Evangeline Inniss-Springer DHSc - Director DRRC

The Disaster Risk Reduction Centre, the University of the West Indies has a new Director, Dr Evangeline Inniss- Springer, DHSc. CEM, CCM. She replaces Dr Barbara Carby who has retired.

Her appointment took effect from January 1, 2021.                                                                                                                                          

Dr Inniss-Springer is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) and Certified Continuity Manager (CCM) with over 25 years experience in disaster risk management. She has received training in Emergency Management from the International Association of Emergency Managers and training in Business Continuity Management from the Institute for Business Continuity Training. She holds a Masters degree in Health Studies from the University of Alabama and a Doctor of Health Sciences from A.T Still University in Missouri with a focus on Leadership and Organisational Behaviour.

 Dr Innis-Springer has worked with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Department of Disaster Management in the British Virgin Islands (The BVI) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). 

Prior to assuming the post of Director at the Disaster Risk Reduction Centre, Dr Inniss-Springer served as Acting Director with the Department of Disaster Management in the BVI.  She also led the Social Sciences Unit of the agency that was responsible for translating science into action by developing and implementing policies and programmes aimed at building capacity in resilience and influencing behavioural change at the community level. Her responsibilities included integrating Comprehensive Disaster Management into all sectors.

In addition to her experience in disaster risk management, Dr Inniss-Springer has a diverse background of knowledge and experience in capacity development, leadership and strategic planning, work programme development and project management, statistical analysis, logistics supply management, proposal development and grant writing, total quality management and process analysis. 

The immediate objective of Dr Inniss-Springer in her new post is to demystify disaster risk management and climate science fields through the development of evidence-based products and capacity building initiatives that are available and accessible at all academic and professional development levels.

The staff at the Institute for Sustainable Development welcome Dr Inniss-Springer and wish her a very successful tenure at the Disaster Risk Reduction Centre and at the UWI.

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