Dr Bapon Shm Fakhruddin is an international disaster risk reduction and hazard modelling expert who is a regular adviser to the United Nations on Natural Hazards and Climate Change.

Bapon joined Tonkin + Taylor in 2015 and continues to work with the UNDP Samoa as Chief Technical Adviser.

During his career, Bapon has helped to design major international natural hazard early warning systems for floods, cyclone and tsunami to save life and property.  

His most high profile work has been developing multi-hazard warning systems including a Tsunami Warning System for Indian Ocean countries following the deadliest one in history - the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami that took more than 230,000 lives in 14 countries.

To date, Bapon has developed multi hazard warning systems for 25 countries including: Thailand, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Samoa.  

Bapon is currently overseeing the implementation of a major disaster risk reduction series of systems for Samoa and New Zealand.