IIT Roorkee and Deakin wrap up 3-day crisis leadership workshop at Greater Noida
By TUF News Desk · Published 2 November 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
A three-day workshop on leading through crises closed at IIT Roorkee’s Greater Noida campus on October 29, after putting government officials, academics and disaster response practitioners through the same simulations. Called Leadership for Crisis Managers, the programme was run jointly by IIT Roorkee and Australia’s Deakin University, and the two institutions announced its conclusion on November 2.
What the three days covered
The workshop was the first edition of the programme. It was delivered through two centres: IIT Roorkee’s Integrated Centre for Adaptation to Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainability (ICARS) and Deakin’s Centre for Humanitarian Leadership (CHL). Sessions mixed crisis simulations with practical exercises and group work, and the themes were adaptive leadership, inclusive response, governance and disaster risk reduction.
The discussions were built around the disruptions India deals with most often: climate-driven disasters, public health emergencies and infrastructure failures. The sessions focused on how leaders decide under pressure, coordinate across institutions that rarely work together, and make decisions with incomplete information.
Who took part, and what they said
Participants came from government, academia, industry and disaster management. Steven Biddle, Counsellor Minister and Regional Director for South Asia at the Australian Department of Home Affairs, was among the speakers. His argument was that disaster leadership starts well before a crisis, in the trust and networks built between sectors and countries.
IIT Roorkee Director K. K. Pant described the collaboration as shared learning between the Indian and Australian sides, aimed at stronger disaster preparedness and response. Mary Ana McGlasson, who directs Deakin’s Centre for Humanitarian Leadership, said affected communities should shape the decisions taken about their safety and recovery. Ravneet Pawha, Deakin’s Vice President for Global Engagement and CEO for South Asia, said the partnership connects research, leadership training and practical experience. Anil K. Gupta, professor in IIT Roorkee’s water resources department and the principal investigator at ICARS, said the work targets leadership gaps at every level, with the aim of reducing future disaster losses.
Two institutions, one shared brief
IIT Roorkee is an institute of National Importance with a 178-year history. Its ICARS centre, a Department of Science and Technology Centre of Excellence, is based at the Greater Noida campus and works on climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, resilience and sustainability. Deakin University was established in 1974 and has run its South Asia operations from New Delhi since 1994.
Students weighing an institute with this kind of research profile can use the guide to choosing a university in India to compare what matters beyond rankings.
What comes next
The two institutions plan to continue the work through leadership development, knowledge exchange and cross-sector partnerships. Participants will also explore adaptive decision-making, collaborative governance and how technology, data and artificial intelligence fit into risk-informed planning. More detail on the centre behind the Indian side is on the official ICARS page.
Frequently asked questions
What was the Leadership for Crisis Managers workshop?
A three-day executive training programme held from October 27 to 29, 2026, at IIT Roorkee’s Greater Noida campus, run jointly by IIT Roorkee and Australia’s Deakin University.
Who organised the workshop?
IIT Roorkee’s ICARS centre and Deakin University’s Centre for Humanitarian Leadership delivered the programme together.
Who took part in it?
Government officials, academic experts, industry representatives, and disaster management and crisis response practitioners.
Was this a student admission event?
No. It was an executive training programme for officials and practitioners, not an admission or entrance exam event.
Frequently asked questions
What was the Leadership for Crisis Managers workshop?
A three-day executive training programme held from October 27 to 29, 2026, at IIT Roorkee's Greater Noida campus, run jointly by IIT Roorkee and Australia's Deakin University.
Who organised the workshop?
IIT Roorkee's ICARS centre and Deakin University's Centre for Humanitarian Leadership delivered the programme together.
Who took part in it?
Government officials, academic experts, industry representatives, and disaster management and crisis response practitioners.
Was this a student admission event?
No. It was an executive training programme for officials and practitioners, not an admission or entrance exam event.
Sources: Business Standard, The Hindu, The Tribune