Natural Hazards Research Australia (NHRA) has announced Deborah Bunker as its inaugural Chief Science Officer.

Prof Bunker joins the research organisation from the University of Sydney, where she was a professor of systems and information.

She has been named to the centre’s board and will work with other leading figures in driving the NHRA’s “future research direction, portfolio and programs”.

Prof Bunker says a key part of her new role will be to “support and facilitate” researchers in assessing natural hazard risks.

“Practitioners, the community and researchers are able to combine their experiences and knowledge to develop and implement powerful solutions to what seem like intractable problems,” she said.