Joseph Kamara

Dr. Joseph Kamara PhD is a distinguished scholar and practitioner in disaster management, humanitarian response, and international development, with extensive experience in academia, policy, and practice. His career spans leadership roles in academia, global humanitarian organisations, and policy advocacy, significantly influencing disaster resilience, emergency response, and humanitarian interventions worldwide.

He is currently a Senior Lecturer at the College of Medicine, Dentistry, and Public Health at James Cook University, where he coordinates the development and delivery of high-quality postgraduate programs in disaster health management, humanitarian assistance, and public health in emergencies. His role includes spearheading research initiatives, mentoring emerging scholars, and fostering national and international collaborations to advance the field of disaster health and resilience. He has held key academic advisory roles, including serving as an industry representative on the advisory committee for the Humanitarian and Development Studies program at Western Sydney University (2020–2024). His administrative and governance experience extends to board memberships, having served on the boards of several humanitarian organisations, including the Mennonite Central Committee in Uganda, Amigos Worldwide, and the African Communities of Victoria in Melbourne.

He has over two decades of experience leading humanitarian operations and research-driven policy engagements. As the Regional Director for Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs at World Vision International (East and Southern Africa Regions), he was instrumental in shaping humanitarian governance, public health in emergencies, and policy advocacy on disaster risk reduction. His tenure saw significant growth in funding, strategic partnerships, and impactful policy contributions, including influencing US and Australian government responses to the Horn of Africa drought. 

His research contributions span multiple domains, including disaster resilience, anticipatory action, climate change adaptation, public health and humanitarian response effectiveness. He has secured over USD 1.5 million in research funding and various authored peer-reviewed publications that have informed global humanitarian policy and practice. He has collaborated with institutions such as Western Sydney University, Deakin University, and ERLHA on groundbreaking research in humanitarian innovation and disaster preparedness. He is deeply committed to academic mentorship and capacity building. He has supervised and mentored postgraduate and undergraduate students, providing them with hands-on experience in disaster management and research. His teaching portfolio includes delivering Disaster Health Management and Public Health in Humanitarian Emergencies Units at James Cook and developing curricula that integrate cutting-edge research with practical field applications.

He is a recognised thought leader and has been a keynote speaker and panellist at international policy forums, including the US Congressional Hunger Caucus, Africa’s Humanitarian Aid Events, AidEx and The European Humanitarian Forum. His expertise has been featured in global media outlets, where he has provided critical insights on humanitarian crises and resilience-building strategies. Dr. Kamara is a leading figure in disaster health management and humanitarian studies, bridging academia, policy, and practice. His contributions have not only shaped global humanitarian responses but also influenced the next generation of leaders in disaster resilience and public health in emergencies. His ongoing work continues to advance the scientific and policy foundations of disaster health and humanitarian action worldwide.