Dr. Sakiko Kanbara is a Professor at Kobe City College of Nursing and a former Professor in the Doctoral Program for Disaster Nursing Global Leadership at the University of Kochi, Japan. She holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Health Science from Kobe University and a Ph.D. in Public Health from Okayama University. She previously served as a researcher at the University of Hyogo and as an Investigator at the MEXT-funded Centre of Excellence for Disaster Nursing.
She founded EpiNurse, a global disaster nursing initiative that received the UN Risk Award in 2017. Her research focuses on disaster risk reduction, planetary health, and human security, with a special emphasis on multicultural inclusion and digital innovation. She has led transdisciplinary projects in Japan and Southeast Asia, developing culturally inclusive care systems and data-driven platforms like the Multicultural Digital Health Room.
Dr. Kanbara integrates public health, nursing, and technology to promote inclusive, adaptive, and globally connected care models. She advocates for “Care for People, Care for the Planet” as a guiding vision for resilience in times of crisis. In 2024, she chaired the 8th World Society of Disaster Nursing Conference in Kobe, advancing global collaboration in disaster risk reduction.