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The National Institute of Strategic Resilience advances thinking on national resilience and security. We encourage a diversity of opinion addressing the opportunities and threats for Australia, the Indo-Pacific and the world. We seek to stimulate practical debate and create implementable solutions to the challenges facing our society, our nation, and beyond.
Resilience:
At NISR, we use the definition of resilience* from the UN Disaster Risk Reduction glossary: 'The ability of a system, community or society exposed to hazards to resist, absorb, accommodate, adapt to, transform and recover from the effects of a hazard in a timely and efficient manner, including through the preservation and restoration of its essential basic structures and functions through risk management.'
Strategic Resilience:
At NISR, we consider Strategic Resilience* to be a continuous improvement process that takes input from a range of indicators, events, and trends, to anticipate emergent threat and opportunity. Strategic resilience not only nurtures the capacity for adaptation ahead of the need for urgent interventions, but it also seeks to embrace this period of accelerated change to provide an opportunity for Australia, and our region, to move boldly to establish a position of advantage.
* these are evolving definitions as thought leadership emerges on these and related topics
Australia has faced a series of rapid, challenging shocks—drought, bushfires, floods, pandemic, pestilence, and more. Each response to these events has revealed both opportunities and threats to the resilience and stability of our communities, our nation, and our region.
Our communities regularly rally in response to natural disasters, while compliance with unprecedented pandemic restrictions reflected a shared willingness to adapt to extraordinary circumstances. Yet, we also observed instances of competition for limited resources and moments of civil unrest under prolonged constraints, highlighting both strengths and vulnerabilities within our social fabric.
Developing policies and practices that promote strategic resilience offers Australia, and our region, a pathway beyond these turbulent times, grounded in building our capacity to adapt. NISR’s approach draws on global innovations and emerging best practices to meet future challenges. We actively invite thought leadership from around the world to explore both emerging threats and unique opportunities. Our mission is to provide a platform for diverse perspectives and actionable solutions, fostering a forward-thinking mindset that champions resilience inspired by open, inclusive, and informed debate.
