Strengthening Coordination Across ASEAN
In the heart of Jakarta, the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) monitors disasters and climate-related hazards for ASEAN Member States (AMS). It plays an important role in coordinating between AMS and the international community to ensure the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance, while leveraging ASEAN architecture to exchange best practices and build regional capacity. The AHA Centre’s Disaster Monitoring and Analysis (DMA) Unit is a central team within the AHA Centre’s Emergency Operating Centre (EOC), operating as a central source of information, coordination and analysis for ASEAN’s 11 member states.
Australia has been a longstanding supporter of the AHA Centre, including through Australia Assists. Through Australia Assists, Greg is deployed to the AHA Centre’s DMA Unit as a Technical Adviser for Emergency Management and Humanitarian Coordination. Drawing upon his decades of experience working in EOCs, he is supporting their work to manage the ASEAN Information Management Network (AIM-Net) – a regional network designed to strengthen ASEAN member state EOCs.
‘One of the projects was to develop a minimum standard for EOCs,’ said Greg. ‘So, that it could be used as a benchmark for all ASEAN member states to adhere to and be able to help other member states build their capacity so they’re all at the same level.’
As a Technical Adviser, he provides support to Jasmine, a key project manager for AIM-Net. ‘As you know, EOCs are the guardians for the region,’ said Jasmine. ‘It is very important to strengthen the EOCs, as they collectively build ASEAN’s regional resilience.’
Together, Jasmine and Greg are contributing to ASEAN’s shared vision of being able to respond to disasters in the spirit of One ASEAN, One response.
‘As you know, EOCs are the guardians for the region. It is very important to strengthen the EOCs, as they collectively build ASEAN’s regional resilience.’
The ASEAN Spirit
Home to more than 700 million people, Southeast Asia is one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world. Every year, it is faced with a wide range of disaster and hazards, from cyclones, floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. These disasters shape the region’s landscape and people’s lives. Building a shared regional minimum standard for EOCs across ASEAN is a key priority for the AHA Centre.
At the heart of this is the ASEAN spirit, a shared understanding and commitment towards dialogue, cooperation and partnership towards this shared goal. For Jasmine, this is one of the most special aspects of working with the AIM-Net. ‘There are [AIM-Net] focal points in all member states,’ said Jasmine. ‘There is already that sense of camaraderie and sense of family among the members… that camaraderie is really important because during emergencies or regular exercises, coordination is key to making sure we act swiftly, that we stay connected, and that coordination is always established.’
The Collective Strength of ASEAN
In August 2025, AIM-Net came together in Hanoi, Vietnam to work towards the establishment of a minimum standards for EOCs across ASEAN. When Greg met the AIM-Net members at the Hanoi workshop for the first time, he was impressed by the strength of their relationships. ‘You could tell straightaway that there was a nice, fun sort of camaraderie among the group,’ said Greg. ‘These people were really excited and proud to be there and represent their country.’
‘By bringing people together and having discussions, you can’t always measure how much impact that can actually have,’ said Greg. ‘We obviously had the end goal to develop the minimum standards, but what I love in those environments is that there would’ve been many other things that would’ve happened, in terms of learning and information sharing just from conversations happening across the table.’
The Hanoi workshop shaped the minimum standards for EOCs but also deepened regional trust – an invaluable asset in times of disasters. ‘It was really learning from each other and supporting each other, recognising also the differences in capacities, differences in cultures and in contexts,’ said Jasmine. ‘So, recognising those, we developed those minimum standards, taking into account all of those differences in context, capacities, and really wanting to support and improve the collective strength of each EOC.’
'We obviously had the end goal to develop the minimum standards, but what I love in those environments is that there would’ve been many other things that would’ve happened, in terms of learning and information sharing just from conversations happening across the table.’
Shared Humanitarian Principles
The ASEAN way of working is deeply rooted in collaboration, consensus and mutual respect. This consultative approach sees ASEAN member states coming together to share experiences and collectively shape future policy built on trust.
For Jasmine, Greg’s support has been valuable. Greg has been able to adapt to the ASEAN context, while sharing his global humanitarian knowledge on EOCs. ‘The camaraderie, and the way that Greg is able to work well with member states, is very important,’ Jasmine notes. ‘With Greg coming in, he gives us a perspective of the international and global practices and broadens the perspective for us, as ASEAN, to capture and adopt from international best practice.’
Importantly, Greg’s deployment reflects Australia’s humanitarian action, where Australia is committed to promote regional resilience, localisation and build strong partnerships to enable knowledge sharing. As a Technical Adviser, he believes this is an important part of his role. ‘That’s what the job is about: it’s about being a bridge and helping extend networks and knowledge of other places to get information from,’ reflected Greg. ‘It’s about helping neighbours help each other, which is central to both ASEAN’s and Australia’s shared humanitarian principles.’
Charting a Roadmap for the future
As the minimum standards for EOCs take shape, the AIM-Net is now turning its attention to their forthcoming 5-year plan (2026-2030). It is a shared 5-year regional vision, focused on strengthening interoperability and being better prepared for future disasters.
This long-term strategic planning, built on the foundation of trust and collaboration, is a major advantage. ‘It’s exciting that we can work on a plan that is going to set out real activities that are going to happen throughout the 5 years,’ said Greg. ‘What started as a visionary exercise in 2025 through a collaborative process in Hanoi will hopefully be the reality in all member states in 5-year’s time. So, that’s a great thing to see happen.’
Looking ahead, Jasmine notes that the effects of climate change and increasingly complex disasters will require its member states and its EOCs to innovate, evolve, and adapt. ‘EOCs also have to keep up with the innovations, and our capacities must evolve,’ said Jasmine. ‘With Greg’s help, we hope to be able to design the next workshop that could really capture these challenges and hear from all member states of their priorities and needs as well.’
Through their shared efforts, Greg and Jasmine are helping build a stronger, more connected ASEAN, where member states’ collective strengths, lived experiences and capabilities come together in the spirit of One ASEAN, One Response.
Disclaimer: The information and views published here are the individual’s own and do not necessarily represent the partner organisation, Australia Assists or the Australian Government’s views, positions or opinions.