Biography

Benz is a disaster risk reduction and management professional from the Philippines who is currently pursuing a Master of Disaster Management at the University of Auckland under the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Far Eastern University in the Philippines and is a licensed Registered Nurse. His professional experience extends beyond healthcare into disaster risk reduction and management. He currently serves as Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer III (LDRRMO III) in the Philippines where his work involves contributing to disaster preparedness, emergency response, risk reduction, and resilience-building initiatives for communities across the region. His research interests focus on evaluating the effectiveness of smart governance in strengthening disaster resilience in the Philippines where he is interested in how these approaches can improve the way governments anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Coming from a disaster management and public service background, Benz is interested in exploring how smart governance can bridge gaps in information dissemination, coordination, resource allocation, and community participation, ultimately helping build more resilient and disaster-prepared communities. Beyond academics and professional work, Benz enjoys traveling, cooking, and discovering new places, ideas, and experiences.