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Conference Programme

A comprehensive and stimulating Conference Programme is currently being developed to cover a wide range of topics relevant to the Fire service industry. Entertaining Keynote speakers and interactive poster presentations will be mixed with memorable social occasions to showcase the magnificent city of Sydney.

Click here for the Final Conference Outline Programme (PDF File)
Programme last updated 15 June 2009. Programme is subject to change.

The Conference will present three main streams:

• Technology & Research
• A Safer Community
• The Challenges We Face

These streams will cover a range of topics, with key presentations by fire personnel, land managers, environmental experts, educators and government and community representatives that have extensive experience in combating wildland fires, and protecting communities from their impacts. There will be a particular emphasis on educating communities to help, themselves.

Keynote speakers

Prof. Tim Flannery
Prof Tim Flannery appears by arrangement with Claxton Speakers International.

Tim Flannery is one of Australia’s leading thinkers and writers. An internationally acclaimed scientist, explorer and conservationist, he has published more than 130 peer-reviewed scientific papers. His books include the landmark works The Future Eaters and The Weather Makers.

As a field biologist he has discovered and named more than thirty new species of mammals (including two tree-kangaroos) and at 34 he was awarded the Edgeworth David Medal for outstanding research in zoology. His pioneering work in New Guinea prompted David Attenborough to put him in the league of the world’s great explorers, and Redmond O’Hanlon to remark, “He’s discovered more new species than Charles Darwin.” He received a Centenary of Federation Medal for his services to Australian science and in 2002 he became the first environmental scientist to deliver the Australia Day address to the nation. In 2005 he was named Australian Humanist of the Year, in 2006 the NSW Australian of the Year, and in 2007 honoured as Australian of the Year.

Tim Flannery is currently a Professor at Sydney's Macquarie University, taking up the Chair in July 2007. He spent a year as professor of Australian studies at Harvard, where he taught in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. He is a founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, a director of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and the National Geographic Society’s representative in Australasia. In 2007 Tim Flannery co-founded and was appointed Chair of The Copenhagen Climate Council, a coalition of community, business, and political leaders who have come together to confront climate change.

 

Naomi Brown
Chief Executive Officer
AFAC Limited

Naomi Brown has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) since December 2006. Naomi is also a Board member of the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) and the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC)

Naomi took up the role of Director Community Safety at the Country Fire Authority (CFA) of Victoria in 2003. She had previously worked in her home state of Western Australia with the WA Fire and Emergency Services (FESA) for five years. She spent time there as Executive Director Community Safety and also Executive Director State Emergency Service and Volunteer Marine Rescue.
She has a Diploma in Teaching, Graduate Diplomas in Special Education and Business and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.

 

Superintendent Rod Collins APM

Rod Collins APM is a Superintendent of Police and is currently the State Emergency Response Officer for the State of Victoria. Rod has management of the coordination of Emergency Planning and Response and the Major Event Planning Unit. During Emergencies he is responsible for the operations of the State Emergency Response Coordination Centre. Rod also sits on over 30 committees dealing with emergency arrangements in Victoria and in some cases nationally. As the manager of the Major Events Planning Unit he oversees the planning for Major Events within the State of Victoria including the visits of Internationally Protected Persons and VIP’s.

Rod is a career policeman with 37 years experience and holds tertiary qualification in Public Administration. He has worked in both operational and management areas within Victoria Police including seven years as Officer In Charge of the Homicide Squad where he managed the investigations into over 300 murders. In 2004 Rod was awarded the Australian Police Medal in the Queens Birthday Honours list for his services to Policing. He is the recipient of the National medal and 2nd clasp, and the Victoria Police Service Medal for 35 years dedicated service.

Outside the Police Force Rod is committed to charity volunteerism and actively involved in Variety the Children Charity. He is currently the Chair of the Victoria Variety Board of Directors and also holds the position of Chairperson of the Motoring Events portfolio. Over the last 10 years he has led an organising committee who increased their fund raising net return, from four hundred and sixty thousand dollars to 1.5 million dollars. During his time as Chairman of road events in excess of 8 million dollars has been raised in Victoria for distribution to needy children. Rod also takes an interest in Variety nationally and is a member of the Variety National board of Directors as well as National Road Events chairperson where annually almost 9 million dollars is raised around Australia. He is also a Director with the St John Australia (Victoria) State Council and has been president of his local community and recreational club for 9 years.

 

Craig Lapsley 
Director Emergency Management - Department Human Services - Victoria.

Craig Lapsley has enjoyed an impressive career in the Emergency Management sector for over 25 years. The majority of the 25 years has been as an employee of Country Fire Authority (CFA), and has served as a volunteer firefighter prior to that.  With CFA, Craig has worked in most parts of Victoria which has resulted in his involvement in Operations, Community Safety, Regional Management and Planning roles and finished his employment with CFA in August 2007 as Deputy Chief Officer.

In 1996 Craig was seconded to NSW Fire Brigades (Sydney) fulfilling the position of Manager State Operations for a two (2) year period.

Craig was also seconded to Victoria State Emergency Service in 2005 to transform this agency from a Government Department to a Statutory Authority.  He fulfilled the positions of Director and then became the first Chief Executive Officer of the newly formed Authority.

Craig currently fills the position of Director Emergency Management - Department Human Services which has state responsibilities across the health and community services sector. These functional responsibilities include planning and co ordination of the health sector response to major incidents including mass casualty incidents that require a pre hospital (ambulance) and hospital surge response and extend to the co ordination and management of the State Recovery arrangements for all emergencies.

Craig prides himself on being a dynamic leader in the Emergency Management industry and is a strong believer in the integration of community consequence management into all levels of Emergency Management in an all hazards, all agencies approach.

Conference Speaker

Mr Roy Bishop OBE QFSM MIFire

Deputy Commissioner
London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority

Roy Bishop has over 30 years operational service in the London Fire Brigade. He started his career as a firefighter in the London Borough of Greenwich in 1978 and has served predominantly in the south and east of the city. Following promotion to Assistant Commissioner 1994 he has held a number of senior roles including, Head of training and recruitment and management of the eastern sector of London. He was appointed as Deputy Commissioner in early 2001.

 In his current role he is responsible for the running of London’s 111 fire stations and the river service. The 6500 staff in his Directorate perform a wide range of functions including;

• Operations
• Community Safety
• Regulatory Fire Safety
• Equalities
• Health and Safety
• Operational Planning and Policy
• Special Operations
• Emergency Planning
• Command and Mobilising (Dispatch)

As a firefighter, senior and principal officer, and, from 2001, as Deputy Commissioner, Roy has attended the vast majority of large and significant fires and major incidents occurring in the London Fire Brigade area and has developed a wealth of operational experience in managing and resolving many kinds of emergencies and challenging major incidents.