OUR EXPERT NETWORK
Disaster Scholars
A curated group of researchers and practitioners who translate evidence into actionable guidance—helping organizations anticipate disruption, strengthen systems, and lead with integrity before, during, and after crisis.
Evidence-based insight
Global perspective
Applied research
Complex & cascading risk expertise

Imara-IHG’s Disaster Scientists bring rigorous, evidence-based insight into how risks emerge, interact, and evolve across social, economic, environmental, and technological systems. Their work grounds our services in the latest research on disaster risk reduction, resilience, and complex systems—ensuring that our recommendations are not driven by intuition alone, but by tested theory and empirical evidence.

What makes this group unique is their ability to translate science into action. They work closely with practitioners, executives, and decision-makers to transform research findings into practical tools, policies, and strategies that organizations can actually implement under real-world constraints.

By integrating disaster science into business strategy, governance, and operations, our Disaster Scientists help clients anticipate cascading risks, avoid unintended consequences, and make smarter long-term decisions.

Sandra Carrasco, Ph.D.

Empowering through inclusion for creating resilient communities. Lecturer in Humanitarianism and Development, Deakin University, Australia

Purvi Patel, J.D.

Attorney and international humanitarian crisis responder. Former career staff with USAID and UNHCR. Adjunct faculty, Wheaton College (IL).

Fernando Aragón-Durand, Ph.D.

Expert in Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation and International Development

Charilaos Mertzanis, Ph.D.

Professor of Finance, Abu Dhabi University

Andrew Cunningham, Ph.D.

Independent Humanitarian Analyst and Researcher and a PhD in War Studies from King’s College London.

América Bendito, Ph.D.

Specialist in Disaster Risk Reduction (UNESCO); Expert in Multi-Hazard Resilience, Climate Action, Inclusive Sustainable Development, and Capacity Building.