Distinguished Professor David Johnston of Massey University's Joint Centre for Disaster Research has passed away

Distinguished Professor David Johnston of Massey University's Joint Centre for Disaster Research has passed away

It is with great sadness that Natural Hazards Inc received news of the sudden passing of Distinguished Professor David Johnston of the Joint Centre for Disaster Research (JCDR), Massey University.

JCDR is a pivotal member of the Natural Hazards Inc Business Cluster.

David made a major contribution to disaster risk management research internationally, especially in the social sciences.

His considerable contributions included his support and input to the Natural Hazards Inc over many years, beginning when the cluster started as the Earthquake Engineering Business Cluster, then merged as a joint cluster as today’s Natural Hazards Inc Business Cluster. 

David was for several years a Co-Chair and currently a member of the Executive Management Committee. He has strongly supported the cluster both has an individual and as the Founder Director of the Joint Centre for Disaster Research. He has actively provided much valuable input with strategic planning, ideas, hosting of meetings, links with others and a range of research and other projects. He was a regular international participant in conferences, workshop meetings and project assignments across Asia, Europe, Pacific and USA, developing a global network of contacts and associations. David made numerous presentations, chaired a large number of conference workshop meetings, and co-authored numerous publications.

David Johnston has been actively encouraging all of cluster members to do more to develop and foster international disaster research, emergency management education post graduate initiatives and connections – to include these as part of, or as additions, to any other project initiatives the cluster is involved with. He saw this as an achievable contribution, which New Zealand could develop and grow globally, with it being particularly important at a time of increasing climate change impacts.

He had recently taken a keen interest in the follow up from the recent Vanuatu Earthquake and range of other initiatives that cluster members are involved with.

David is survived by Carol, son Joshua and his siblings Chris and Sarah.

Further details will follow regarding David’s memorial service. JCDR friends have established a koha (donation) facility for his family, with the details on the JCDR Facebook page being: For those who wish to contribute the trusted appointed account details are as follows:

Account is in the name of:H I Katene, 
Account number: 12-3126-0316899-50 
Please use Your Surname as Reference and use KOHA as code.  

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