The 2018 Australian and New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference is on this month over the 21-22 May at The Star Gold Coast.

Commissioner Katarina Carroll, Commissioner of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services joins us at the Conference to discuss ‘A Different Style of Leadership’.

Abstract

Whilst many emergency service personnel are well versed with leadership models based on traditional command and control structures, our changing environment is requiring a more contemporary and innovative approach to preparing, preventing, responding and recovering from disaster events.

Dealing with more complex emerging disaster scenarios requires new approaches to improve locally led capability still nested in the disaster management arrangements from the local response, through the regional tiers of government to national levels.

Connected communities have proven to be highly resilient and capable in these events especially when that connection is via a strong volunteerism culture. Additionally, more innovative applications of disaster risk management that have a greater understanding of hazards, exposures and the vulnerability of people, assets and environment to all hazards are required. Governments, communities and individuals can make much better informed prevention decisions by appropriately identifying risks and anticipating the potential impacts of hazards. All of these dependencies are outcomes of a highly developed and dependable risk management framework.

All of these challenges are fundamentally underpinned by a leadership style that is founded on developing capabilities through respectful partnerships and collaboration across the sector.

Biography

KEYNOTE SPEAKER Commissioner Carroll joined the Queensland Police Service in 1983 and worked in various roles early in her career including Detective work, a Commission of Inquiry, Criminal Investigation Branches, the Joint Organised Crime Task Force and the Covert Unit. She undertook several senior roles throughout Queensland and, in 2010, was promoted to Assistant Commissioner. In 2012 she accepted the role of Program Executive, G20 Group where she planned and was the Operations Commander for Australia’s largest peacetime security operation. In August 2015 Katarina was appointed as the Commissioner of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES).

The QFES is the primary provider of fire and rescue, emergency management and disaster mitigation programs and services throughout Queensland, and includes Fire and Rescue, Emergency Management, Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service. Commissioner Carroll has several tertiary qualifications including an Executive Masters in Public Administration, a Degree in Criminology and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Management. She has achieved numerous international, national and state awards, including the Australian Police Medal and more recently the national Telstra Business Women’s Award for Government and Academia. Katarina was also named as one of the Australian Financial Review and Westpac ‘100 Women of Influence’ in 2015. She is married with two children.

For more information on the 2018 Australian and New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference and to secure your spot, visit the conference website.