SES Explorer Series: Sue Sandford - Global Disaster Response

Sue is a Canadian-born full-time global disaster response volunteer with a diverse background in crisis response. She, along with her brother Paul Sandford and family and friends, are proud supporters of our Elodie Sandford Explorer Award for Amateur Photography which they set up in memory of their mother, Elodie, who was a keen amateur photographer and participant in many of John Blashford-Snell’s expeditions.

Sue's journey began as a full-time single parent raising four children in Dallas, Texas. After relocating to New York State, Sue became an EMT, which ultimately led her to pursue disaster response as a full time endeavour once her children were older.

Her career in disaster relief was sparked by her involvement in Hurricane Katrina in 2005 where she rapidly assumed the role of mega shelter manager with the Red Cross, helping to coordinate large-scale relief efforts. She and her children were the subject of a Pulitzer Prize winning Photo journalism account of Katrina. Her passion for helping those affected by disaster grew, and she began volunteering locally in the years that followed. In 2009, Sue took a year-long sabbatical, backpacking the world with her four children, aged 8 to 15, to deepen her understanding of global challenges.

Once her children were older, Sue found the perfect outlet to combine her love of travel with her desire to make a difference–global disaster response. She has responded to disasters around the world, including the Cat 5 hurricane in Abaco, Bahamas, front line medical response for Covid, the Turkish Earthquake, Hawaiian Wildfires, Brazilian Floods, another Cat 5 hurricane in Carriacou and, most recently, the Hurricanes in the Southern US.

Sue volunteers with All Hands and Hearts (AHAH), a community-led international NGO focused on rapid response and long-term recovery. AHAH is known for arriving early and staying long after other organizations have left, making a lasting impact on communities. In the United States, Sue also serves, predominantly, as a chainsaw operator with Team Rubicon USA, a veteran-led NGO specialising in immediate disaster response.

In her talk, Sue will share insights from her work on the ground. She’ll discuss the realities of arriving in a disaster zone–how to live and work in the midst of chaos–the importance of community-led response and reflect on the emotional aftermath of returning home and preparing for the next disaster. She will explore the complexities of response, including the four pillars of global humanitarian disaster response, and will highlight how, as volunteers, we answer the call when Mother Nature strikes and how the work of recovery is never truly finished.

To find out more, visit All Hand and Hearts and Team Rubicon USA.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Tuesday 24 June 2025

Venue: The Boulevard Bar, Hollywood Arms, 45 Hollywood Road, Chelsea, London SW10 9HX

- Drinks in the bar from 6.30pm

- Talk starts at 7pm (followed by Q&A)

- More drinks in the bar afterward, if wanted!

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