Speakers

Aidan Galpin

Manager, Bushfire Management Planning, South Australian Country Fire Service

Akeal Hayek

Senior Bushfire Spatial Analyst, Department Of Fire and Emergency Services

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

Amy Crawford

CEO, Australian Local Government Association (ALGA)

Andrew Ackland

Predictive Services Specialist, Country Fire Authority

Andrew Coghlan

Head of Humanitarian Diplomacy - Emergencies, Australian Red Cross

Andrew Richardson

Health & Fitness Advisor, Fire and Rescue New South Wales

Angie Skelly

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

Angus Rees

Strategic Engagement Officer, ACT Emergency Services Agency

Anna Gordon

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

Annah Piggott-McKellar

Senior Research Fellow, Queensland University of Technology

Anthony White

Senior Group Leader, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Barbara Ryan

Researcher, Cicada Research and Communication

Belinda Hooker

Protocol & Liaison Officer, Fire and Rescue NSW

Ben Beccari

Adjunct Research Fellow, Monash University

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

Bronwyn Lay

Program Manager, Disaster Legal Help Victoria

Carla Mooney

Manager, Social Science and Service Policy, Bureau of Meteorology

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

Catherine James

Manager Community Engagement, NSW Rural Fire Service

Celeste Young

Collaborative Research Fellow, Victoria University

Cheryl Steer

Assistant Commissioner Operational Capability, Fire and Rescue NSW

Chloe Swiney

Manager Bushfire Mitigation, Rural Fire Service Queensland

Chris Bearman

Associate Professor, Central Queensland University

Chris Longmore

Manager - Capability Framework, Victoria State Emergency Service

Chris Smith CSC PhD RAN

Senior Officer, Australian Defence Force

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

Craig Foster

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

Damien Skurrie

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

Daniel Earl

Assistant Director Strategic Procurement , Department of Fire and Emergency Services & Chair AFAC Collaborative Procurement Strategy Group

Danielle Udy

Science and Innovation Group, Bureau of Meteorology

Deputy Director Aircrew Life Support Management Unit, Surveillance, Surveillance, Intelligence and Life-Support Systems Program Office, Aerospace Surveillance & Response Branch of the Aerospace Systems Division

David Clancy

Commander, Fire Rescue Victoria

David McQueen

Business Solutions Group, Bureau of Meteorology

David Pedder

Clinical Specialist / Psychologist, Phoenix Australia - Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health

Dean West

Snr Remote Pilot Rural Fire Service, Queensland Fire Department

Dhirendra Singh

Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO

Doerte Jakob

Science and Innovation Group, Bureau of Meteorology

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

Erin Listen-Abel

Deputy Chief Executive Officer, AFAC

Evie Kendal

Associate Professor of Health Promotion, Swinburne University of Technology

Gabi Mocatta

Senior Research Fellow in Climate Science Communication, University of Tasmania

Gareth Byatt

Principal Consultant, Risk Insight Consulting

Genevieve Rueger

Career Firefighter, Metropolitan Fire Service South Australia

Georgina Hill

Country Fire Authority

Grant Blake

Director of Clinical, Intensive Trauma Treatment Center

Hayat Doughan

Project manager, Al-Emaan Women Organisation INC

Helen McGarry

Executive Manager Intelligence and Predictive Services, Queensland Fire Department

Iftekhar Ahmed

Associate Professor, The University of Newcastle

Ika Trijsburg

Director of Urban Analytics, Institute for Infrastructure in Society, Australian National University

Ilan Kelman

Professor, UCL

Imre Bartos

Associate Professor of Physics, University of Florida

James Riley

Yuganha Development Initiative

Jamie Bertram

Aboriginal Programs Coordinator, NSW Rural Fire Service

Jamie Burton

Research Fellow, The University Of Melbourne

Jane Fisher AO

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

Jane McIntosh

ODBP Director, Fire Rescue Victoria

Jason D'Silva

President, IFE Australia

Jasper Francis

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

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 Institut

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 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

Fire and Rescue New South Wales

Joel Diver

Aboriginal Programs Officer, NSW Rural Fire Service

Jorian Kippax

Emergency Doctor, 2026 Tasmanian of the Year

Joshua Marinovic

Senior Program Manager SSKO, NSW State Emergency Service

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 Walker-Bone

Director Monash Centre Of Occupational And Environmental Health, Monash University

Kate Brady

Senior Research Fellow, HowWeSurvive UNSW

Kate White

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

Katharine Haynes

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, NSW

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 Moulton

Operational Readiness Officer, NSW State Emergency Service

Kaye Ahsam

Manager Women's Development, Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Ken Tuke

Chief Procurement Officer, Fire Rescue Victoria and Acting Chair, AFAC Collaborative Procurement Strategy Group

Kitty Vigo

Volunteer & Board Chair Mount Beauty Neighbourhood Centre, Keep Calm Committee

Kristen Hilton

Champions of Change Coalition

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

Lincoln Kippax

Young Ambassador, UNICEF Australia

Linda Franco

Child Safety Program Lead, Fire Rescue Victoria

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

Mae Proudley

Researcher, Gender and Disaster Australia

Mandana Ghanavati

Senior Research Fellow and Data Scientist, UNSW Sydney

Margaret Moreton

CEO, Gender and Disaster Australia

Marinovic Joshua

Senior Program Manager SSKO, NSW State Emergency Service

Mariska Hawke

Group Officer, South Australian Country Fire Service

Mark Carter

ACFO, Communty Safety, Built Environment, Fire Rescue Victoria

Mark Duckworth PSM

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

Mark Gunning

Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Fire Rescue Victoria

Matt Burnett

President, Australian Local Government Association (ALGA)

Matt Dyer

Executive Manager, Queensland Fire Department

Matthew Eastham ASM

General Manager, Douglas Shire Council

Matthew Ingersole

Chief Information Officer, Surf Life Saving NSW

Matthew McLaren

Director, Nous Group

Maureen Halit

Millgrove Residents Action Group

Mel Taylor

Senior Knowledge Exchange Officer, NSW DCCEEW

Melanie Gill

Manager Emergency Management Planning, Victoria State Emergency Service

Melinda McDonald

President, WAFA

Melinda McDonald CF

Senior Firefighter, Fire and Rescue NSW

Melissa Parsons

Associate Professor in Physical Geography, University of New England

Michael Bosack

Founder & Director, Parley Policy Initiative

Michelle Guthrie

Manager Aboriginal Outcomes, NSW Reconstruction Authority

Michelle Parker-Tomlin

Head Of Clinical, Intensive Trauma Treatment Center

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

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

Nell Reidy

Research Fellow, Monash University

Nick Grant-Collins

Coordinator Community Safety and Resilience, Bass Coast Shire Council

Nina O'Brien

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

Olivia Duffy

Volunteer Sustainability, Country Fire Authority

Paul Fitzgerald

Senior Psychological Business Partner, Fire Rescue Victoria

Paula Jarzabkowski

Professor, University Of Queensland

Peter Martin

Project Officer - Lithium-Ion Battery Education, Fire and Rescue NSW

Phoebe Angelatos

Assistant Director, Strategic Engagement, ACT Emergency Services Agency

Pisapat Youkongpun

Compliance Officer, Queensland Fire Department

Rachel Bessell

Senior Research Officer, CFA, Country Fire Authority

Rachel Cowling

Fire Rescue Victoria

Rachel Morgain

Deputy Director, Melbourne Biodiversity Institute, Melbourne University

Raymond Yu

Director of Project Management, China RCR Education Co.

Rebecca Johnson

Project Coordinator, Disaster Preparedness and Response, COORDINARE - South Eastern NSW PHN

Rebecca Postlethwaite

Senior Grants Delivery Officer, Emergency Management - Department of Justice and Community Safety, Victorian Government

Rebecca Price

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

Revathi Nuggehalli Krishna

Research Fellow, School of Public and Preventive Health, Monash University

Richard Ogetti

Community Executive Officer/ MEMP Co-Chair, Albury Wodonga Ethnic Communities Council

Rob Warren

Science and Innovation Group, Bureau of Meteorology

Robert Wilson-Elwood

Aboriginal Programs Officer, NSW Rural Fire Service

Roger Jones

Professorial Fellow, Victoria University

Roslyn Bailey

Station Officer, Fire and Rescue New South Wales

Ruby Soin

Director (a/g), Data Strategy and Reporting, National Emergency Management Agency

Ruth Harley

Cultural Engagement Advisor, Fire Rescue Victoria

Sabrina Davis

Senior Project Officer, Australian Red Cross

Sally Ashton

Lecturer, Adelaide University

Sam Quigley

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

Sara Mills-Kerr

Firefighter/ PhD candidate, FRNSW/ University of Newcastle

Sarah Harris

Manager Research and Development, Country Fire Authority

Sarah Hoyal

Nature-based Solutions Lead, NRM Regions Australia

Shelby Robinson

Community Researcher and Advocate, School of Population Health, Curtin University

Silkom Powell

Research Officer, Centre of Excellence: young people and disasters

Sonya Gray

People at Increased Risk in Emergencies Lead, SA, Australian Red Cross

Sophie Raynor

Project Team Member, Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

Stephanie Andrade

Deputy Director - DEI, Strategy & Performance, AFAC

Stephanie Looi

Board Member, WAFA

Steve Muncaster

Principal Advisor, Emergency Management Reform, Victorian State Emergency Service

Sunny Nguyen

Research Officer; Co-Lead of Intergenerational Justice, University of Melbourne

Suzanne Coates

Manager, Recovery Outcomes - Aboriginal Culture and Healing, Emergency Recovery Victoria

Taala Tieaki

Emergency Response Officer, Office of Te Beretitenti

Tanya Lumley

Volunteer Sustainability, Country Fire Authority

Tegan Larin

Research Fellow, RMIT University

Tehreem Chaudhry

Senior Project Officer, Centre for Just Places, Jesuit Social Services

Tom Robinson

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Tracey White

Senior Advisor - Publicity, Events & Partnerships, Victoria State Emergency Service

Travis Thomas (Nukunu)

Co-Chair, First Nations of South Australian Aboriginal Corporation

Trent Gibson

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

Valentine Orcher

Aboriginal Programs Officer, NSW Rural Fire Service

Wayne Snell

Chief Officer, Northern Territory Emergency Service

Yasmin King

CEO, SkillsAware

Yuxuan Yao

PhD student, The University of Osaka

Zena Armstrong

Festival Director, Cobargo Folk Festival

Zoe Schultz

Research Fellow, Monash University