Alanna Simpson is the regional coordinator for disaster risk management in Europe and Central Asia at the World Bank. In this role, she works with partners to identify and implement actions that reduce disaster risk and improve preparedness, actions built on robust scientific and engineering analysis.
Prior to this role, Alanna led the Innovation Lab within the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), where she supported teams to identify and harness innovation, science and engineering to overcome entrenched issues in disaster risk management. This included the development, communication and use of disaster risk assessments; open-source tool development (e.g., Think Hazard!); the Open Data for Resilience Initiative (OpenDRI); promotion of new innovation through the Challenge Fund; and international knowledge exchange through publications and the Understanding Risk Forum.
Alanna previously worked for the Australian Government, where she led efforts to improve risk assessment capability in East Asia and the Pacific. A New Zealand and Australian national, Dr. Simpson holds a PhD in Geoscience from the University of Queensland, a M.Sc. from the University of Otago and a B.Sc. from the University of Auckland.