar. 26, 2026
Speakers: Terry Cannon, Emeritus Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies at University of Sussex, UK

Topic: Is Disaster Risk Creation more significant than risk reduction?

Abstract: Most work (research and practice) in disaster risk reduction (DRR) is based on the assumption that it reduces vulnerability or mitigate hazards. Research is supposedly ‘taken up’ by governments and relevant institutions and used to inform DRR policy. Donors, NGOs and other actors supposedly engage in activities that reduce disaster risk. This paper upsets these comforting assumptions. It argues that government and the private sector are much more likely to create disasters than to reduce them. The argument that Disaster Risk Creation (DRC) is more significant than the efforts of academics and organizations to reduce disasters is of course controversial. But in the context of a global economy, dominated by the ideology of neo-liberalism, I argue that a great deal more honesty is needed in how academia relates to the problems of disaster creation. The presentation examines the concept of Damage to Cure Ratio (D:C), which assesses the difference between finance and activities that are supposed to reduce disaster impacts (the ‘cure’) and the resources that are used to make vulnerability worse, to increase global warming, and to expose more people to natural hazards.

We encourage everyone to attend the Mar. 26 seminar in-person but participants can also join online:
https://yorku.zoom.us/j/95792639115?pwd=8f4taWcHtfWarFChbMbJD8NpTQH7sP.1
Meeting ID: 957 9263 9115
Passcode: 451025

Apr. 2, 2026
Speakers:

Dr. Michail Chalaris, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Director of the MSc in Quality, Safety, Security, Health, and Environmental Management and Research Director on Risk, Hazards, Crises, and Safet, Democritus University of Thrace

Dr. Dimitrios Dimitriou, Professor, Head of the Department of Economics, School of Social, Political & Economic Sciences
Director of the MaGBISE Research Laboratory, Director of the MSc in Supply Chain Management, Democritus University of Thrace

Topic for Dr. Chalaris: Building an Integrated Ecosystem of Postgraduate Education, Training, and Applied Innovation

Abstract: This presentation explores an expanding academic ecosystem built around the governance of protection, spanning the continuum from everyday organisational safety and prevention to resilience, crisis management, and emergency response. At its centre stand two complementary MSc programmes at Democritus University of Thrace: the established MSc in Quality, Environmental, Health and Safety Management and the forthcoming international MSc in Resilience, Risk, Crisis, Emergency Management, and Homeland Security. Together, they constitute the academic core of a coherent pathway structured around risk, protection, preparedness, and organised response. This core is amplified through European VET programmes and punctual short-format tailor-made trainings, which create a two-way link between postgraduate education and professional practice. These formats translate academic knowledge into competence-based, field-oriented learning, while bringing operational realities and practitioner expertise back into curriculum design. The result is a dynamic ecosystem in which higher education, vocational learning, and the world of practice continuously reinforce one another.  

Topic for Dr. Dimitriou: Humanitarian Engineering and Supply Chains: Advancing Innovation and Education through Inter-University Collaboration – The case of MaGBISE lab

Abstract: The increasing frequency and complexity of global crises—including natural disasters, conflicts, pandemics, and climate-induced emergencies—have highlighted the critical role of efficient, resilient, and adaptive humanitarian systems. At the intersection of these systems lie humanitarian engineering and supply chain management, two fields that are essential for designing, delivering, and sustaining effective responses in resource-constrained and highly uncertain environments. However, significant research and educational gaps remain in integrating engineering solutions with logistics and supply chain strategies tailored to humanitarian contexts.

This presentation explores the key research challenges and emerging opportunities within humanitarian engineering and supply chains, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary approaches that combine technological innovation, data-driven decision-making, and context-sensitive design. Core challenges include last-mile delivery in disrupted infrastructures, coordination among multiple stakeholders, digitalization and data sharing in crisis settings, sustainability and circularity in humanitarian operations, and the ethical dimensions of technology deployment in vulnerable communities.

In response to these challenges, the presentation advocates for a collaborative, inter-university approach to advancing both research and education in this domain. By leveraging complementary expertise, resources, and networks, universities can co-develop innovative curricula, joint research initiatives, and experiential learning opportunities that better prepare graduates to address real-world humanitarian problems. Particular attention is given to the design of a joint MSc programme that integrates humanitarian engineering and supply chain management, fostering interdisciplinary competencies, practical skills, and global perspectives.

Ultimately, this work positions inter-university collaboration as a key enabler for bridging research and education, accelerating innovation, and building capacity in humanitarian systems. It calls for a shared vision in higher education that not only responds to current global challenges but also anticipates future needs, contributing to more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable humanitarian operations.

For in-person attendance, please register using this link: https://research.apps01.yorku.ca/machform/view.php?id=301073 

We encourage everyone to attend the Apr. 2 seminar in-person but participants can also join online: https://yorku.zoom.us/j/95792639115?pwd=8f4taWcHtfWarFChbMbJD8NpTQH7sP.1
Meeting ID: 957 9263 9115
Passcode: 451025

Fall 2025:

Sep 11, 2025
Speakers:

• Dr. Eric B. Kennedy, Director of Y-EMERGE; Associate Professor in the Disaster and Emergency Management program, York University
• Dr. Evalyna Bogdan, Co-Director of Y-EMERGE; Assistant Professor in the Disaster and Emergency Management program, York University

Topic: Disaster Seminar Series KICK-OFF

Sep 18, 2025
Speaker: Glen McGillivray, Managing Director, Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, Adjunct Professor, Disaster and Emergency Management program at York University
Topic: Everything you wanted to know about home insurance but didn't know who to ask

Sep 25, 2025
Speakers:

• Dr. Eric B. Kennedy, Director of Y-EMERGE; School of Administrative Studies & Disaster and Emergency Management program, York University
• Dr. Evalyna Bogdan, Co-Director of Y-EMERGE; School of Administrative Studies & Disaster and Emergency Management program, York University

Topic: “What can Y-EMERGE do for you?”

Oct 2, 2025
Speaker: Dr. Jane Marie Heffernan, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University
Topic: Modelling for Public Health response during a pandemic

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic public health response was informed by mathematical models of infectious disease spread and healthcare demand. In this talk we will discuss the utility of mathematical modelling in this context and review some model results that were used to inform public health response.

Oct 9, 2025
Speakers:

• Student Panellists: James Wheeler-Hebert, Nour Lyakoubi, Jade Harrow, Kirit Kambo
• Professor Nirupama Agrawal and Karlene Case, Director of Student Work Integrated Learning & Career Education (LA&PS Co-op Representative)

Topic: LAPS co-op/DEM internship & field placement panel with students

Oct 16, 2025
No session – Reading Week

Oct 23, 2025
Facilitator: Dr. Evalyna Bogdan
Topic: Activity: Flood Media Framing & Misinformation – Fraser Valley Flood (2021)

About the session: This exercise explores how different media platforms shaped public understanding of the Fraser Valley Flood (2021). Through a hands-on group activity, participants will compare how traditional outlets and social media framed the same event, noting differences in tone, language, and the portrayal of key actors. The session will conclude with a brief discussion to synthesize key takeaways and reflect on the implications of media framing during disasters.

Oct 30, 2025
Speaker: Alain Normand, Instructor in the DEM program & Emergency Management practitioner; Consulting Associate, ADRA Canada / NGO Alliance of Ontario
Topic: The 2022 deployment to Ukraine to coordinate disaster relief efforts

About the session: As a long-standing member of ADRA Canada -the Humanitarian arm of the Seventh-Day Adventist church- Alain have been deployed a few times to support disaster relief operations. In May 2022, he was contacted by ADRA International as they needed an expert in donations management to develop a system for Ukraine. He accepted and he spent six weeks in May and June in Mukachevo working with the small local ADRA team. Alain will share his experience as well as the basis for setting up a donations management system

Nov 6, 2025
Speaker: Dr. Patricia Martel, Associate Faculty, Humanitarian Studies, Royal Roads University; Emergency Management practitioner
Topic: Evolving Disaster and Emergency Management to Address Changing Needs in Canada

Abstract: Hazards and vulnerabilities in Canada are changing due to factors such as climate change, reliance on technology, and socio-economic factors. It is important that we continue to strengthen and improve our disaster and emergency management systems and programs to meet the increasing challenges placed upon them. This presentation will discuss changes needed to the current Canadian emergency management system through a lens of developing a holistic framework that can better support our communities and vulnerable populations

Nov 13, 2025
Speakers: Panellists
Topic: Disaster and emergency management in military roles​​

Nov 20, 2025
Speaker: Dr. Kathleen Tierney, Professor Emerita, Department of Sociology, and Research Professor, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado Boulder
Topic: Covid-19 and Disaster Research: Continuities and Surprises

Abstract: For decades, social science studies on disasters have provided insights on social behavior in disasters.  This presentation focuses on the extent to which those earlier findings were borne out during the COVID pandemic. Three topics will be discussed: risk communication and disaster warnings; typical behavioral patterns in disasters; and social vulnerability.