Field Experience

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My career extends over 40 years of practical and executive level experience in the fields of forestry; fire and emergency and crisis management and post-disaster recovery coordination.

In these fields, I bring well developed capabilities in policy and planning; training and exercising; human factors in crises; providing executive advice and assurance; and team leadership.

I am able to contribute to your organisation through sole advice; through assembling a team of professionals; or by blending specific qualities to support, strengthen or supplement your own people.

Examples of recent work carried out for clients includes:

  • Numerous appointments by NSW Premier to lead the community recovery following the April 2017 Northern Rivers (NSW) floods; the March 2018 Tathra Bushfire; and the Northern NSW Bushfires from Nov 2019 to April 2020.

  • Appointed by W.A. government as the 'Special Inquirer' into the January 2016 Waroona (W.A.) bushfire.

  • Providing fire and emergency management risk assurance advice to numerous timber plantation management companies across Australia.

  • Participating in the accreditation process for Level 3 Incident Controllers for NSW Fire and Rescue Service and for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

  • Chairing the international organising committee for the 14th International Wildland Fire Safety Summit (in Barcelona, Spain).

  • Coordinating editor and writer of the AFAC 2017 revision of AIIMS (Australian Inter-agency Incident Management System) and the AIDR Handbooks on “Emergency Management Arrangements in Australia” and “Incident Management”.

  • Providing expert witness testimony to the S.A. Environment, Resources and Development Court.

  • Providing bushfire and emergency management oversight, assurance and policy advice to various organisations including:

    • Australian Fire and Emergency Services Agencies Council (AFAC)

    • Australian Maritime Safety Authority

    • Australian Institute of Disaster Resilience

    • Dept of Environment and Water (SA)

    • Dept of Justice and Community Safety (ACT)

    • ACT Emergency Services Agency

    • Victorian Department of Education and Training

    • Department of Premier & Cabinet (SA)

    • Forest Products Commission (WA)

    • State Emergency Service (NSW)

    • Timber plantation owners in W.A., S.A., Vic, Tasmania, Queensland and New Zealand

  • Emergency Management governance advice to:

    • Uni SA

    • University of Melbourne

    • Government of New South Wales

    • Victoria’s Chief Fire Officer Dept Environment Land Water & Planning.

  • Facilitating community bushfire preparedness and community safety exercises in various locations.