Webinar: In dialogue with the we4DRR Steering Committee

Screenshot of the Webinar "in dialogue with the we4DRR Steering Committee " showing the moderator of the meeting and four steering committee members, first row from left to right: Barbara Hinterstoisser (moderation), Helen Gosteli and Lydia Pedoth; second row from left two right: Catrin Promper and Niki Beyer Portner
Foto: we4DRR

The we4DRR Steering Committee defines the network’s vision, goals, and long-term strategy. Together with the Managing Director and the Organisation Team, it reviews and approves key initiatives, partnerships, and projects.
 

we4DRR Webinars

  • Showcase women’s contributions to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
  • Support capacity building for female professionals
  • Provide a platform for exchange among we4DRR members

The first in a new series of we4DRR webinars took place on 20 October 2025 and featured “The we4DRR Steering Committee in dialogue”.
 

Introducing the Steering Committee

Former Steering Committee (SC) member Barbara Hinterstoisser (BOKU University) welcomed participants and introduced the eight current Steering Committee members, representing research, policy, and practice in natural hazard management and DRR across Europe. Their diverse backgrounds reflect the interdisciplinarity and international character of the we4DRR network:

  • Doris Damyanovic | BOKU University | Austria
  • Daniela Anna Engl | Austrian Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control (WLV) | Austria
  • Catrin Promper | Umweltbundesamt/Environment Agency | Austria
  • Niki Beyer Portner | Bureau d'ingénieurs SABERT SA | Switzerland
  • Helen Gosteli | Swiss Platform for Natural Hazards (PLANAT) | Switzerland
  • Regine Ortlepp | Leibniz Institute of Ecological and Urban and Regional Development | Germany
  • Giulia Bossi | Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection at Italian Research Council | Italy
  • Lydia Pedoth | Centre for Climate Change and Transformation at Eurac Research | Italy

More details about the Steering Committee and its members can be found here.

Insights from Steering Committee members

The panel discussed their motivations for joining the we4DRR Steering Committee and their experiences within the network.

Catrin Promper has been part of we4DRR since its foundation in 2016, when she worked at the Austrian Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control (WLV). She values the open exchange among members and opportunity to connect women across the DRR community.

Helen Gosteli, one of the newest SC members, has been involved in we4DRR from the early days and joined the Steering Committee in summer 2025. Her motivation is to strengthen women’s careers in this traditionally male-dominated field.

Niki Beyer Portner and Lydia Pedoth highlighted we4DRR success stories, including professional exchange opportunities such as the women’s programme at INTERPRAEVENT 2024 in Vienna (We4DRR networking event at INTERRAEVENT 2024), and personal development initiatives that help women navigate career challenges.

The panel agreed that women-only networks like we4DRR create a uniquely supportive atmosphere, increase visibility for women in DRR, and contribute to more diverse and innovative solutions.

Looking ahead, effective communication was identified as one of the key future challenges in DRR. As disasters intensify, clear and inclusive communication with affected communities becomes increasingly important­—an area where diverse perspectives, including those of women, play a crucial role.
 

Q&A highlights

During the Q&A, members highlighted we4DRR’s important role not only in capacity development for female professionals but also in advancing gender-sensitive DRR policies. They also appreciate the active we4DRR LinkedIn channel (we4DRR network | LinkedIn), where relevant information by and for network members is shared.