3 minute read
Movers and shakers
MELISSA PEXTON
Melissa Pexton has been appointed as the first female Deputy Commissioner Strategy and Emergency Management of the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) for a term of five years. She has served as the Tropical Cyclone Seroja State Recovery Controller since April 2021 and was previously Director Risk, Capability and Analysis at DFES.
WAYNE PHILLIPS
Wayne Phillips (right) has taken on the role of Assistant Commissioner at the ACT Emergency Services Agency. Previously, he was Chief Superintendent Fire Safety at Fire and Rescue NSW and managed the Fire Safety Branch as part of the Community Safety Directorate. He has been active in gender equity in the fire and emergency services, participating in the Champions of Change initiative and the Women Leading @ Fire and Rescue NSW program.
AMANDA LECK
Amanda Leck has moved from the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) Executive Director position to take on the role of Emergency Management Victoria’s Deputy Commissioner, Capability and Risk. She has made a significant contribution influencing community safety, engagement, and public information and warnings with AIDR since its inception in 2016, and before that through AFAC’s Community Safety and Resilience Directorate since 2012.
MAL CRONSTEDT
Mal Cronstedt AFSM has retired from his position of Deputy Commissioner Strategy and Emergency Management at WA DFES. He commenced as a volunteer in 1976 before joining the WA Bush Fires Board full-time in 1982. He progressed through the ranks in a variety of operational and support roles, both in WA and NSW, gaining considerable experience in both rural and urban environments before becoming Chief Superintendent Country South when DFES was created in 2012.
MARK JONES
Mark Jones will leave the position of Chief Officer at the SA Country Fire Service (CFS) at the end of September to take on the role of Chief Fire Officer of Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service in the UK. He was announced as the preferred candidate by Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold and is looking forward to being closer to family in the UK. He was appointed to lead the CFS in 2019 and lead the response to the 2019–20 bushfires, including in the Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island.
ANDREW GISSING
Andrew Gissing has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer at Natural Hazards Research Australia (NHRA), commencing 25 July. He joins NHRA from Risk Frontiers, where he was General Manager—Resilience. He previously held the position of Deputy Chief Officer/Director Emergency Management and Communication with the Victoria State Emergency Service, and before joining Risk Frontiers he was the Director Enterprise Risk Management at the NSW Department of Family and Community Services.
JOINT EDITORS
PAUL WATERHOUSE (FPA AUSTRALIA) Tel +61 3 8892 3133 paul.waterhouse@fpaa.com.au
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