Katia Tynan

is a leader and relationship-builder who currently leads the Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction team at the City of Vancouver. Katia oversees the implementation of the City of Vancouver’s Resilient Vancouver Strategy (2019) and the more recently led the development of Vancouver’s Hazard, Risk, and Vulnerability Analysis (2024), both of which advance the city’s understanding of risk and resilience in municipal planning. Her work has advanced disaster risk and climate change adaptation governance and collaboration across departments and intergovernmental working groups. Katia works tirelessly to amplify the voices and needs of communities disproportionately impacted by disasters and emergencies. Through the Resilient Neighbourhoods Program she has established partnerships with over 25 community-based organizations to deliver essential services to their communities for extreme heat and wildfire smoke events.

Katia holds a BA in Geography and Political Science, an MA in Disaster & Emergency Management, a certificate in strategic foresight, and is currently working towards her MSc in Health Equity and Sustainability. She has extensive experience in research, planning, program management, and hands-on response efforts. Her person-centred, community-building approach is reflected in her work at the local and the global level as a member of the Resilient Cities Network. You can find Katia’s thoughts on the importance of integrating artists in emergency management and disaster risk reduction here.