Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia
I have worked for the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service since 1987 and have been a fire fighter since 1991. I have performed a range of fire roles from crew member, crew leader, divisional commander, operations officer, planning officer and incident controller during level 1 to level 3 fire incidents. I travelled interstate to Victoria during campaign fires in 2006 as interstate liasion officer and twice in 2009 as a task force leader, and then as interstate liasion officer. I undertake the arduous pack test annually and aspire to travel to the US in a firefighting role under the agreement between the US and Australian fire agencies.
I tend to get pigeon-holed as a planner at inter-agency managed fires but I love getting on to the paddock to keep my fire fighting skills current. I believe that situational awareness is one of the most important traits any person can have, but is essential to be a safe fire fighter and a creditable fire manager.
In my day to day job as a ranger I am responsible for 5 protected areas, including Crowdy Bay National Park and I have a keen interest in fire management from the perspective of a manager of biodiversity. This includes reserve fire management planning, fuel monitoring, hazard reduction planning and implementation. Other than fire management I am responsible for pest management, neighbour relations, visitor facilities, wildlife management and asset management for the parks I am nominally responsible for. I love the variety in my job and I never get bored.
Since 1997 I have been a weekly contributor to the local public broadcaster (ABC local radio). I enjoy doing media work and in 2007 I was humbled to be awarded a Public Service Medal for increasing community awareness, knowledge and appreciation of nature conservation and environmental management.
I believe in kindness.
