In memory of Dr Bernard Manyena

Dr Bernard Siambabala Manyena 1968 – 2018

Bernard Manyena was a Senior Lecturer at Northumbria's Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences from 2017.

Bernard completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Zimbabwe and came to Northumbria University to study an MSc in Disaster Management and Sustainable Development in 2003. On completion, he was offered a job as a Research Fellow and stayed at Northumbria until 2013, during which time he completed his PhD. Bernard joined the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute at Manchester University in 2014 as a highly influential leader in International Disaster Management, returning to Northumbria in 2017.

His research focused on resilience, cutting across disaster risk reduction, sustainability and humanitarianism. He was particularly interested in the notion of resilience as the ‘bounce-forward ability’. Bernard’s field research mainly focused on Nepal, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Timor Leste. In 2014, he co-edited the book ‘Hazards, Risks and Disasters in Society’.

Bernard died on 27 April 2018 of sudden onset medical causes whilst on a work visit to Zimbabwe. His legacy through workplace, love for people and wider influences in society will be ongoing. Whilst he is hugely missed it is intended that his great work in support of humanity will continue indefinitely.

His family and colleagues would like to thank all those who have sent heartfelt condolences over this great loss. An obituary has been published in the journal Disaster Prevention and Management.