Shane Fitzsimmons

Shane Fitzsimmons is currently Managing Director, SAF Leading Advisory, the Board Chair of Youth Insearch Foundation (Australia) Inc, the National Emergency Medal Committee, and the NSW Connectivity Innovation Network. A member of the Australian Bravery Decorations Council and Australian Father's Day Council and he also serves as an Advisory Board Member for Fireant. Patron of two charities, Kids Xpress and Coffee 4 Kids, and Ambassador for the First Responders Wellbeing Summit and Rotary NSW Emergency Services Community Awards (RESCA). 

There is no question that Shane is passionate about emergency service and public safety organisations, disaster management and recovery arrangements, community centred organisations and most importantly, the people, both volunteer and salaried alike, who are focused on keeping our communities safe and making a positive difference for others. 

Shane served as the inaugural Commissioner of Resilience NSW from May 2020 to December 2022, an organization established as the lead agency for disaster recovery with a focus on social, economic, infrastructure and environmental outcomes. The agency also led in the area of building community resilience to future disasters. Whilst Commissioner, Shane chaired the NSW State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC), NSW State Recovery Committee (SRC), NSW Board of Commissioners (BOC) and served as a member of the NSW Mentally Healthy Workplaces Advisory Board. 

This appointment followed a distinguished career with the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) of over 35 years, as both a volunteer and salaried member. The NSW RFS is widely acknowledged as the largest volunteer fire service in the world and is the lead agency for bushfires and bushfire management in NSW. Whilst Commissioner for the NSW RFS from September 2007 to April 2020, Shane was at the forefront of the unprecedented 2019/20 bushfire crisis where he was recognised for his authentic and trusted leadership and genuine compassion and care for people. 

In addition to his Commissioner roles Shane has a long list of achievements from his career to date:

• Appointed in 1998, through to 2007, as Assistant Commissioner for the NSW RFS responsible for various portfolios including Operations, Strategic Development and Regional Management.
• In 2004 he was appointed as the inaugural Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) Visiting Fellow to the Australian Institute of Police Management (AIPM) for a period of 12-months, developing and delivering programs in management and leadership.
• He was also a member of the NSW State Emergency Management Committee and the NSW State Rescue Board (SRB) and was Chair of SRB from 2008 to November 2015.
• He was appointed a Director of the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) in March 2008 and Chair of the NAFC Board from 2009 to 2013.
• Shane was a Director of the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre from 2009 to 2014.
• Member of the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authority Council from 2007 and Board Member from November 2016 to November 2019 and held the position of Deputy President upon retirement from the Board.
• Shane served as Director and Chair of the NSW Government Telco Authority from 2012 to 2022.
• He was also a member of the Champions of Change Fire and Emergency. 

Shane Fitzsimmons has been recognized for his work and contributions and has been awarded:

• Rural Fire Service Long-Service Medal for more than 30 years, the National Medal in recognition of more than 35 years, and the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM).
• Announced as the 2021 NSW Australian of the Year.
• Named Australian Father of the Year 2020, through The Shepherd Centre.
• In 2022, the National Emergency Medal (NEM) for the 2019/20 Bushfires.
• An Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia as part of the 2022 Australia Day Honours list.
• Acknowledged with a Paul Harris Fellow and a Paul Harris Fellow Sapphire through Rotary Clubs of Berowra and Sydney.