Brett was a member of the NSW Police Force for over 35 years, having served across metropolitan and country NSW. He was appointed as an Emergency Operations Controller in several NSW LGA’s. As a SES volunteer member he has deployed to flooding events nationally. He has trained Police and emergency services personnel in Australia and the Pacific.

Brett has tertiary qualifications in Justice Administration, Law and a Masters in Business and Emergency Management. His Doctoral dissertation addressed community participation in emergency management. He is the NSW President of the Australasian Institute of Emergency Management. He has continued to actively research in the Emergency Management and Disaster space.