Australasian Institute of Emergency Services

Christine F Miller FAIES - Director / National President

Chris is a consultant working in emergency and business continuity management. Before setting up her practice, B4Crisis, she began her career in emergency management as a Queensland Police Cadet working on response during the 1974 Brisbane Floods. She continued her policing career for nearly 17 years where she completed her Bachelor of Arts (1988, The University of Queensland). Chris resigned from the Police to become Queensland's first woman Workplace Health and Safety Inspector. In August 1990, she moved to Canberra working with ACT and the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Departments on community safety and counter terrorism. Working for the Department of Social Services, she contributed to whole of Australian Government planning to prepare, respond, and recover from many emergencies including pandemic influenza. Chris also worked to deliver ‘on-shore’ recovery for the Australian Government following the Bali bombings (2002); the Indian Ocean or Boxing Day Tsunami (2004); the London bombings (7/7 – 2005); and Eyre Peninsula bushfires (2005).

Between 2005 and 2022, Chris consulted in emergency management for businesses or business continuity management. Her clients included Commonwealth, ACT and NSW Governments, private businesses and major not-for-profit organizations ranging in size from 2 to more than 80,000 employees. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chris worked with clients on facilitating simulation exercises, response, and recovery plans as well as conducting Mid-Action Reviews (MARs) and After-Action Reviews (AARs) to capture lessons and amend plans.

Chris has received 2 Australian Day Achievement Medallions (for crime prevention, community safety and tsunami recovery) and a Secretary's Certificate (for pandemic business continuity planning. She has been Member of the Australian Institute of Emergency Services (MAIES), since 1990 in NSW and the ACT, and has accepted AIES leadership roles as:

• ACT Division Vice President (2015-2020)
• ACT Division President (2021-2013)
• National Director (2020 - )
• National Vice-President (2021-2023)
• National President (2023 - ), becoming the first woman to hold this role.

Chris has presented more than 100 conference papers and webinars in Australia and internationally. She champions resilience, emergency, and business continuity management. Chris currently works as a Short-Term Consultant for the World Bank in the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and the Republic of Timor-Leste on health emergency preparedness and response (HEPR) including full scale national simulation exercises. HEPR is an umbrella program funded by the Australian, Japanese and German Governments.

Stephen Jenkins FAIES - Immediate Past President

Stephen is a Fellow of the Institute and was elected National President in 2015. He stepped down from the role in 2021 after having served two three-year terms, the maximum allowable under the Institute's Constitution. Previously he had held the positions of Vice-president then President of the Queensland Division. Stephen is also the Institute's representative on the Australian Emergency Management Volunteers Forum (AEMVF), a Commonwealth government advisory body, and sub-editor of the National Emergency Response journal.

Stephen has extensive experience in the emergency management having serviced as a police officer in Queensland for almost 35 years prior to his retirement in 2017. During his policing career, Stephen performed a variety of duties, including: general duties; criminal investigations (appointed Detective); officer-in-charge of varying sizes stations and sections including rural, remote and Indigenous communities; District Inspector; Regional and District Duty Officer; and manager of a variety of information and communications technology related programs and projects including implementing a service-wide online incident and disaster management system, and preliminary work that resulted in the development of the Government Wireless Network that now delivers secure digital communications and other capabilities for police and emergency services across southeast Queensland. Stephen also performed specialised forensic crash investigations, search and rescue coordination, and disaster management officer duties.

Presently, Stephen is performing project-related activities with an Australian government department. He is also a local government Councillor, and volunteer fire-fighter and brigade captain with the NSW Rural Fire Service. Stephen has multiple university qualifications, including six Master's degrees (various disciplines including emergency and disaster management), a Bachelor in Social Science (Emergency Management), and two Graduate Diplomas.

Stephen has been awarded numerous awards, citations and medals, including:

• National Emergency Medal for Sustained Deployment during an Approved Natural Disaster (QLD 2010-11).
• National Police Service Medal for Service in an Australian Police Force.
• National Medal (1st and 2nd Clasps) for Service.
• Queensland Police Service Medal (and 30-year Clasp) for Ethical and Diligent Service.
• 2010 - 2011 Queensland Flood and Cyclone Citation - Group citation for all police and emergency service personnel involved in responding to the flood and cyclone events.
• NSW Premier's Bushfire Emergency Citation - 2019-20 bushfires.
• Queensland Police Service - Assistant Commissioner's Certificate Corporate and Support for his contribution to the QPS and Fleet Assets Service Group from 2013 to 2017, in particular for providing high level project management and support.
• Queensland Police Service - 2013 Award for Excellence in Corporate and Support Services, Information and Communications Technology Award, Computer Aided Dispatch Project.
• Queensland Police Service - QPS Sesquicentennial Citation
• Queensland Police Service - G20 Citation
• Personal Letter of Appreciation for service from The Honourable Mark Ryan MP, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Minister for Corrective Services, Queensland Government - 2017.
• Personal Letter of Appreciation for service from Commissioner Ian Stewart APM, Queensland Police Service - 2017.
• Personal Letter of Appreciation from Assistant Commissioner Katarina Carroll APM - Far Northern Region (QPS) - 2012 for contribution to policing of the Tully area during the disaster response following Tropical Cyclone Yasi in 2011.

Other Letters of Appreciation and Favourable Comments:

• Gold Coast City Council - for facilitation of a pre-conference workshop at the 5th Australasian Natural Hazards Management Conference.
• Doomadgee Aboriginal Community Council - for his intervention and efforts in restoring police / community relations.
• Australian Federal Police - for assistance provided during multi-agency operations.
• Judge Trafford-Walker (Cairns Circuit Court) - Favourable comments during sentencing of an accused following a protracted multi-agency operation re the purchase and cashing of weaponry and ammunition for shipment to Irian Jaya for use by militia groups against Indonesian National Forces.
• Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police and Australian Customs Service (Joint Operation) - Appreciation of assistance provided during a multi-jurisdictional covert operation into drug importation.
• Australian Airlines Security - Appreciation for the management of an operation into drug cultivation and use at the airline's island resorts in North Queensland resulting in multiple arrests.

Greg Webster RFD MAIES - Director / President Tasmania Division

Greg is retired. He was a Police Officer for over 38 years and retired as an Inspector with Tasmania Police. He was also a member of the Australian Army Reserve. Since his retirement he has performed duties in both TFS and SES. As a Police Officer he served in diverse roles including Emergency Management Roles such as Officer in Charge Scottsdale, Divisional Inspector Deloraine and Launceston.

He was appointed twice as Deputy Regional Disaster Controller Northern Police District. He was a member of the Launceston Airport Emergency Committee and other similar forums. He served with the Australian Army as a Reservist in various roles both in Tasmania and on the Mainland. He appointments included 2IC of 12/40Bn RTR. Officer Training Wing and Regimental Training Wing. Corps were Intelligence, Transport and Infantry. In 2008 he was the Officer Commanding a deployment of a Company Plus to Butterworth, Malaysia for 3 months (CFTS).

He has served over nine years with the Tasmania Fire Service as a VFF at Perth Station with deployments within the State. As a member of the SES he was deployed to Queensland twice and served in the Launceston Incident Management Unit and in a Northern Midlands SES unit at Campbelltown. Emergency Service wise he has a ten year clasp and State Medal for service with the SES, a National Medal with three clasps, and a 5 year clasp for TFS. He has been a member of the Institute since 1991. He has a citation from Queensland Government (Cyclone) and a commendation from TasPol for service at Port Arthur.

Greg has attended a number of Emergency related courses at Mt Macedon and elsewhere and exercises, and presented on Tasmania Police Emergency Responses in diverse forums.

Grant Coultman-Smith OAM, VA, BJ, JP, MEmergMgt, BSocSc, DipBus, FBIA, FAIES - Director / President Victoria Division

• Born in Hobart Tasmania in 1949
• Served in the Australian Regular Army 1968 – 1978 as an Infantryman and Air Dispatcher. Toured both Malaysia and South Vietnam with 8TH Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (8RAR Infantry)
• Served in the Army Reserve 1980 – 1992 as Warrant Officer Class 2, Company Sergeant Major (whilst in Vicpol)
• Joined Victoria Police in 1979 and retired in 2009 as a Sergeant Mobile Supervisor including secondments to the Licensing, Gaming and Vice squad, the 'Bao Ve' Vietnamese Crime Task Force (forerunner to the Asian Division) and the Police Academy as a Law Instructor
• Past President of the Beaumaris RSL
• Presenter with the Vietnam Veterans' Education Team (Presenting to Schools & Community Groups on the Australian Military Commitment to the Vietnam Conflict)
• Current Deputy Chair of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation
• The first policeman, worldwide and one of the first 3 to graduate with a Masters Degree in Emergency Management
• Active Bail Justice and Justice of the Peace
• Awarded the Victoria Police Valour Award (VA) in 1984 for 'courage under fire'.
• Awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours for 'Service to Veterans and the Community'
• An unofficial, confidential and voluntary Trauma Counsellor dealing with PTSD in Military and Emergency First Responders
• Currently, President of the Victorian Division, Fellow and a National Director of the Australasian Institute of Emergency Services

Rebecca Hunt MAIES - President South Australia Division / National Vice President

Rebecca began her time in Emergency Services from the age of 20, and remains an active volunteer. She was with the SES for 13 years and changed to CFS 3 years ago. She has held administrative roles with both, being the Unit Finance Officer for SES and now the Administration Officer for the State Support Operations Brigade for the CFS.

After leaving a role in the SA Government, Rebecca studied a Bachelor of Medical Science, and commenced her career in the Medical Industry. she enjoys a faced paced environment, where her negotiation skills and lateral thinking can be challenged.

Rebecca is an experienced Practice Manager, holding a Diploma of Business and a Diploma of Leadership and Management, as well as recently completing her Diploma in Nursing whilst on Parental Leave. She understands the nature of volunteering within Emergency Services, and particularly for those that balance a professional career with young children.

John Moy MAIES - President Queensland and Northern Territory Division

John Moy is currently the Business Operations Manager at the Queensland Combined Emergency Services Academy (QCESA) within the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES). He previously established the Volunteer Emergency Services Training Command (VESTC), as its inaugural Executive Manager and has worked in QFES and its previous iterations, in volunteer and paid roles for over 30 years.

John commenced his career as a Special Education teacher working with youth who had severe behavioural and learning difficulties. Around the same time John joined the Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) as a volunteer. He served in multiple training, operational, leadership and management roles over his 25-year career with the SES. John also worked for 6 years in the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Community Education division, as a first aid trainer/assessor.

He has a passion for 'life-long learning' and holds numerous formal qualifications including Bachelor of Social Science (Emergency Management), Graduate Certificate of Public Sector Management, Graduate Diploma of Community Service Management, and an MBA. John is currently completing his Professional Doctorate through Charles Sturt University (CSU) researching a national, sustainable volunteer emergency services model. John has presented on leadership and management topics, as well as his ongoing research, at various national conferences. He was recently accepted as a presenter and Chair of the 'Volunteer and Aid in Disaster Contexts' session, for the International Sociological Association (ISA) World Congress in Melbourne, 2023.

John runs his own successful first aid training business and has been a representative on the Australian Resuscitation Council (Qld Chapter) for many years. John has worked for several universities, including Central Queensland University (CQU) where he is an assessor within the Emergency Services and Disaster Management program. John has been a member of the AIES for over 25 years. John continues to hone his passion for training and education, emergency services volunteering and leadership and management, hoping to make some small contribution to making the world a safer, happier place. 'Live every day as if it were your last; as one day it surely shall be'.

Jenny Crump JP(Qual), FAIES - AIES National Treasurer

Jenny has been with the SES for the past 16 years and is currently in the role of Group Leader for Northern Group within the Brisbane City SES Unit. During this time Jenny has been on a number of deployments throughout the State where she has assisted with disaster recovery in many regional communities. In the Brisbane region, Jenny has been on many activations over the years assisting with storm damage, searches, rescues, forensic searches and community events.

Jenny holds a TAE and spends a lot of weekends during the year training SES members in Ladders, Emergency Lighting, Casualty Handling, Ropes and Knots, Communications, TAMS, Working in an EOC, Land Search, Storm Damage, First Aid, Safety Officer, Height Safety and Chainsaw.

Since 2010, Jenny has received the following awards, citations and medals.

• 2010-2011 Queensland Flood and Cyclone Citation
• 2010-2011 National Emergency Medal and Clasp
• 2011 QFES 5 year Meritorious Service Certificate
• 2014 G20 Australia Citation
• 2015 SES Northern (Wednesday) Group Member of the Year
• 2016 QFES Meritorious Service Medal
• 2016 QFES Assistant Commissioner's Certificate of Appreciation
• 2016 SES Brisbane Unit Trainer of the Year
• 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games Citation
• 2019 Qld Women in Fire and Emergency Services Award for Outstanding Female Leader – Volunteer
• 2020 Australia Day Achievement Award
• 2021 AIES National Medal of Excellence
• 2021 QFES 15 year Meritorious Clasp
• 2021 SES Week Award
• 2021 National Emergency Medal TC Debbie 2017 Clasp
• 2021 National Emergency Medal Nth Qld 2019 Clasp
• 2021 SES Brisbane Unit Trainer of the Year
• 2021 SES Brisbane Unit Operational Member of the Year
• 2022 National Medal

Jenny is current President of the Northern Group Social Club/Supporters Group and has been in this position for the past 7 years. Prior to becoming President, Jenny was the Social Clubs Secretary and had held that position for 4 years.

Jenny joined the AIES Qld/NT Division in April 2010 and was elected to the position of Qld/NT Treasurer which she held for 4 years. In 2014 Jenny was then elected to the position of Qld/NT Secretary/Treasurer and has held that position for the past 8 years.
In 2017 Jenny was appointed as the AIES National Treasurer and currently remains in that position.

In 2016 Jenny joined the Qld SES Volunteers Association and in 2017 was nominated to the position of Merchandise Officer which she currently still holds.

Doug Caulfield OAM, RFD, FAIES - Director

Doug has been involved in human resource management and, for the past 30+ years, emergency management in the Gippsland region of Victoria. He was the Regional Emergency Management Coordinator for the Department of Health and Human Services in the Gippsland Region for many years and his experience covers operational, theoretical and training aspects of all dimensions of emergency management practice.

He is a Fellow of the Institute and holds many emergency management qualifications. These include emergency management skills qualifications gained whist undertaking training courses at the Australian Civil Defence School, Australian Counter Disaster College, and at the Australian Emergency Management Institute at Mt Macedon, Victoria. When it was in operation, he was a regular guest lecturer at the Australian Emergency Management Institute at Mount Macedon and was recognized in the Australia Day Honours list in 2010 with the award of the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community of Gippsland through a range of ex-service, sporting and local government organizations.

In parallel to his 'civilian' career Doug has served over 41 years in the Australian Defence Force as a reservist and been awarded the Reserve Force Decoration together with a First and Second Clasp to that award.

In 1990, during his posting as Officer Commanding a Reserve Armoured Corps reconnaissance squadron in Gippsland, he was deployed to command a multi-unit task force to respond to a major flood in the area. Two of his unit's members received bravery awards for perilous rescues and the unit received a Chief of Army Commendation for the work carried out over the deployment period. He officially retired from the Australian Defence Force on 8th December 2015 having attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During this time, he commanded the largest Defence Force Reserve training establishment in Australia for three years.

In 2011 he was awarded the National Emergency Medal for work in the Victorian Bushfires of 2009 and has also been awarded the Defence Medal for his service in the ADF.

Recently he received a Regional Commendation from Victoria Police for his work in training Victoria Police members in various aspects of Emergency Management across the region.

Currently, Doug provides the preparatory training package (and co-facilitates) the delivery of a Level 2 Incident Controller course and co-delivers this course both locally and interstate (mainly to essential industry sector agencies). This course is based on the nationally accredited training package PUAOPE018A (Control a level 2 incident)

He is practiced and experienced in design and delivery of Emergency Management exercises including those required by essential industries pursuant to Part 7a of the Victorian Emergency Management Act 2013.

Doug has presented papers at the Australian & New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management national conference in Queensland and, in 2015, had his paper published in the National Emergency Response magazine (the official publication of the Australasian Institute of Emergency Services). He was admitted as a Fellow in 2019 and also holds membership of the International Association of Emergency Managers.

Along with substantial operational and training experience, he has attained an Advanced Diploma in Public Safety (Emergency Management), and holds Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

Doug was appointed as an Independent IAES Board Director on 29th September 2020.

David Parsons ESM CESM FAIES - Director / President New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and International Division

David started his emergency management career as an SES volunteer at Kogarah Local Headquarters in 1978. He still continues to serve as a volunteer in the Blue Mountains where he has held numerous leadership positions including Unit Controller.

David joined in the AIES in 1982 and has served on NSW Division Committee on a number of occasions.

David served as the District Emergency Management officer for Central West NSW where he received a Ministerial Commendation for his efforts. This was followed by a long posting managing Sydney Water's Emergency Management and Counter Terrorism Programs. In this role he led the Australian Water Industry and served as a member of the Australian Critical Infrastructure Advisory Council for 14 years. David also served on the National Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Preparedness Working Group for many years. After Sydney Water David was an Inspector of Mines regulating the mining industry in NSW for emergency preparedness.

David is currently an Adjunct Lecturer at the Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security Studies at Charles Sturt University. David is a founding partner of Response and Recovery Aotearoa New Zealand which provides emergency management leadership training throughout New Zealand on behalf of the National Emergency Management Agency. David's company Crisis Management Australia provides a range of emergency management advice to jurisdictions across Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific and Europe.

David is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Emergency Services, a Fellow of the Business Continuity Institute, a Fellow of the Emergency Management Academy New York and a member of the International Association of Emergency Managers.

David holds a Masters in Emergency Management, and degrees in Social Science and Education. David has completed an Emergency Management Fellowship with the Emergency Management Academy in New York, the Leadership in Crises Program with the Harvard Kennedy Business School and the Lessons Leaned Staff Officer Course with NATO.

David has a special interest in the application of neuroscience research to emergency management leadership and specialises in promoting evidence based leadership practices in the emergency management context.

Costa Zakis FAIES MAICD MIEAust - Director & Webmaster

Costa's emergency management career started in 1983 as a volunteer with the NSW SES Blue Mountains Unit and has held numerous leadership positions including almost 10 years as Local Controller. Costa was on the AIES NSW Division Board from 1994 to 1997, was the sub-editor of the AIES National Emergency Response journal from 1996 to 2001, and was admitted as a Fellow of the Institute in 2020. He was awarded the Blue Mountains City Citizen of the Year in 2007 for services to Emergency Management.

In his professional life, Costa operates his own consultancy, where he advises on business strategy, risk management and organisational resilience. He is is an experienced company executive and risk management professional who has held domestic and international Executive leadership and company Director positions. With a background in engineering and an MBA, Costa was the previous regional consulting leader for a global risk advisory firm where he was responsible for consulting operations that included forensic accounting, actuarial services, risk engineering, claims management, strategic and people risk. Costa has worked with some of Australia's governments, largest businesses and critical infrastructure providers to understand strategic, operational and project related risk, develop and implement risk programs, assist with mergers and acquisitions, undertake risk and insurance due diligence and improve risk governance. He has been a risk advisor to two Olympic Games and had an ongoing crisis management advisory role with one of Australia's leading sporting codes for over 10 years.

Marilena Salvo - Company Secretary

Marilena Salvo holds an undergraduate degree in astronomy from Padua University, Italy. She spent six years at the Mount Stromlo Observatory in Canberra, where she earned her PhD in 2006. Her research field primarily focused on supernovae, and she has conducted observations using various large telescope in Australia, Italy, the Canary Islands, and Chile.

Marilena was living at Mt Stromlo in Canberra in 2003, when the Observatory and her home were devastated by the Canberra bushfires. This experience was one of the key motivators for her interest in disaster recovery and business continuity.

Following a decade in academic research, Marilena has had a diverse career in the Not-for-Profit (NFP) sector. She has managed associations spanning various domains, including Continuity Forum and the Business Continuity Institute, the Parking Association of Australia, the Australasian Research Management Society, and the Risk Management Association, among others. She was also the inaugural Secretary of the Australian Women in Security Network. During the COVID pandemic, Marilena played an important role in managing the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases. She was appointed Company Secretary of AIES in December 2023. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has attended the Company Directors Course.

In 2023, Marilena joined CSIRO in the role of Executive Officer, Space and Astronomy. Her unique blend of scientific expertise and NFP experience contributes significantly to her current position.