Natural Hazards Research Australia CEO Andrew Gissing and New Zealand Natural Hazards and Resilience Platform executive director Richard Smith have agreed the groups will work together to advance risk reduction.

Australia and New Zealand share similar natural hazards challenges, they say, and collaboration on resilience creates an opportunity to share expertise, data and resources at a scale no organisation can achieve alone.

“By working together, we can accelerate knowledge exchange, inform better policy and practice, and improve outcomes for communities,” Mr Gissing said.

The agreement intends to align research capability and knowledge exchange.

Mr Smith says the move formalises a long-standing relationship and provides a strong foundation for pursuing shared priorities, and creating mutual value and learning to strengthen the wider sector.

Opportunities to collaborate include research projects and funding proposals; staff exchanges and professional development; sharing data, tools, models, methods and technical expertise; engagement with stakeholders; dissemination of research findings; and development of resources to support policy.