Lucy Easthope has been a disaster planner for two turbulent decades. She works in preparedness, response and aftermath and throughout this time has challenged others to think differently about what comes next, after tragic events. She is a passionate and thought-provoking voice in an area that few know about: emergency planning. However, in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, her work became decidedly more mainstream. Alongside advising both the Prime Minister’s Office and many other government departments and charities during the pandemic, she has found time to reflect on a life in disaster. She is known globally for her work and holds research positions in the UK and New Zealand, and is a Professor in Mass Fatalities and Pandemics at the Centre for Death and Society, University of Bath. Her book When the Dust Settles: Stories of Love, Loss and Hope from an Expert in Disaster was released in March 2022 and was a Sunday Times bestseller.
In her talk, Lucy will share lessons on a life in extremis and insights into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.