Join us for a compelling online presentation and panel session featuring the NSW Reconstruction Authority and NSW State Emergency Service as they unpack their coordinated communication efforts before, during, and after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred—one of the most unpredictable storms in recent memory.

In the true spirit of EMPA Principle #4 - Creating Connections - Integrating Efforts, Executive Director of Communications & Engagement at the NSW Reconstruction Authority, Shehana Darda-Teixeira, and Operational Media Manager at NSW State Emergency Service, Andrew Edmunds, will share how their agencies worked side-by-side to ensure a smoother, more informed communications roll out in the Northern Rivers region, one markedly different to the challenges faced during the floods of 2022.

Since its establishment in 2022, the NSW Reconstruction Authority has supported communities through multiple smaller disaster events across the state. This has shaped a more agile, coordinated approach to response and recovery communication.

For exTC Alfred, the RA and NSW SES leveraged lessons learned from previous disasters to deliver timely, clear, and targeted messaging that met the evolving needs of affected communities.

In this one-hour session, Shehana and Andrew will walk through how their teams collaborated ahead of the storm, what they did differently to close the gaps exposed in earlier emergencies and how they unified their messaging into a consistent and trusted source of truth.

This session is a must for any emergency communicator wanting to learn how cross-agency collaboration can transform outcomes in times of uncertainty

Shehana Darda-Teixeira is the Executive Director of Communications & Engagement for the NSW Reconstruction Authority. She has over two decades of experience leading media and communications for some of the biggest projects in NSW and has successfully delivered complex engagement in often contentious environments where her work has led to projects more closely reflecting community aspirations or shifts in policy and public sentiment.

Her background includes stints as the Director of Media and PR for the University of Sydney during which time the University was named the most prominent academic voice in the country during the Covid-19 pandemic. Prior to joining the University, Shehana was Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s Chief of Staff, a Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director for several Ministers as part the former NSW Labor State Government and worked for local government in western Sydney.

Andrew Edmunds ESM is the Operational Media Manager at the NSW State Emergency Service (SES). Andrew’s team is responsible for delivering public information and operational media
across the state. Andrew has had a long career in various media, marketing, digital and social media roles, including with Surf Life Saving, the Australian Sports Commission and Defence Force Recruiting, before joining the NSW SES in 2022.