The RISK Award Jury

The jury who makes the final RISK Award decision consists of a board of internationally renowned experts in the field of disaster risk reduction representing a variety of backgrounds (developing countries and developed countries, gender-balanced, politicians, scientists and practitioners). They stand for a fair, objective and targeted decision process.

Paola Albrito has served in the United Nations in various capacities and duty stations since 1999 and is currently the Director of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. She holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Political Science from the University of Turin, Italy and is a member of the International Institute of Strategic Studies (London, United Kingdom). She has widely published internationally on disaster risk reduction and governance issues, and is an Editorial Advisor at the Crisis Response Journal (London, United Kingdom). She speaks Italian, French, English and some Russian.

Ryan Alaniz is a Professor of Sociology in the Department of Social Sciences at Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo.  His research interests include post-disaster relocation and recovery, community development, and the urban-rural divide.  Previously, Dr. Alaniz was a US State Department Fulbright Fellow and a Social Science Research Council Fellow.  His book “From Strangers to Neighbors: Post-disaster resettlement and community building in Honduras” is published by the University of Texas Press.

Renate Bleich is the chair of the Munich Re Foundation. The foundation addresses major global challenges including environmental and climate change as well as disaster prevention. Previously, she was responsible for further developing Munich Re’s sustainability strategy and putting the Group’s activities in a wider context, e.g. the SDG’s. One particular focus of her work is on climate change. Renate holds a Master’s degree in economic geography from LMU Munich.

Michael Havbro Faber is Professor at the Department of the Built Environment at Aalborg University, Denmark. From 2000-2011, he was a tenured professor at ETH, Zurich, Switzerland. His research interests are directed on governance and management of risks, resilience and sustainability. Present engagements include the Joint Committee on Structural Safety, the WEF; Global Expert Network on Risk and Resilience, the Global Risk Forum in Davos, the GLOBE Consensus on sustainability in the built environment and the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences (ATV).

Nishara Fernando is Professor of Sociology at the Department of Sociology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He earned his Bachelor’s degree and Master of Philosophy in Sociology from the University of Colombo, and his Postgraduate Diploma in Sociology from La Trobe University, Australia. He obtained his Doctorate from the University of Bonn, Germany. He served as Head of the Department and Director of the Social Policy Analysis and Research Centre (SPARC) at the same university. With over 26 years of experience, he has served as a principal investigator and country lead on various international sociological and multidisciplinary research projects in Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation, and Sustainable Development. Professor Fernando was honoured with the President's Award for Scientific Research Paper in 2018.

Benjamin S. Karmorh is a scientist and administrator with an international and local reputation who has played key roles in enabling Liberia uphold its responsibilities and commitments to the United Nations Climate Change Regulatory Frameworks, including his management and leadership for the preparation of national climate change communications and reports to international bodies. He has to his credit more than 10 years of successful work experience with the EPA.

Simone Sandholz leads urban transformation research and policy at the United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS). She holds a PhD and a postdoctoral degree in Geography, a Master’s degree in natural resources management and a Diploma in architecture. Her focus is on urban and regional development and how livelihoods of vulnerable groups can be improved and made safer through policy and action. She particularly looks at critical green and grey infrastructures for building resilience and how to link risk reduction to climate action and well-being.