Joshua Macabuag: From OB to OBE

We are delighted to share that Joshua Macabuag is to receive an Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Macabuag coined the term "Disaster Risk Engineering" to define his work, which involves applying engineering principles to understand and reduce risks from disasters. His professional life encompasses a "double-life" in:

• Urban Search & Rescue, focused on locating and extricating individuals trapped in collapsed buildings.
• Catastrophe Modelling, which uses calculations of disaster frequency and severity to manage risks.

His overarching motivation is "to be useful to the world so things are better than how we found them".

He firmly stated that the OBE is not about him personally, but rather about the organisations and numerous inspirational individuals he credits for their work and unwavering support. Key organisations he acknowledged include:

• SARAID (Search & Rescue Assistance in Disasters), an entirely volunteer-run charity.
• GFDRR's (World Bank) Global Program for Disaster Risk Analytics, where he contributed to informing government decision-making globally.
• Renew Risk, the company he co-founded three years ago to revolutionise risk management in Renewable Energy, aiming to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future.

Congratulations Joshua!