The official handover of the IDRiM Conference (from 2025 to 2026) from Prof. Ana Maria Cruz, President of the IDRiM Society, to Dr Saut Sagala, Chair of the 16th IDRiM Conference 2026, during the 15th IDRiM Conference 2025 in Samos Island, Greece.

From 28 September to 1 October 2025, Dr. Saut Sagala, Senior Research Fellow at the Resilience Development Initiative (RDI) and Program Director of the Master’s and Doctoral Programs in Urban and Regional Planning and Transportation at Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), participated in the 15th Annual Conference of the International Society for Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IDRiM) 2025 in Samos, Greece. The conference was held under the theme “Advancing Disaster Risk Reduction in Islands and Remote Areas.”

At the conference, Dr. Sagala presented his research titled “Policy Gaps and Implementation Challenges of Disaster-Resilient Housing in Rural Communities: A Case Study of Kupang Regency Reconstruction Post-Cyclone Seroja 2021 in Indonesia.” The study highlights key policy and implementation challenges in post-disaster housing reconstruction, contributing practical insights for strengthening disaster resilience in rural contexts.

Dr. Sagala was also honored with the 2025 IDRiM Journal Landmark Article Award for his publication “Understanding Preparedness for Natural Hazards: A Cross-Cultural Comparison.” The award recognizes the article’s substantial contribution to advancing disaster risk management research and practice across diverse contexts.

In addition to his research contributions, Dr. Sagala served as Chair of the session “Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction 3 – History of Disasters,” facilitating knowledge exchange and critical dialogue among international scholars and practitioners.

A key highlight of IDRiM 2025 was the official handover of conference hosting responsibilities, marking RDI’s role as host of the 16th IDRiM Conference 2026. The symbolic transition was led by Prof. Ana Maria Cruz, President of the IDRiM Society, who formally passed the responsibility to Dr. Saut Sagala, Chair of the IDRiM Conference 2026.

Building on the momentum of IDRiM 2025, preparations are now underway for the 16th IDRiM Conference, which will take place in Bali, Indonesia, on 5–9 September 2026. The conference will be held under the theme “Resilient Cities in Multi-Hazard Crises: Bridging Innovation, Implementation Science, and Grassroots Action.”

The 16th IDRiM Conference will bring together global experts, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to advance integrated approaches to disaster risk management. The conference will showcase innovative solutions, interdisciplinary research, and practical strategies for strengthening resilience at community, city, and regional levels. 

📢 The Call for Abstracts and Special Session Submissions for IDRiM 2026 is now officially open from 11 December 2025 to 1 March 2026. For more information and updates, please visit idrim2026.com.