Research Title: From Participation to Preparedness: Exploring Community-led Pathways to Household Resilience in Aotearoa New Zealand
Main Supervisor Matthew Hughes
Co-supervisors Julia Becker (Massey University)
Research interests
Brandy’s research explores how communities can be more effectively engaged to strengthen natural hazard preparedness across Aotearoa New Zealand. Her doctoral work focuses on a case study in Invercargill, co-designing preparedness resources with older people through participatory design practices. The research asks whether this community-led approach can enhance preparedness at the household level.
Personal interests
Brandy volunteers for the New Zealand Red Cross Disaster Support Welfare Team in Christchurch and has volunteered for Christchurch Civil Defence and Emergency Management Emergency Support Team. When not training for disaster support, Brandy loves anything outdoors, including hiking, rock climbing, skiing and learning to surf.
Academic history
Doctoral Candidate, University of Canterbury, New Zealand: 2022 - Present
Master of Science in Engineering, University of Texas at San Antonio, USA: 2011-2013
Bachelor of Science of Engineering, University of Texas at San Antonio, USA: 2006-2011
Publications
2021 (Co-author) QuakeKit: Communicating Engineering Risks to Youth in the South Island of New Zealand, 2021 New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering
2014 (First author): Sampled-data output feedback control of uncertain nonholonomic systems in chained forms with applications to mobile robots
2013 (Master's Thesis):Sampled-data Output Feedback Control of Uncertain Nonholonomic Systems in Chained Forms
2013 (Co-author): Implementation of just in time and revamped engineering math courses to improve retention and graduation rates
