We are pleased to invite you to the upcoming CIB W120 Disasters and the Built Environment online seminar titled “Rebuilding Right: Professionalism and Ethics Amidst Post-Disaster Chaos”.
Event details
Date: Tuesday, 10th February 2026
Time: 07:00 – 08:00 UTC (6:00 PM – 7:00 PM AEDT GMT-11)
Seminar abstract
Disasters destroy cities, affecting humans, habitats, livelihoods and beyond. Therefore, there is a growing demand for construction professionals to lead rebuilding after disasters to reconstruct resilient communities, ensuring the well-being of all. However, ethical decision-making in post-disaster reconstruction (PDR) is challenged by numerous intra- and extra-industry challenges. Furthermore, the influx of funds and donations can foster unethical practices, particularly when standard procedures are bypassed to meet tight time targets. Although the construction sector is often criticised for unprofessional and unethical conduct, these challenges are magnified in PDR contexts. Despite this, the issue has not been explored within the built environment and disaster literature.
Addressing this gap, Dr Buddhinie Ubesingha’s PhD research made the first inquiry into professionalism and ethics in post-disaster reconstruction. This seminar presents key findings of it and proposes a future research direction for rebuilding right, amid post-disaster chaos. Drawing on a global survey and five case studies from Italy, Mozambique, Nepal, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, it unveils six categories of challenges to Professionalism and Ethics (P&E) for PDR professionals. The session then introduces a novel approach, which outlines three foundations for enhancing P&E within the complex, relativist context of reconstruction. This research positions PDR as a unique project type, termed ‘Post-Disaster Mega Redevelopment’ (PDMR). It offers critical insights for academics, practitioners, and policymakers aiming to rebuild after disasters, thereby improving the quality of life of people while supporting sustainable development.
Speaker
Buddhinie Ubesingha is an architect-turned-academic. After over fifteen years of professional experience and more than five years of academic contributions, she secured funding from London South Bank University to pursue her passion for research by undertaking a PhD. Her research investigates professionalism and ethics among practitioners in post-disaster reconstruction. Trained as an architect in Sri Lanka and shaped by her professional experience within a developing economic context marked by the destruction of natural disasters and political volatility,
Ubesingha’s research addresses the grand challenges faced by modern post-disaster reconstruction as well as the siloed and technical nature of built environment education, which often overlooks the values of ethics and professionalism. Her work now provides a theoretical foundation for her lived experiences, aiming to transform how construction sector professionals rebuild after disasters – professionally and ethically.
Looking ahead
This seminar is part of the CIB W120 Seminar Series, connecting researchers and practitioners committed to improving resilience in the built environment. Future sessions will highlight innovative approaches and research collaborations that advance disaster risk reduction globally.
