Dr. Emily Wilkinson

Dr. Emily Wilkinson is a Principal Research Fellow in ODI's Global Risks and Resilience Programme and Director of the Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI). She has 25 years’ experience as a researcher, analyst, journalist, lecturer and adviser to government, providing critical analysis and leading debate on climate and disaster risk governance and financing. Emily is a specialist in Small-Island Developing States (SIDS), focusing on climate policy, access to finance and opportunities for long-term development in an era of accelerating climate change. She served as Chief Scientific Adviser to the Climate Resilience Agency for Dominica (CREAD) from 2019-2023, supporting the nation’s ambition to become the world’s first climate resilient nation, and is a senior adviser to the Alliance for Small Island States (AOSIS).

Emily has led major research and learning programmes on adaptation and resilience to climate extremes and disasters, and published over 50 journal articles, reports and book chapters. She holds a PhD in Human Geography from University College London.