On May 15, 2025, the Resilience Development Initiative (RDI) participated in a significant event focusing on multi-hazard preparedness related to the Lembang Fault. Hosted at Deakin Lancaster University Indonesia (DLI) in Bandung, this event brought together key stakeholders in disaster risk reduction, including RDI, British Geological Survey (BGS), National Research and Innovation Agency (Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional/BRIN), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Universitas Padjadjaran (UNPAD), and the British Embassy Jakarta. Professor Greg Barton, Rector of DLI, inaugurated the symposium and conveyed DLI's strong support for research collaboration and strategic alliances aimed at strengthening community resilience.

Opening Remarks:

Prof Greg Barton (Rector of DLI), Matthew Downing (Deputy British Ambassador), and Muhammad Farhan (Mayor of Bandung City)

The event continued with a warm welcome from the Deputy British Ambassador, Matthew Downing, who underscored the importance of UK-Indonesia research collaborations in addressing long-term geological disaster risks. Mayor of Bandung City, Muhammad Farhan, also highlighted Bandung’s commitment to earthquake risk mitigation, particularly through the establishment of the new Disaster Management Agency (Badan Penangggulangan Bencana Daerah/BPBD) of Bandung City. His remarks reinforced the city’s vision to build a resilient urban environment by leveraging science and innovation.

Group Photo with Keynote Speakers and Dignitaries

RDI’s Senior Research Fellow, Dr Saut Sagala

RDI’s Senior Research Fellow, Dr Saut Sagala, delivered a presentation titled “From Research to Action: Addressing Multi-Hazard Risks Through UK-Indonesia Collaboration.” He emphasised the importance of collaboration and spatial planning to strengthen urban resilience, drawing lessons from past disasters in Palu and Myanmar. Dr Sagala’s insights resonated with the audience and positioned RDI as a critical partner in disaster preparedness efforts.

Other notable speakers included Dr Ekbal Hussain from BGS, who reiterated BGS’s ongoing commitment to multi-hazard research and capacity building in Indonesia, and Dr Nuraini Rahma Hanifa from BRIN, who outlined BRIN’s new technologies for disaster mitigation and its active research collaborations with the UK. Furthermore, Dr Endra Gunawan from ITB highlighted ITB’s leading role in studying the Lembang and Sumatra faults and its collaboration with BGS to address seismic hazards in West Java.

The symposium concluded with an engaging Q&A session attended by participants from city and regional governments. Discussions focused on earthquake periodisation, data accuracy, community education, and strengthening BPBD's capacity to mitigate disaster risks. These exchanges demonstrated the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration to build a culture of preparedness and resilience.

Q&A Session:

Cecilia Nonifili Yuanity (RDI Program Area Officer) and BPBD Representative

RDI is proud to have contributed to this meaningful dialogue, reinforcing its mission to support evidence-based strategies for disaster risk reduction in Indonesia. As climate and geological risks grow in complexity, RDI remains dedicated to fostering partnerships and sharing knowledge to create safer, more resilient communities in Bandung, West Java, and beyond.