SUNY Distinguished Professor
A leading catastrophe engineer who turns the lessons from disasters into unforgettable, counter-intuitive, and often surprisingly funny perspectives on resilience, risk, and our collective future.
Globe Pequot / Prometheus · 2022
Dept. of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo
Class of 2022 — one of the highest honours conferred by the American Society of Civil Engineers
Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (2003–2008)
Field investigations across North America, Japan, New Zealand, Turkey, and beyond
Michel is equally at home delivering keynotes in French — his mother tongue — for francophone audiences worldwide.
Professor Michel Bruneau has spent four decades chasing disasters — literally. From the rubble of Kobe to the shattered streets of post-quake Christchurch, from collapsed bridges after Northridge to communities devastated by major hurricanes, he has observed firsthand how civilizations respond in the aftermath of catastrophe.
That relentless fieldwork, combined with a gift for storytelling and a sharp wit, makes Professor Bruneau a rare kind of expert: one who can translate decades of highly technical research into narratives that captivate engineers and non-engineers alike. His audiences leave not just informed, but genuinely changed in how they think about risk.
His book The Blessings of Disaster, published by Globe Pequot / Prometheus in 2022, was ranked among the Top 10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2022 and has been reviewed in Publishers Weekly, Engineering News Record, Earthquake Spectra, Environment: Science & Policy, and many more. It has been praised by scholars, engineers, emergency managers, and general readers across the globe.
His talks draw on that same rich material — weaving together structural engineering, human psychology, history, politics, and dark humour — to deliver keynotes that are simultaneously entertaining and urgently relevant.
As Heard & Seen On
An engrossing, often counter-intuitive, and surprisingly funny journey through the world's great catastrophes — and what they reveal about the future of our civilization. Professor Bruneau makes the unthinkable thinkable, the depressing unexpectedly hopeful, and the technical remarkably accessible.
Why disasters are neither random nor unknowable — and what that means for your organization
The psychology of risk: how we systematically misjudge low-probability, high-consequence events
From earthquakes to pandemics to climate change: the universal patterns of human response
Building resilience: what engineering teaches leaders about bouncing forward, not just back
The Book Behind the Talk
"Michel Bruneau is a master of disaster! Drawing on his decades of expertise, The Blessings of Disaster makes the unthinkable thinkable. With humor and great wisdom, Bruneau takes us on what turns out to be a hopeful journey."
— Stephen Flynn, Founding Director, Global Resilience Institute, Northeastern University
Read More & Order →Available in two languages
🇬🇧 The Blessings of Disaster
🇫🇷 Les bienfaits des désastres
The keynote can be delivered in either English or French, fully tailored to your audience.
What They're Saying
Professor Bruneau is a sought-after expert commentator for broadcast, podcast, and print media on topics ranging from earthquake engineering to disaster resilience and existential risk.
Whether you're organizing a conference for engineers, a leadership summit for executives, an academic symposium, or a public forum on resilience and risk, Professor Bruneau's keynote is calibrated to leave your audience both entertained and profoundly provoked.
Talks are fully customizable in scope, duration, and emphasis. Available for in-person events worldwide and live virtual presentations.
Prefer to work through a speakers bureau?
Michel Bruneau is represented by Key Speakers, a full-service speakers bureau. You can browse his profile, check availability, and submit a booking inquiry directly through their platform.
Bulk Book Orders
Heavily discounted copies of The Blessings of Disaster are available for large-volume orders — ideal as conference gifts or pre-event reading for your audience.
Bulk Book Ordering →