John Harkin Email & Phone Number

I am the current chair of the national Social Recovery Reference Group (SRRG), a nationwide group that leads the development of evidence-based policy, plans, programs and provides operational support for improved relief and recovery outcomes for people and communities across Australia. The SRRG is an independent group that has operated for 30 years to provide advice and advocacy to the Australia & New Zealand Emergency Management Committee (ANZEMC), primarily through the Community Outcomes and Recovery Subcommittee. Some key outcomes of the SRRG are at https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/social-recovery-reference-group/ .

Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

As Assistant Director in Resilience and Recovery Tasmania, I perform a central role in leading the development, coordination and delivery of programs and policies that reduce Tasmania’s exposure to disaster impacts, and strengthen our response and recovery capacity. I lead the Recovery team in our work with the community, NGOs, business and industry, and all levels of government to achieve the best possible outcomes in disaster resilience and recovery for Tasmania.

As the leader of this multi-disciplinary team, I worked closely with other professionals across government, community and industry to develop and deliver policy, programs and projects that supported recovery from the pandemic. We were an integral part of the successful multi-agency transition to post-COVID life in Tasmania.

Leading a diverse team of professionals to deliver key divisional services such as business management, legal services and communications for Biosecurity Tasmania. Responsible for implementation of strategic programs such as the implementation of Tasmania's new Biosecurity Act (2019) and the review and update of the Tasmanian Biosecurity Strategy.

The Shellfish Market Access Program (ShellMAP) replaced the Tasmanian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program (TSQAP) in September 2018. A formal Partnership Agreement between the Tasmanian Government, Oysters Tasmania and the Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council has established a cooperative and collaborative framework with shared management of the program.

I worked as Project Manager, Remediation, in the EPA Division of DPIPWE where I was responsible for managing legacy acid and metalliferous drainage issues associated with west coast mines. I also worked closely with the Aboriginal Heritage Council to deliver the Assessment of Aboriginal Cultural Values in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area project. The outputs of this project can be viewed at https://www.aboriginalheritage.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-wilderness-world-heritage-area.

In January 2013, I was recruited to the position of Manager, Community Recovery, in the Bushfire Recovery Unit which was deployed in the immediate aftermath of the catastrophic bushfires. In this role, I was responsible for managing processes, people and resources associated with the Tasmanian Government’s response to the January 2013 bushfires. The position evolved from managing the transition from an emergency to recovery, into building the capacity of the affected communities to lead in their own recovery. My final task in that role was to compile the Transition to Long Term Recovery Report, which was released in June 2014.

In my role of Project Manager in the Tasmanian Climate Change Office, I was responsible for the delivery of the Tasmanian Coastal Adaptation Decision Pathways project as well as the Forest Carbon Study. Both projects were of a highly sensitive nature and had a significant profile which warranted particular attention to stakeholder needs, the political environment and management of risk. In that role I was also responsible for the delivery of several key policy initiatives, including the finalisation of Tasmania’s sea level rise planning allowance, the drafting of the Tasmanian Climate Change Adaptation Issues Paper and the stakeholder consultation for the Tasmanian Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

As the Manager, Private Land Conservation Program in DPIPWE, I was responsible for the delivery and ongoing management of Tasmania’s leading off-reserve conservation program. My initial task in this role was to merge a number of disparate programs under the one umbrella, and then manage the human and financial resources to simultaneously deliver several large-scale, large-budget conservation programs. I demonstrated an excellent ability to develop innovative approaches, secure funding and negotiate projects with multiple partners, as shown by a solid record of achievement.