Doug has been involved in human resource management and, for the past 40 years, emergency management in the Gippsland region of Victoria. His experience covers operational, theoretical and training aspects of all dimensions of emergency management practice.

He was recognized in the Australia Day Honours list in 2010 with the award of the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community of Gippsland through a range of ex-service, sporting and local government organizations.

In parallel to his ‘civilian’ career Doug has served over 41 years in the Australian Defence Force as a reservist and been awarded the Reserve Force Decoration together with a First and Second Clasp to that award. He officially retired from the Australian Defence Force on 8th December 2015 having attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During this time, he commanded the largest Defence Force Reserve training establishment in Australia for three years.

In 2011 he was awarded the National Emergency Medal for work in the Victorian Bushfires of 2009 and has also been awarded the Defence Medal for his service in the Defence Force Reserve.

He is practiced and experienced in design and delivery of Emergency Management exercises including those required by essential industries pursuant to Part 7a of the Victorian Emergency Management Act 2013.

Doug has presented papers at the Australian & New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management national conference in Queensland several times and has been admitted as a Fellow of Australasian Institute of Emergency Services and is currently the President of the Victorian Division as well as holding membership of the International Association of Emergency Managers.