Crichton Conversation with Professor Virginia Murray FISC FRCP FRCPath FFPH FFOM

Emergencies and disasters – how might we reduce their impacts?

We are delighted to welcome back Professor Virginia Murray to deliver the first Crichton Conversation of 2025. Virginia is a public health doctor committed to improving health emergency and disaster risk management. She was appointed as Head of Global Disaster Risk Reduction for UK Health Security Agency (formerly Public Health England) in April 2014.

Virginia is currently the chair of the UNDRR/ISC Hazard Information Profile Steering Group for the 2025 update, having been the Chair of the UNDRR/ISC Hazard Classification and Review Technical Working Group from 2019 with the report published in 2020 and the UNDRR-ISC Hazard Information Profiles: Supplement in 2021. She was a member and then vice-chair of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) Scientific and Technical Advisory Group (STAG), 2008-2017, supporting as required negotiations for the Sendia Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 by the UN member states. She is a member of CODATA Executive Committee. She is a co-chair of the WHO Thematic Platform Health and Disaster Risk Management Research Network, and by working in collaboration with this network, she is one of the editors of the WHO Guidance on Research Methods for Health and Disaster Risk Management, published in October 2021 and updated in 2022. In addition, Virginia is a visiting/honorary Professor and fellow at several universities.

Virginia will be joined in conversation by Rhiannon Hawkins. Rhiannon is a PhD student at the University of Glasgow who researches the impacts of climate change on community mental health in Scotland, specifically areas impacted by flooding and droughts. Her research is being supported financially by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). She currently works as a research assistant at UCL Warning Research Centre, her work focuses on mental health and early warning systems. She is also a youth advocate for the Royal College of Psychiatrists and has held this role since 2020. Rhiannon holds an MSc in Earth Futures Research from the University of Glasgow and a BA in Geography from the University of Oxford.

Following Professor Murray’s lecture, Rhiannon will deliver a short presentation on early warning systems and mental health, which links to her PhD research on the impacts of climate change on community mental health in Scotland.

This event is sponsored by the University of Glasgow

To book a place, please contact:
Crichton Foundation, Grierson House, Bankend Road, Dumfries DG1 4ZE
Tel: 07871 475930 or 01387 203908       Email: mail@crichtonfoundation.com

There is no charge to attend however, your support is vital to allow us to continue to achieve our charitable aims and make a real difference for the students of the Crichton Campus. Donations are always welcome and can be made in the following ways: