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Melinda McDonald CF
Melinda McDonald CF is a Senior Firefighter with Fire and Rescue NSW, President of Women and Firefighting Australasia, and a PhD candidate at the University of Technology Sydney. Her work sits at the intersection of operational practice, organisational culture, and community risk reduction.
As a Churchill Fellow, Melinda investigated co-designed community risk reduction programs worldwide, with a focus on fostering authentic relationships with diverse communities and strengthening firefighter capacity for cross cultural engagement. Her doctoral research examines organisational culture in the Australian fire services and the potential role of cultural humility in shaping safe and inclusive leadership and workplace practice.
Melinda is a recognised contributor across both industry and academic forums, intentionally bridging these spaces to translate research into practice. She has presented both nationally and internationally, contributing to conversations on leadership, inclusion, and community-centred emergency management.
Her work has been recognised through national awards for fostering resilient communities and for excellence in emergency media and public affairs.
Outside of her professional roles, Melinda enjoys her family, endurance running and cycling, drinking coffee, and remaining relentlessly optimistic (not always in that order).
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