Model researcher wins 2015 Sasakawa Award 

The Jury of the 2015 United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction today said the work of this year’s winner – Allan Lavell – that he represents “A timeless model; a model for all times.”

The Head of the Sasakawa Award Jury Prof. Dr. Murat Balamir said: “This personal performance is a perfect example of how grand achievements are possible with individual dedication, despite humble resources and grants. The enduring and most influential individual efforts of Mr. Lavell, in undertaking various roles in a multi-actor environment, make him a leader in the DRM community.”

Mr. Lavell, born in Britain but based in the Americas for much of his career, is a highly respected researcher and practitioner in disaster risk reduction. His work, which spans four decades, adopts a multi-disciplinary and holistic approach. He has authored multiple publications and has had papers presented at conferences in 42 different countries.

He is someone judged to have helped in ‘Shaping the Future’, the theme of this year’s Award.

A Certificate of Distinction was accepted by Ivy Gordon, director of the Jeffrey Town Farmers’ Association, Jamaica, for innovative grassroots community development. A second Certificate was granted to the Australian Business Roundtable and accepted by Mr. Robert Tickner, Australian Red Cross CEO and Ms. Julie Batch of the Insurance Australia Group.

The Sasakawa Award is sponsored by the Nippon Foundation and organized by the Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).