About
Disaster Risk Management Trainer and Professional Development Adviser
Secretariat of the Pacific Community
kirstiem@spc.int
Summary
Kirstie Méheux is a disaster risk management professional at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, specialising in training and professional development of personnel in risk reduction, emergency preparedness, response and recovery. Kirstie has operational experience in disaster response in both Fiji and Australia. Kirstie is also an experienced researcher in the field of disaster management in Pacific Island Countries. Kirstie has delivered training in 12 Pacific island Countries and Territories. Prior to joining SPC, Kirstie worked with Australian Red Cross in their Emergency Services Team, responsible for the recruitment, training, and deployment of volunteers within Australia. Kirstie has also held Visiting Fellowships at the University of New South Wales and Fiji National University with whom she is partnering to develop a Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Disaster Risk Management.
Publications
Title: Integrating community based disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation: Examples from the Pacific. Publisher: Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences (European Geosciences Union) Link: http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/11/101/2011/nhess-11-101-2011.html
Title: Operational Challenges to community participation in post-disaster damage assessments: some observations from Fiji. Publisher: Disasters (Wiley) Link: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-7717.2010.01185.x/abstract
Title: Natural hazard impacts in small island developing states: A review of current knowledge and future research needs. Publisher: Natural Hazards (Springer) Link: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11069-006-9001-5
Title: Tourist sector perceptions of natural hazards in Vanuatu and the implications for a small island developing state. Publisher: Tourism Management (Elsevier) Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261517704001700
Title: Developing methods to measure the impacts of tropical cyclones in communities in Fiji Publisher: GEOQuest Research Centre, University of Wollongong
Title: Tourist sector perceptions of natural hazards in a Small Island Developing State: a preliminary study and recommendations for an awareness strategy in Vanuatu Publisher: Coventry University Link: http://www.grif.umontreal.ca/pages/papers2004/Paper%20-%20Meheux%20K,%20Parker%20E.pdf
Title: Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in the Pacific: The challenge of integration Publisher: University of New South Wales Link: http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/UNSW_2010_DRR_CCA_Pacific.pdf
Title: Integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in the Pacific Publisher: Climate and Development (Taylor and Francis Online) Link: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17565529.2011.624791#.VcFBnPmqqko
Title: Operational Challenges to community participation in post-disaster damage assessments: some observations from Fiji. Publisher: Disasters (Wiley) Link: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-7717.2010.01185.x/abstract
Title: Natural hazard impacts in small island developing states: A review of current knowledge and future research needs. Publisher: Natural Hazards (Springer) Link: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11069-006-9001-5
Title: Tourist sector perceptions of natural hazards in Vanuatu and the implications for a small island developing state. Publisher: Tourism Management (Elsevier) Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261517704001700
Title: Developing methods to measure the impacts of tropical cyclones in communities in Fiji Publisher: GEOQuest Research Centre, University of Wollongong
Title: Tourist sector perceptions of natural hazards in a Small Island Developing State: a preliminary study and recommendations for an awareness strategy in Vanuatu Publisher: Coventry University Link: http://www.grif.umontreal.ca/pages/papers2004/Paper%20-%20Meheux%20K,%20Parker%20E.pdf
Title: Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in the Pacific: The challenge of integration Publisher: University of New South Wales Link: http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/UNSW_2010_DRR_CCA_Pacific.pdf
Title: Integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in the Pacific Publisher: Climate and Development (Taylor and Francis Online) Link: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17565529.2011.624791#.VcFBnPmqqko
Qualifications
Degree: PhD Period: 2004-2007 Status: Completed Education institution: Macquarie University Country: Australia
Degree: MSc (Disaster Management by Research) Period: 2002-2003 Status: Completed Education institution: Coventry University Country: United Kingdom
Degree: BSc (Hons) Development and Health in Disaster Management Period: 1999-2002 Status: Completed Education institution: Coventry University Country: United Kingdom
Training: Training of Trainers in fisheries and aquaculture emergency response Period: 24-29 March 2015 Status: Completed Education institution: Food and Agriculture Organisation Country: Italy
Training: Sphere Handbook Training of Trainers Period: 8-13 April 2013 Status: Completed Education institution: RedR Australia Country: Fiji
Training: Gender and Climate Change Toolkit - Training of Trainers Period: 5-7 June 2014 Status: Completed Education institution: Secretariat of the Pacific Community Country: Fiji
Training: Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction Period: 2012 Status: Completed Education institution: Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre Country: Thailand
Training: Post Disaster Needs Assessment / Damage and Loss Assessment (PDNA/DaLA) Train the Trainer Period: February 2010 Status: Completed Education institution: World Bank and United Nations Country: Austria
Training: Introduction to Online Teaching Period: 2011 Status: Completed Education institution: Fiji National University Country: Fiji
Language: English Reading: Excellent Speaking: Excellent Writing: Excellent Understanding: Excellent
Degree: MSc (Disaster Management by Research) Period: 2002-2003 Status: Completed Education institution: Coventry University Country: United Kingdom
Degree: BSc (Hons) Development and Health in Disaster Management Period: 1999-2002 Status: Completed Education institution: Coventry University Country: United Kingdom
Training: Training of Trainers in fisheries and aquaculture emergency response Period: 24-29 March 2015 Status: Completed Education institution: Food and Agriculture Organisation Country: Italy
Training: Sphere Handbook Training of Trainers Period: 8-13 April 2013 Status: Completed Education institution: RedR Australia Country: Fiji
Training: Gender and Climate Change Toolkit - Training of Trainers Period: 5-7 June 2014 Status: Completed Education institution: Secretariat of the Pacific Community Country: Fiji
Training: Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction Period: 2012 Status: Completed Education institution: Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre Country: Thailand
Training: Post Disaster Needs Assessment / Damage and Loss Assessment (PDNA/DaLA) Train the Trainer Period: February 2010 Status: Completed Education institution: World Bank and United Nations Country: Austria
Training: Introduction to Online Teaching Period: 2011 Status: Completed Education institution: Fiji National University Country: Fiji
Language: English Reading: Excellent Speaking: Excellent Writing: Excellent Understanding: Excellent
Work Experience
Area of expertise: Capacity building specialist Experience: 84
Area of expertise: Training and Facilitation Experience: 10
Employment date: Fri, 01/07/2011 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Secretariat of the Pacific Community Position: Senior Adviser, Disaster Risk Management Training and Professional Development Location: Suva, Fiji Projects: Project date: Mon, 01/07/2013 - 12:00 - Tue, 01/07/2014 - 12:00 Location: Fiji - Regional Training Course Position: Course Organiser and Trainer Title: Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction into Development - Regional Training Course Description: In partnership with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC), SPC organised and delivered a five day training for representatives from the National Disaster Management Office and Ministry of Planning/Finance from seven Pacific Island Countries (Cook islands, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu) and representatives from CROP agencies (PIFS, SPREP, SPC). Project date: Fri, 01/07/2011 - 12:00 - Sat, 01/02/2014 - 12:00 Location: Cook Islands, FSM, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu Position: Senior Adviser, Training and Capacity Building Title: Pacific Disaster Risk Management (Training) Programme 2 Description: This project provided Disaster Risk Management training services to eight Pacific Island Countries (Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu) and included the delivery of an existing suite of training (Introduction to Disaster Management, Initial Damage Assessment, Emergency Operations Centres, Exercise Management and Training for Instructors), the development of a new course (Disaster Risk Reduction) and the significant revision and reintroduction of a course in Evacuation Centre Management. The project was also designed to build the capacity of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community to take over the responsibility for managing DRM training in the region, following the departure of The Asia Foundation, which had managed the training programme for the preceding 19 years. Project date: Wed, 01/01/2014 - 12:00 - Mon, 01/06/2015 - 12:00 Location: Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu Position: Trainer Title: Climate and Disaster Resilience Planning for Broadcasters Description: The project, led by SPREP in partnership with SPC provided training to national broadcasters in climate change and disaster risk management and supported broadcasters to develop climate and disaster resilience plans to increase their preparedness to respond to disasters.
Employment date: Wed, 01/10/2008 - 12:00 - Wed, 01/06/2011 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Australian Red Cross Position: Emergency Services Coordinator Location: Sydney, Australia Projects: Project date: Wed, 01/07/2009 - 12:00 - Sat, 01/10/2011 - 12:00 Location: Australia Position: Team Member Title: National Registration and Inquiry System - Upgrade and redevelopment Description: This project upgraded the National Registration and Inquiry System (NRIS) that is used to register people in areas affected by disasters within Australia in irder to reconnect them with their family in unaffected areas. The system is owned by the Police in each State/Territory but implemented and managed by Australian Red Cross. The review was launched following the 2009 Victorian Bushfires and my role was to provide input to the redesign as an Expert User and act as a liaison between Australian Red Cross and the New South Wales Police Force.
Employment date: Tue, 01/01/2008 - 12:00 - Fri, 01/01/2010 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Natural Hazards Research Laboratory, University of New South Wales Position: Visiting Research Fellow Location: Sydney, Australia Projects: Project date: Wed, 01/04/2009 - 12:00 - Thu, 01/04/2010 - 12:00 Location: Fiji, Samoa Position: Principal Investigator Title: Integrating participatory disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation to enhance community Description: A research project funded by AusAID’s Australian Development Research Award Scheme. The research developed case studies of integrated disaster risk management and climate change adaptation in community based communities to critically review existing relationships and initiatives within and between participatory DRR and climate change adaptation in the Pacific, further understanding of the relationship between participants (institutions, community groups, individuals) engaged in DRR and climate change adaptation at a community level, highlight the challenges facing the integration of DRR and climate change adaptation and propose a strategy to address these challenges, and identify examples of best practice to support the development of guidelines and recommendations for integrated participatory DRR and climate change adaptation in the Pacific.
Area of expertise: Training and Facilitation Experience: 10
Employment date: Fri, 01/07/2011 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Secretariat of the Pacific Community Position: Senior Adviser, Disaster Risk Management Training and Professional Development Location: Suva, Fiji Projects: Project date: Mon, 01/07/2013 - 12:00 - Tue, 01/07/2014 - 12:00 Location: Fiji - Regional Training Course Position: Course Organiser and Trainer Title: Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction into Development - Regional Training Course Description: In partnership with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC), SPC organised and delivered a five day training for representatives from the National Disaster Management Office and Ministry of Planning/Finance from seven Pacific Island Countries (Cook islands, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu) and representatives from CROP agencies (PIFS, SPREP, SPC). Project date: Fri, 01/07/2011 - 12:00 - Sat, 01/02/2014 - 12:00 Location: Cook Islands, FSM, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu Position: Senior Adviser, Training and Capacity Building Title: Pacific Disaster Risk Management (Training) Programme 2 Description: This project provided Disaster Risk Management training services to eight Pacific Island Countries (Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu) and included the delivery of an existing suite of training (Introduction to Disaster Management, Initial Damage Assessment, Emergency Operations Centres, Exercise Management and Training for Instructors), the development of a new course (Disaster Risk Reduction) and the significant revision and reintroduction of a course in Evacuation Centre Management. The project was also designed to build the capacity of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community to take over the responsibility for managing DRM training in the region, following the departure of The Asia Foundation, which had managed the training programme for the preceding 19 years. Project date: Wed, 01/01/2014 - 12:00 - Mon, 01/06/2015 - 12:00 Location: Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu Position: Trainer Title: Climate and Disaster Resilience Planning for Broadcasters Description: The project, led by SPREP in partnership with SPC provided training to national broadcasters in climate change and disaster risk management and supported broadcasters to develop climate and disaster resilience plans to increase their preparedness to respond to disasters.
Employment date: Wed, 01/10/2008 - 12:00 - Wed, 01/06/2011 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Australian Red Cross Position: Emergency Services Coordinator Location: Sydney, Australia Projects: Project date: Wed, 01/07/2009 - 12:00 - Sat, 01/10/2011 - 12:00 Location: Australia Position: Team Member Title: National Registration and Inquiry System - Upgrade and redevelopment Description: This project upgraded the National Registration and Inquiry System (NRIS) that is used to register people in areas affected by disasters within Australia in irder to reconnect them with their family in unaffected areas. The system is owned by the Police in each State/Territory but implemented and managed by Australian Red Cross. The review was launched following the 2009 Victorian Bushfires and my role was to provide input to the redesign as an Expert User and act as a liaison between Australian Red Cross and the New South Wales Police Force.
Employment date: Tue, 01/01/2008 - 12:00 - Fri, 01/01/2010 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Natural Hazards Research Laboratory, University of New South Wales Position: Visiting Research Fellow Location: Sydney, Australia Projects: Project date: Wed, 01/04/2009 - 12:00 - Thu, 01/04/2010 - 12:00 Location: Fiji, Samoa Position: Principal Investigator Title: Integrating participatory disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation to enhance community Description: A research project funded by AusAID’s Australian Development Research Award Scheme. The research developed case studies of integrated disaster risk management and climate change adaptation in community based communities to critically review existing relationships and initiatives within and between participatory DRR and climate change adaptation in the Pacific, further understanding of the relationship between participants (institutions, community groups, individuals) engaged in DRR and climate change adaptation at a community level, highlight the challenges facing the integration of DRR and climate change adaptation and propose a strategy to address these challenges, and identify examples of best practice to support the development of guidelines and recommendations for integrated participatory DRR and climate change adaptation in the Pacific.