Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 18 - Dr. Tavida Kamolvej, City of Bangkok - Holistic disaster resilience

Bangkok, a city of rapid growth, faces the challenges of a complex urban landscape. In this episode, we delve into Bangkok’s resilience journey with Dr. Tavida Kamolvej, Deputy Governor in Bangkok, and a specialist in disaster resilience.

Join Lauren Sorkin, executive director of the Resilient Cities Network, in conversation with the Deputy Governor, as they discuss:

• The city’s biggest resilience challenges and how the current leadership is approaching disaster risk reduction through the Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative
• The crucial role of SMEs in Bangkok’s economy and their unique vulnerability to shocks and stresses, discussing specific programmes and partnerships, including with the Resilient Cities Network, that are empowering these vital businesses
• Collaboration as key to success. Dr. Kamolvej explains her approach to working with diverse groups, including local communities, and the inspiring "micro capillaries" approach championed by Governor Chadchart.

This episode is packed with insights and practical examples, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in urban resilience, community engagement, and the future of Bangkok.

Listen in to discover:

• Dr. Kamolvej’s vision for Bangkok’s resilience and the highlights of her tenure
• The biggest challenges Bangkok faces and how they are being addressed
• Innovative programmes supporting small and medium-sized enterprises
• The importance of community engagement and the "micro capillaries" approach
• Key takeaways and lessons learned for building resilient cities.

About the guest

Dr. Tavida Kamolvej currently serves as the Deputy Governor of Bangkok in charge of Strategic and Human Resource Management, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Public Health and Medical Service, Environmental Sanitation of Bangkok. Under her supervision includes Navamindradhiraj University, and North Bangkok District Zone.   Prior to this, Dr. Tavida was an assistant professor of Public Policy and Administration at the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University, Thailand, for 24 years, and served the deanship from 2018 to May 2022. Dr. Tavida had her practices serving as disaster risk reduction and emergency management advisor to Thailand Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Ministry of Interior, and last served as the National Board of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of Thailand.