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Dr. Damithri Jayasekara
Mt Albert (Open To Relocation) ,AUK
Summary
Senior advisor and program delivery professional with experience across local government, higher education, NGOs, and community initiatives in New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Proven capability leading teams, managing complex work programs, engaging stakeholders, preparing executive reporting, improving systems, and delivering outcomes in fast-paced environments. Strong analytical, research, and written communication skills with experience translating complex issues into practical solutions for decision-makers. Committed to Te Tiriti of Waitangi principles, equity, and high-quality public service.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Project Lead – Community Flood Resilience Program
Earth Action Trust
Auckland, New Zealand
07.2025 - Current
- Lead end-to-end delivery of 3 community resilience programs across West and Central Auckland.
- Manage 6 volunteers and interns to deliver workshops, outreach campaigns, and stakeholder engagement activities.
- Build partnerships with 40 stakeholders including local boards, community organizations, schools, and council stakeholders.
- Prepare funding proposals, program plans, budgets, and performance reports.
- Deliver public education initiatives focused on preparedness, resilience, and community outcomes.
- Monitor progress against objectives and adjust delivery approaches where required.
Lecturer (Part-time)
ATMC
Auckland, AUK
03.2026 - Current
- Coordinate delivery of multiple tertiary courses serving 100+ students across Strategic Management, Research Methods, and Critical Thinking / Psychology disciplines.
- Manage competing deadlines across teaching delivery, assessment marking, moderation requirements, and learner support for concurrent programs.
- Develop curriculum materials, lesson plans, and assessment tools aligned with academic standards and industry relevance.
- Strengthen learner capability in analysis, communication, structured problem solving, and evidence-based decision-making.
- Monitor student progress, provide constructive feedback, and support achievement across diverse learner needs.
- Contribute to continuous improvement through collaboration with faculty on teaching quality, academic processes, and program outcomes.
Teaching & Research Assistant
Auckland University of Technology
Auckland, New Zealand
05.2021 - 12.2025
- Supported teaching and research activities across disaster management, systems thinking, and emergency planning programs.
- Assisted with stakeholder engagement, data collection, analysis, and reporting for multiple research projects.
- Produced written outputs, literature reviews, summaries, and presentations for academic and professional audiences.
- Guided students in research design, analysis, and professional communication.
- Facilitated workshops, tutorials, and simulation-based learning sessions.
Team Leader – Outbound Disaster Recovery Coordinators
Auckland Council
Auckland, New Zealand
06.2023 - 06.2025
- Led and supervised a team of 7 staff delivering high-volume recovery communication and outreach programs following major Auckland weather events.
- Managed complex operational workstreams affecting 3,000+ property owners, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality outcomes.
- Coordinated scheduling and workflow management for 3,500+ onsite assessments across multiple stakeholders and teams.
- Prepared regular reports, strategic updates, and recommendations for senior leadership on program progress, risks, and resource needs.
- Worked across internal departments, contractors, and external stakeholders to coordinate responses and resolve issues.
- Identified process improvement opportunities and supported implementation of more efficient service delivery systems.
- Managed competing priorities under pressure while maintaining customer service standards and privacy compliance.
- Coached team members, supported wellbeing, and built a high-performance team culture.
- Contributed to organizational lessons learned and continuous improvement planning.
- Awarded the Unsung Hero Award (2023) for outstanding contribution during the Auckland storm recovery.
Teaching Assistant
University of Colombo
Colombo, Sri Lanka
01.2017 - 01.2020
- Delivered tertiary teaching across Environmental Science, GIS, Excel, and Project Management courses for undergraduate students in a multi-disciplinary university setting.
- Coordinated teaching support, practical sessions, and student learning activities across concurrent academic programs.
- Developed course materials, tutorials, and assessments aligned with academic quality standards and workforce-relevant skills.
- Strengthened learner capability in data analysis, technical software use, project planning, and problem-solving.
- Supported climate resilience and flood management projects through field coordination, household surveys, and stakeholder engagement activities.
- Produced technical reports, research outputs, and monitoring information for government and development partners.
- Mentored students and contributed to continuous improvement of teaching delivery and departmental processes
Education
Ph.D. - Emergency and Disaster Management
Auckland University of Technology
Auckland, NZ09-2025
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science
University of Colombo
Colombo, Sri Lanka03-2017
Skills
- Senior Advisory Support
- Program & Project Delivery
- Strategic Planning & Prioritization
- Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management
- Executive Briefings & Reporting
- Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement
- Change Management & Service Improvement
- Risk & Issue Management
- Team Leadership & Coaching
- Data Analysis & Insight Generation
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Policy & Operational Advice
Certification
- Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS) Training
- Psychological First Aid (PFA)
- Emergency Operations Center / Civil Defense Center Operations
- De-escalation and Conflict Management Training
Awards
Unsung Hero Award – Auckland Council (2023), Gold Medal – International Conference on Climate Change (2019), Gold Medal – Asia International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (2019)
Timeline
Lecturer (Part-time)
ATMC
03.2026 - Current
Project Lead – Community Flood Resilience Program
Earth Action Trust
07.2025 - Current
Team Leader – Outbound Disaster Recovery Coordinators
Auckland Council
06.2023 - 06.2025
Teaching & Research Assistant
Auckland University of Technology
05.2021 - 12.2025
Teaching Assistant
University of Colombo
01.2017 - 01.2020
Ph.D. - Emergency and Disaster Management
Auckland University of Technology
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science
University of Colombo