COMMUNICATING AND SHARING DURING ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS
Dr Susan Atkinson
COMMUNICATING AND SHARING DURING ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS
I am Dr Susan Atkinson (most people call me Sue), a disaster communication researcher and strategic communication consultant based in Canberra, Australia. My research examines how communities construct their own communication infrastructure during disasters — and what that means for emergency management policy and practice.
I completed my PhD at the News and Media Research Centre, University of Canberra in 2026, supported by a Natural Hazards Research Australia scholarship. I work as a researcher and consultant across the research-policy-practice interface.
![UC-Logo_N&MRC_Inline_Colour_RGB[74].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b17796_199ac39028274272840604f2f3900fc3~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_594,h_67,al_c,q_85,enc_avif,quality_auto/b17796_199ac39028274272840604f2f3900fc3~mv2.png)
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
I was born and raised in Canberra before heading to Melbourne for my first degree and then to Japan, where I lived and worked for nearly a decade. I speak Japanese and spent time as a postgraduate researcher at Kyoto University.
I spent over 25 years as an Australian federal public servant, working across international relations, humanitarian operations, emergency response, law enforcement, and national security policy. Since 2015 I have run Susan Atkinson Consulting, working with government agencies, community organisations, and emergency management stakeholders on strategic communication, program design, and policy development.
In 2026 I completed my PhD at the University of Canberra, where my research demonstrated that communities are not passive recipients of emergency communication — they actively construct sophisticated communication systems during disasters. My thesis introduced the concept of information intermediaries: community members who design and manage communication flows for their whole communities during crises, often more effectively than official systems.
I work at the intersection of disaster communication research, emergency management policy, and community resilience practice. If any of that sounds relevant to what you're working on, I'd love to hear from you.
My Projects
PhD Research
Completed 2026
My PhD thesis, Information Intermediaries: How Communities Build Disaster Communication Infrastructure from the Ground Up, was conferred by the University of Canberra in 2026.
The research examined how communities communicated during the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires and the 2022 Brisbane and Northern Rivers floods, drawing on 19 in-depth interviews. The findings challenge the dominant transmission model of emergency communication — the assumption that agencies hold information and communities receive it.
The central contribution is the concept of information intermediaries: individuals who emerge organically within communities to design and manage communication flows during disasters, building infrastructure rather than simply sharing messages. The thesis also introduces a three-pillar framework describing how communities construct communication infrastructure through technology integration, trust network development, and the emergence of information intermediaries.
The full thesis is available through the University of Canberra library. A plain-language summary is available [link when ready].
ACT Disaster Resilience Policy & Research Forum 2025
August 2025
In August 2025, I organised the inaugural ACT Disaster Resilience Policy and Research Forum, bringing together over 65 researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and community organisations. Co-hosted with the ACT Government and UC's Centre for Environmental Governance, this first-of-its-kind cross-sector collaboration supported implementation of the ACT Disaster Resilience Strategy 2024-2030.
The forum featured distinguished speakers including Vice-Chancellor Bill Shorten, followed by workshop sessions designed around my research philosophy that disaster resilience should build on community strengths rather than vulnerabilities. I presented my PhD research on "information intermediaries" and challenged participants with provocative questions like "What if the emergency management sector's biggest asset isn't more resources, but better recognition of what communities already do?"
With 92% of participants saying the forum met or exceeded expectations, the workshops generated concrete research-policy partnerships and new collaborations now being pursued through funding applications. The success has established this as an annual platform, with the next forum planned for 2026-27.
IAMCR 2025
July 2025
I recently presented my PhD research at the International Association of Media and Communication Researchers (IAMCR) conference in Singapore, where I introduced my concept of "information intermediaries" to the international communication studies community. My presentation revealed how certain individuals naturally emerge as crucial bridges between official emergency communication and local community needs during Australian bushfires and floods.
The response was incredibly encouraging. The panel chair invited me to contribute to a journal special edition, and I had productive discussions with an academic publisher about developing both scholarly and industry-focused publications. Attending alongside seven colleagues from the News and Media Research Centre created valuable opportunities for mutual support and collaboration.
This presentation marked an important milestone in establishing "information intermediaries" as a recognized concept in disaster communication research. The international engagement confirmed its relevance beyond Australia and highlighted its potential contributions to both academic understanding and practical emergency management. I look forward to presenting the industry applications at AFAC in Perth this August.
I'm always eager to connect with fellow researchers, policy makers or practitioners working on topics similar to mine, particularly in the areas of improving community communication capabilities. If you're engaged in related research or have overlapping interests, I'd be delighted to discuss your work and explore potential collaboration opportunities. Please don't hesitate to reach out – sharing ideas and perspectives can often lead to valuable insights and partnerships. Feel free to contact me to arrange a conversation about our research interests and how we might support each other's work.