Speakers

A/Prof Melissa Parsons

Editor in Chief, AJEM

Adriana Keating

Research Fellow, Monash University

Adriel Appathurai

Young Ambassador, UNICEF Australia

Aidan Galpin

Manager, Bushfire Management Planning, South Australian Country Fire Service

Akeal Hayek

Senior Bushfire Spatial Analyst, Department Of Fire and Emergency Services WA

Akhilesh Surjan

Assoc. Prof./Research and Theme Leader - Humanitarian, Emergency and Disaster Management, CDU

Alecca Norman

District Sales Manager, Industrial Scientific

Alex Holmes

Senior Project Officer AFDRS, NSW Rural Fire Service

Alex Lacey

Ranger, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service

Alexandra Howard

Director, Disasters and Public Health Emergencies, Phoenix Australia - Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health

Alisha Chand

Principle Partnership Manager - Disaster Resilience and Country, Queensland Kids Partnership

Amanda Lawless

Acting Station Officer, Fire Rescue Victoria Department of Fleet & Property

Amy Crawford

CEO, Australian Local Government Association (ALGA)

Andi Crowe

National Program Lead, Cogent

Andrew Ackland

Predictive Services Specialist, Country Fire Authority

Andrew Coghlan

Head of Humanitarian Diplomacy - Emergencies, Australian Red Cross

Andrew Cooper

Principal Consultant, ORH Ltd

Andrew Gissing

Natural Hazards Research Australia

Andrew Richardson

Fire and Rescue NSW

Andrew Richardson.

Health & Fitness Advisor, Fire and Rescue NSW

Andy Starnes

Founder and Instructor, Insight Fire Training

Angela Cook

Senior Engagement Advisor - People at Higher Risk, Country Fire Authority

Angie Skelly

Chair, Nsw Rfs State Young Members Group, NSW Rural Fire Service

Angus Rees

Strategic Engagement Officer, ACT Emergency Services Agency

Anica Renner

Young Ambassador, UNICEF Australia

Anita Egginton

Senior Partnership Officer- Disaster Resilience, Queensland Kids Partnership

Anna Brooks

Chief Research Officer, Lifeline Australia

Anna Gordon

Senior Advisor, Community Readiness & Recovery, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ)

Annah Piggott-McKellar

Senior Research Fellow, Queensland University of Technology

Annette Plowman

Recovery Manager, Douglas Shire Council

Anthony White

Senior Group Leader, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Barbara Ryan

Researcher, Cicada Research and Communication

Becky Felstead

The Resource Podcast

Bek Christensen

Knowledge Broker, NRM Regions Australia

Belinda Hooker

Protocol & Liaison Officer, Fire and Rescue NSW

Ben Beccari

Adjunct Research Fellow, Monash University

Bhiamie Williamson

Associate Professor and Program Lead, Monash University and National Indigenous Disaster Resilience

Blair Bayens

BHP WAIO / Remote Medical Specialist

Blake Richardson

CEO, EaseAlert

Brad Welch

General Manager, TPL Systems Asia-Pacific

Brandy Alger

PhD Candidate / Disaster Welfare Support Team Volunteer, University of Canterbury / New Zealand Red Cross

Bre Geyle

Acting Commander – Women’s Support Coordinator, Fire Rescue Victoria

Brian Gould

Manager, Gould Instruments

Bridget Tehan

Senior Advisor - Humanitarian Diplomacy, Australian Red Cross

Brigid Ennis

Media Director, Country Fire Authority Victoria

Bronwyn Lay

Program Manager, Disaster Legal Help Victoria

Cameron Micallef

Manager - Health and Medical Services, Fire Rescue Victoria

Carla Mooney

Manager, Social Science and Service Policy, Bureau of Meteorology

Carlene York

Board Chair, GIRLS ON FIRE

Carlin Stanford

Manager Illawarra South East, Regional Delivery, NSW Reconstruction Authority

Catharine Phillips

Assistant Director Strategic Volunteer and Youth Programs, Department Of Fire and Emergency Services WA

Catherine James

Manager Community Engagement, NSW Rural Fire Service

Cazz Wingrave

Senior Advisor, Accessible Communications, Emergency Management Victoria

Celeste Young

Collaborative Research Fellow, Victoria University

Chelene Hanes

Wildland Fire Research Scientist, Natural Resources Canada

Cheryl Steer

Assistant Commissioner Operational Capability, Fire and Rescue NSW

Chloe Hosking

Olympian, Lawyer, Founder, Hosking Bikes

Chloe Swiney

Manager Bushfire Mitigation, Rural Fire Service Queensland

Chris Bearman

Associate Professor, Central Queensland University

Chris Hall

Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Country Fire Authority

Chris Hardman AFSM

Chief Fire Officer, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Chris Longmore

Manager - Capability Framework, Victoria State Emergency Service

Chris Smith CSC PhD RAN

Senior Officer, Australian Defence Force

Chris Whelan

Senior Station Officer, Fire Rescue Victoria

Chrissy Strickland

Senior Project Officer Operational Capability, Fire and Rescue NSW

Christine Kenney

Professor of Disaster Risk Reduction, Massey University

Colin Gallagher

Honorary Research Fellow, University of Melbourne

Connor Wilson

Founder, Firetech Labs

Craig Brownlie AFSM

Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Fire Rescue Victoria Department of Fleet & Property

Craig Foster

Former Socceroo Captain, Broadcaster, Adjunct Professor, Author, Filmmaker and Human Rights Activist

Damen Edwards

In Market Representative, Caylym Technologies

Damien Skurrie

Cultural Fire Officer, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Dan Candotti

In-Market Representative, Delphire

Dan Munsey MPA,EFO,CFO

San Bernardino Fire District CA, USA & Former Chair IAFC Technology Committee

Daniel Earl

Assistant Director Strategic Procurement & Chair, Department Of Fire and Emergency Services WA

Daniel McMahon

Underground Rescue Specialist

Danielle Udy

Science and Innovation Group, Bureau of Meteorology

Darcy Prior

Senior Bushfire Behaviour Specialist, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Dave Bremers MAICD

Rescue Response Group

Dave Feltscheer

Senior Manager, EML Insurance for NSW

David Bywater

Deputy Director, ADF Aircrew Life Support Management Unit

David McQueen

Business Solutions Group, Bureau of Meteorology

David Vanderhorst

Chief Commercial Officer, Alexander Perrie & Co. Pty Ltd

Dean West

Snr Remote Pilot Rural Fire Service, Queensland Fire Department

Dennis Del Favero

ARC Laureate Fellow

Derek Wardrobe

Managing Director, Nederman Australia

Derren Halleday

Manager Volunteer Capacity, Chief of Staff, SA State Emergency Service

Dhirendra Singh

Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO

Doerte Jakob

Science and Innovation Group, Bureau of Meteorology

Don Herbert

Technical Specialist Fire/Rescue/Hazmat, Safariland Redline Communications

Eane Watson

Principal, BreathStrong

Ed Browne

Youth Advisory Group Member, Centre of Excellence: young people and disasters

Elizabeth Hoover

Associate Professor of Society and the Environment, Environmental Science Policy Management Department, University of California Berkeley

Ellie Lawrence-Wood

Researcher, Phoenix Australia, University of Melbourne, Victoria Australia

Elly Bird

Executive Director, Resilient Lismore

Emerson Zabat

Director, ServiceNow Customer Industry & Innovation, Fujitsu Australia Limited

Emma Conway

Deputy Director Operations, National Capability, AFAC

Emma Harvey

Project and community engagement professional, Gender and Disaster Australia

Erin Liston-Abel

Former Deputy Chief Executive Officer, AFAC

Evie Kendal

Associate Professor of Health Promotion, Swinburne University of Technology

Felipe Aires

A/ Senior Knowledge Exchange Officer | Applied Bushfire Science Program, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, NSW

Fiona Perrin

Board Member, IFE Australia

Gabi Mocatta

Senior Research Fellow in Climate Science Communication, University of Tasmania

Gareth Byatt

Principal Consultant, Risk Insight Consulting

Gary Ashley

Fire Operations Liaison North America, TESLA

Genevieve Rueger

Career Firefighter, Metropolitan Fire Service SA

Georgia Parker

Public Information and Warnings Officer, Victoria State Emergency Service

Georgina Hill

Events Advisor, Country Fire Authority Victoria

Gerhard Maier

CEO, Hoverboard GmbH

Gilberto DeSalvo

CEO & Founder, Delphire

Grant Blake

Director of Clinical, Intensive Trauma Treatment Center

Greg Drummond

Superintendent Built Environment, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, WA

Hayat Doughan

Founder and Director, Al-Emaan Women's Support Group

Helen McGarry

Executive Manager Intelligence and Predictive Services, Queensland Fire Department

Holly Rankin

Founder, Sentiment

Iftekhar Ahmed

Associate Professor, The University of Newcastle

Ilan Kelman

Professor, UCL

Imre Bartos

Associate Professor of Physics, University of Florida

Jack Griffin

Head of Sales, FlamePro

Jack Piper

Climate Justice Lead, ARC Justice

Jacquie Montgomery

Head of Business Solutions, Country Fire Authority

James Bigg

Software Engineer, ResQ Vision

James Mullins AM

Director, Defence and Security (Strategic Partnerships), Deakin University

James Riley

Yuganha Development Initiative

James Sorahan

Executive Director – MCA Victoria

Jamie Bertram

Aboriginal Programs Coordinator, NSW Rural Fire Service

Jamie Burton

Research Fellow, The University Of Melbourne

Jamie Hansen

Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Fire Rescue Victoria

Jane Fisher AO

Director of Global and Women’s Health, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University

Jane McIntosh

ODBP Director, Fire Rescue Victoria

Janet Pakan

Regional Manager Bushfire and Emergency Management - Gippsland, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Jason D'Silva

Principal Engineer Fire Life Safety, Transport for NSW

Jasper Francis

Youth Advisory Group Member, Centre of Excellence: young people & disasters

Jay Guo

Director of Global Big Data Technologies Centre (UTS) Technical Director, Connectivity Innovation Network

JC Gaillard

Ahorangi o te Matawhenua | Professor of Geography, Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland and Research Fellow at the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute

Jeff Berry

Service Technical Manager, Isuzu Australia Limited

Jennifer Black

Senior Psychologist, NSW Rural Fire Service

Jennifer Cobley

Executive Manager Community Impact and Customer Advocate, NRMA Insurance

Jenny George

Dean and Director, Melbourne Business School

Jeremy Smith

Fire And Emergency Services Commissioner, Tasmania Fire Service and State Emergency Service

Jess Van Son

Co-convenor COPRRRA, Queensland University of Technology

Jessica Bennett

CME Mines Rescue Committee

Jessica Nelipovich

Group Operations Manager, Hato Hone Aotearoa | St John New Zealand

Jessie Fraser

Fire Rescue Victoria

Joanna Limpic

Operational Leadership Advisor, NSW State Emergency Service

Joe Griffin

Senior Policy Officer, Fire and Rescue NSW

Joel Diver

Aboriginal Programs Officer, NSW Rural Fire Service

Joff van Ek

Station Officer, Fire Rescue Victoria

Jomini Cheong

Chief Medical Officer, Fire Rescue Victoria

Jorian Kippax

Emergency Doctor, 2026 Tasmanian of the Year

Joshua Fischer AIFireE

Deputy Commissioner Community Safety and Operational Training Directorate, Fire Rescue Victoria

Joshua Marinovic

Senior Program Manager SSKO, NSW State Emergency Service

Julie Best

Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM)

Justin Murray

Community Resilience Officer, Bass Coast Shire Council

Justin Storey

Senior Firefighter, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ)

Karen Akehurst

Manager Community Strategy & Engagement, NSW State Emergency Service

Karen Hudson

Senior Policy Advisor, Bureau of Meteorology

Karen O'Connor

Founding Principal, Earth Fire Alliance

Karen Revie

Pathways Program Manager, RANT Arts

Karen Walker-Bone

Director Monash Centre Of Occupational And Environmental Health, Monash University

Kate Brady

Senior Research Fellow, HowWeSurvive UNSW

Kate Fitzgerald

Chief Executive Officer, NSW Reconstruction Authority

Kate Retzki

Director, Research and Communications, Office of the Inspector-General of Emergency Management

Kate White

Senior Lead, Climate Justice, Centre for Just Places, Jesuit Social Services

Katherine Jenkins

Assistant Director Prescribed Burning | Fire Management Unit, ACT Parks & Conservation Service

Kathie Heyman

Network Lead, Northern Rivers Community Resilience Alliance

Kathy Mickan

Senior Project Officer, Disaster Resilience, South Australian Council of Social Service

Katie Lee

Senior Policy Officer, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Katie Mackay

Senior Sales Executive, aXcelerate

Katie Moulton

Operational Readiness Officer, NSW State Emergency Service

Kaye Ahsam

Manager Women's Development, Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Keith Govias

Workplace Safety & Risk Principal, EML Group

Kelsey Winter

Executive Director, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre

Ken Tuke

Chief Procurement Officer, Fire Rescue Victoria

Kirra Waine

Manager Warnings Capability and Systems, NSW State Emergency Service

Klaus Hoerschlaeger

Managing Director, Rosenbauer Australia

Kristen Hilton

Champions of Change Coalition

Kristy Butler

Lead Data Scientist, Country Fire Authority Victoria

Kristy Phelps

Acting Chief Officer, SA State Emergency Service

Kylee Clubb

Gambir Yidinji Cultural Heritage and Protection Officer / Second Officer, Tinaroo Rural Fire Brigade

Layla Wang

Young Ambassador, UNICEF Australia

Leigh Keioskie

In-country Partner, Caylym Technologies International

Libby Symons

Diversity and Inclusion Lead, Fire Rescue Victoria

Lincoln Ingravalle

Young Ambassador, UNICEF Australia

Linda Franco

Child Safety Program Lead, Fire Rescue Victoria

Lindsey Goodman

Program Director, Monash University

Lisa Gibbs

Director of the Disaster, Climate and Adversity Unit, University of Melbourne

Liza Gelt

Principal and Founder, Collaborative Consulting Co

Lori Moore-Merrell

Former U.S. Fire Administrator / Tech Advisor, Lori Moore-Merrell & Associates

Luana Main PhD, SFHEA, AES

Associate Professor, Deakin University

Lucinda Gibson

Youth Advisory Group Member, Centre of Excellence: young people & disasters

Mae Proudley

Researcher, Gender and Disaster Australia

Mandana Ghanavati

Senior Research Fellow, UNSW Sydney

Margaret Moreton

CEO, Gender and Disaster Australia

Marianne Foley

Principal Fire Engineer, Arup

Marinovic Joshua

Senior Program Manager SSKO, NSW State Emergency Service

Mariska Hawke

Group Officer, South Australian Country Fire Service

Mark Carter

ACFO, Community Safety, Built Environment, Fire Rescue Victoria

Mark Costello

PPE Software Australia

Mark Duckworth PSM

Co-Director, Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies, Deakin University

Mark Gilmore

Senior Product Manager, aXcelerate

Mark Gunning

Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Fire Rescue Victoria

Matt Burnett

President, Australian Local Government Association (ALGA)

Matt Campbell

Rio Tinto / EM CoP

Matt Dyer

Executive Manager, Queensland Fire Department

Matt Heap

Operational Media Coordinator, NSW State Emergency Service

Matthew Eastham ASM

General Manager, Douglas Shire Council

Matthew Ingersole

Chief Information Officer, Surf Life Saving NSW

Matthew Masters

Rescue Response Group

Matthew McLaren

Director, Nous Group

Maureen Halit

President, Millgrove Residents Action Group

Megan Kennedy GradDipEDM GradCertEDM Bed

Senior Ergonomist, WorkSafe Victoria

Mel Osborne

Business Development Manager, Gender and Disaster Australia

Mel Taylor

Senior Knowledge Exchange Officer, NSW DCCEEW

Melanie Gill

Assistant Chief Officer Emergency Management Planning, Victoria State Emergency Service

Melinda McDonald CF

Senior Firefighter, Fire and Rescue NSW

Melinda McDonald CF.

President, WAFA

Melissa Parsons

Associate Professor in Physical Geography, University of New England

Michael Bosack

Founder & Director, Parley Policy Initiative

Michael Dillon

Emergency Response Coordinator, Newmont

Michelle Parker-Tomlin

Head Of Clinical, Intensive Trauma Treatment Center

Michelle Rogers (Guthrie)

Manager Aboriginal Outcomes, NSW Reconstruction Authority

Mick Halel

Rio Tinto

Miguel Kabilio

Senior Occupational Physician, Cogent

Mike Hunnyball

Operations Vice President, Australia Operations Chief Engineer, FM

Milly Bell

Director, Nous Group

Miriam Lumb

Manager, Recovery Policy, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, SA

Monica Taylor

Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology

Monique Frison

Coordinator and head of the Secretariat, Global Fire Management Hub

Morrison Mast

Director, Conservation Innovation, Blue Forest

Narelle Poole

Senior Consultant, Water Technology

Natalie Egleton

CEO, Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal

Natashjja Heming

Manager - Digital and Social Media, Fire and Rescue NSW

Navid Mohajer

Senior Research Fellow, Deakin University

Nell Reidy

Research Fellow, Monash University

Nelmerie Beinlich

VET Project lead, Public Skills Australia

Nicholas Daines

Senior Director Fire Management Unit, ACT Parks & Conservation Service

Nick Grant

Executive General Manager, Cogent

Nick Grant-Collins

Coordinator Community Safety and Resilience, Bass Coast Shire Council

Nick Harterre

Manager, Government & Strategic Partnerships, Skyward Wildfire

Nina O'Brien

Disaster Resilience & Recovery Lead, Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal

Nithin Roy

Dräger Australia

Olivia Duffey

Volunteer Sustainability, Country Fire Authority Victoria