Saini Yang took the position of Executive Director of Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) co-sponsored by ISC and UNDRR in July 2024. Dr. Saini Yang is a professor at Beijing Normal University. Saini’s research interests include risk analysis and climate change adaptation. Saini is the PI of more than twenty research projects and has published more than 100 papers in academic journals, including Nature Climate Change and Nature Communications. Saini is a member of the expert committee of the National Disaster Reduction Commission and a member of the Asia-Pacific Science and Technology Advisory Group of the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction, and also serves as the editorial board of several international academic journals. Saini got her bachelor and master degree from Southeast University and PhD degree from University of Maryland.

As Science Officer of IRDR, Fang Lian assists with the planning and implementation of IRDR’s mission. She serves as the primary contact for members of the IRDR community and helps with the design and organization of IRDR conferences, meetings, workshops and training. She is the focal point of IRDR Young Scientists Programme and devotes to promote the regional DRR capacity building and communication of the young professionals. She is the Core Group member of the Global Risk Science Research Framework initiated by ISC and UNDRR. She is also one of the major editors of the IRDR Working Paper Series. She works on science communication and education, co-design disaster risk reduction solutions toward multi-stakeholders, and science and policy dialogue. Before joining IRDR, her research focused on the disaster risk assessment and mapping especially on land degradation.

Lang joined the IRDR IPO as the Administrative Officer in June 2010 and supports the IRDR Programme by handling a broad spectrum of administrative and secretarial tasks, including creating, maintaining, and archiving reports and other office documents; making the necessary arrangements for travels, meetings, conferences, and other events; and acting as liaison with the accounting and administrative departments of the IPO’s host, AIR.

Zhihao Wang joined IRDR as the Office Assistant in March 2025, supporting the Executive Director in coordinating research and administrative operations. Her role focuses on project lifecycle coordination, event logistics, and daily task management. She received a Master’s degree in Safety Science and Engineering from Beijing Normal University in June 2024, specializing in risk assessment of geohazards, with a commitment to integrating data-driven approaches into IRDR’s disaster risk reduction initiatives.

Ruiyi Zhu joined IRDR IPO as a Communication Intern in December 2024. She is now responsible for assisting with programme administration and communications. Her research focuses on landscape ecology and cultural landscapes. She received her Master's degree in Landscape Architecture from University College London in September 2024. She got her Bachelor's degree in Landscape Gardening from Beijing Forestry University.

William joined the IRDR International Programme Office as a Communication Intern in January 2025. In this capacity, he contributes to the collection and compilation of disaster risk reduction research and practice cases across African countries, as well as the drafting and editing of news and reports on IRDR activities. Additionally, he provides support in general programme administration and communications. William’s academic and research interests centre on digital teacher professional development and entrepreneurship. He holds dual master’s degrees: a Master of Business Administration (MBA) obtained in 2015 and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) completed in July 2023. He is currently in the second year of his Ph.D. program in Educational Technology at Beijing Normal University, where he is exploring innovative approaches to integrating technology in education and advancing teacher digital literacy in developing countries.