John Aubrey Chirwa is a PhD researcher at the University of East Anglia’s (UEA) School of Global Development. His research is interdisciplinary in nature as it focuses on the nexus between communication, policy and disaster risk reduction. His interest is to understand the potential role of participatory communication in disaster risk reduction, particularly among vulnerable or marginalised communities.
His PhD project is a culmination of a decade long work experience as an Environmental Journalist at Nation Publications Limited in Malawi. It also builds on his Master’s research thesis which analysed policymaking processes and conceptualisation of communication in disaster risk reduction initiatives in Malawi.
Apart from working as a journalist in Malawi where he won several local and international awards, John has also worked as a Lecturer of Media, Communication and Cultural Studies at the University of Malawi (2021-2023) and as an Adjunct Lecturer of Language and Communication Skills at Mzuzu University in Malawi (2018-2020).
John holds a Master of Arts in Media and International Development (Distinction) from UEA, and a Bachelor of Arts (Humanities) from the University of Malawi.
