Helen was appointed Secretary General of the GEM Foundation on 1st August 2023. She has an MEng in Civil Engineering, both an MSc and PhD in Earthquake Engineering, and 20 years of experience in seismic risk and earthquake loss modelling. She is the author/co-author of more than 180 publications, peer reviewer for over 20 international scientific journals and Editor of Earthquake Spectra. Her awards include the 2009 European Geosciences Union Plinius Medal, the EERI’s 2012 Shah Family Innovation Prize and the 2024 SSA/EERI Joyner Lecture. In her role as Secretary General she is directly responsible to the Governing Board for the execution of all scientific and administrative activities of the GEM Secretariat: these include assuring the funding and successful completion of the annual work program, as well as strengthening GEM’s collaboration network with sponsors and partners, and across the academic, industry and government sectors.