Professors of Practice

Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience

	Prof Neil Denton Independent Community Mediator	Neil believes there is an energy within disagreement and conflict that can be a powerful force for positive change. He helps communities in conflict to find ways to reduce violence, increase justice, solve real life problems and strengthen human relationships. He is an Independent Community Mediator and a Professor in Practice with the After Disasters Network who specializes in conflict transformation. He works to find ways that place communities at the heart of our thinking and doing, and to explore and demonstrate how the principles and practices of conflict transformation can be beneficial to disaster prevention, response and recovery. He also spends time swimming and attempting to create the perfect roast potato.
	Kate Cochrane Head of Resilience, NHS Highland	Kate is the Head of Resilience, NHS Highland. She has wide ranging expertise in planning for, and leading recovery, following major incidents. She has worked on incidents including flooding, modern day slavery, culvert collapse and the Grenfell Fire. Kate was the first person to develop a multi-agency Concept of Operations to support the immediate rescue and longer term response available to adults and children who have been trafficked into and around the UK. This approach was identified as Outstanding Practice by the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and was referenced in the Local Government Associations Tackling Modern Slavery publications. Before Kate moved to the Falklands at the start of 2020 she led the preparation of policies and processes for Newcastle City Council for both anticipated and unanticipated events and represented the council on the local, regional and national groups. These groups included; Local and National Recovery Advisory Boards (Cabinet Office), Community welfare after emergencies (Core Cities), Communities Prepared National Steering Group (Cabinet Office) and the National Steering Committee for Warning and Informing the Public (standalone body).

Independent Community Mediator

Neil believes there is an energy within disagreement and conflict that can be a powerful force for positive change. He helps communities in conflict to find ways to reduce violence, increase justice, solve real life problems and strengthen human relationships. He is an Independent Community Mediator and a Professor in Practice with the After Disasters Network who specializes in conflict transformation. He works to find ways that place communities at the heart of our thinking and doing, and to explore and demonstrate how the principles and practices of conflict transformation can be beneficial to disaster prevention, response and recovery. He also spends time swimming and attempting to create the perfect roast potato.

Kate Cochrane

Head of Resilience, NHS Highland

Kate is the Head of Resilience, NHS Highland. She has wide ranging expertise in planning for, and leading recovery, following major incidents. She has worked on incidents including flooding, modern day slavery, culvert collapse and the Grenfell Fire. Kate was the first person to develop a multi-agency Concept of Operations to support the immediate rescue and longer term response available to adults and children who have been trafficked into and around the UK. This approach was identified as Outstanding Practice by the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and was referenced in the Local Government Associations Tackling Modern Slavery publications. Before Kate moved to the Falklands at the start of 2020 she led the preparation of policies and processes for Newcastle City Council for both anticipated and unanticipated events and represented the council on the local, regional and national groups. These groups included; Local and National Recovery Advisory Boards (Cabinet Office), Community welfare after emergencies (Core Cities), Communities Prepared National Steering Group (Cabinet Office) and the National Steering Committee for Warning and Informing the Public (standalone body).

Click to see our previous Professors of Practice.