Phil is a skilled facilitator with extensive experience in public safety and private sector organisations. He has worked in salaried and volunteer capacities for more than thirty years across a variety of disciplines encompassing learning and development, operations, strategic and business planning both in Australia and overseas.

He has extensive experience working in and leading multi-agency teams in operations, project management and working party environments.

Phil has a great capacity for adaptive thinking and promoting change and is by nature a reflective person and has an inquiring and insightful mind.

Increasingly Phil sees his role as that of change agent where provoking people to engage the issues, confront deep seated loyalties and make new choices is fundamental to building resilient, adaptable and relevant organisations.

Phil also has extensive experience working on capacity building programs with the Solomon Islands, Brunei, Timor Leste and Iraq and has facilitated programs for ASEAN.

Mr Peter Berner is without doubt one of Australia's most popular and respected media entertainers, stand-up comics and corporate performers.

He started his career as a stand up comic in 1988. Since this time he has performed locally and internationally, as well as writing and performing solo comedy shows in festivals in Australia and the UK. His intelligent humour has always set him apart as one performer who can comfortably straddle comedy styles as disparate as satire, observational comedy and reactive comedy with ease; leaving audiences in hysterics. His comedy has also proven to translate into the electronic media, with Peter on both TV and radio since 2001.

Peter's major TV Hosting roles have been "BackBerner" and "Einstein Factor" both on ABCTV (all up he has presented more than 300 hours of national television program content!), and he's been a valued, successful and integral member of Triple M's talent base nationally since 2000.

The corporate speaking circuit has always kept Peter very busy, he is one of the most recommended and in demand Event MC's, Conference Facilitators and Corporate Comedians in Australia today - with hundreds of engagements under his belt he is a proven star of this field.

Peter's versatility is one of his key attributes in the field of corporate speaking, he is equally at home hosting major events, performing comedy spots, facilitating conferences and debating.

A cross section of the Clients that have utilised his skills is below and while it is not by any means an exhaustive list, it gives a clear example of the vast array of events that Peter has added value to.

These Clients include; Macquarie Bank, NAB, Toyota, Metcash, Australian Housing Industry Association Awards, Westpac, SPAA, Australian Film Industry Awards (AFI's), Prime Minister's Dinner Parliament House, National Press Club Awards, ANZ Budget Dinner (an annual repeat booking), Confectionery Manufacturers of Australasia, Queensland Government "Smart Awards", Starlight Children's Foundation, ADMA Mobile Marketing Awards, Australian Property Institute Awards Night, AWARD Awards (Advertising Agents of Australia Awards Night), James Hardie Group Forum – Australian National Roadshow events and The Smith Family.

Sally Barnes is the Deputy Director General of the Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water and Head of NSW National Parks and Wildlife. Sally has been a senior executive within the environment portfolio for 15 years. In her current role she is responsible for building and managing the NSW national parks system – to protect our natural and cultural heritage and to promote opportunities for people to enjoy the great outdoors.

Sally's previous roles include:

• Assistant Director General in the Environment Protection Authority
• Executive Director, Strategy, Communication and Governance in the Department of Environment and Conservation and
• Director, Education and Community Programs in the National Parks and Wildlife Service

Dr Michael Eburn is a Senior Research Fellow at the ANU College of Law and the Fenner School of Environment and Society.  He obtained his Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales; a Master of Laws from the University of Newcastle and his PhD from Monash University.  He is currently engaged on a Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre project looking at the impact of law on emergency management.

Michael is the author of the only book on Australian law and emergency management and has written numerous articles and commentaries on the subject.  He is a regular presenter at the Australian Emergency Management Institute at Mt Macedon and has conducted training sessions for the emergency services including the Victoria and NSW SES, the CFA, Tasmania Fire Service and the RFS. He is former ambulance officer with NSW Ambulance and remains involved in the emergency services as a volunteer with both the NSW and ACT State Emergency Services.

Shane Fitzsimmons has more than 25 years experience with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) serving as both a volunteer and salaried officer. In 1998 he was appointed an Assistant Commissioner with the RFS and has held portfolio responsibilities for Operations, Strategic Development and Regional Management. In 2004 he was appointed the inaugural Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) Visiting Fellow to the Australian Institute of Police Management (AIPM) for a period of 12 months. In September 2007 he was appointed Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service. In March 2008 he was appointed a Director of the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) and is currently the Chair of the NAFC Board. He is a member of the NSW State Rescue Board and is currently appointed as Chairman. In December 2009 he was appointed as a Director on the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre.

Shane was awarded the National Medal in 1999 and the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in 2001.

For more than 20 years, Amanda Gore has been one of America's and Australia's most admired experience creating speakers. She uses the principles of emotional intelligence to transform the spirit of people and cultures by changing perceptions, improving relationships, connecting people, managing change, leadership, innovation, and team dynamics.

Amanda believes success is always about feelings - the way we feel about something or someone determines how we behave - and whether we do business with them or not. Our perceptions determine our feelings, which directly affect our behaviour. Until we change our perceptions, we won't change our behaviour. Amanda's presentations changes perceptions. And feelings.

Author of five books and several video and audio training programs, Amanda has a Bachelor's degree in physiotherapy, a major in psychology, and expertise in ergonomics, stress management, group dynamics, neurolinguistics, neuroscience, and occupational health.

Bronwyn was appointed as Director, Membership Services with the NSW Rural Fire Service in November 2008 and became Director, Membership and Strategic Services in March 2010.

Prior to joining the Service, Bronwyn had extensive senior level experience in strategic planning and reporting, human resource management and project delivery gained in various public sector agencies, including the Premier's Department, the Department of Community Services and NSW Police. She has also held senior staff roles in local government.

She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Labour Relations and the Law (USyd); a Master of Arts (Interdisciplinary Studies) degree and a Master of Commerce (Human Resource Studies) degree, both from the University of NSW.

Mr Dominic Lane is a longstanding member of the Service having joined the Milbrulong Bush Fire Brigade in 1984.

Mr Lane was appointed to the position of Director, Regional Services in October 2008 following a career that began with the Bush Fire Service in 1993 when he was appointed to the position of Deputy Fire Control Officer for the Lockhart Shire Council. He was later appointed Fire Control Officer for the Wakool, Balranald and Wollongong City Councils. In 2004 Mr Lane was appointed as Region Manager, Region West.

Following the Black Saturday bush fires in Victoria, Mr Lane was seconded to the Victorian Country Fire Authority. From August to October 2009 he assisted with the Victorian Bush Fire Preparedness Program and in particular the development of the Neighbourhood Safer Places policy, the roll-out of the online Household Bush Fire Assessment Tool, the training program for Fire Safety Officers, amendments to the vegetation management policy and new command and control arrangements.

Mr Lane was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal in 2004.

Detective Superintendent Newbery joined the New South Wales Police Force in August 1984 and in October 1984 was posted to the Blacktown Police Station in General Duties. Detective Superintendent Newbery has for the majority of his career, performed duty as a criminal investigator, commencing as a Detective in 1986. Since that time he has investigated criminal offences at Local Area Commands and later major crime in areas such as the North West Major Crime Squad in the Arson and Homicide Squads, the National Crime Authority and State Crime Command. Since being promoted to Detective Superintendent in 2006, he has been in charge of the Drug Squad and later the Property Crime Squad, which involves the investigation of Arson (including Bushfire Arson), organised Property and Motor Vehicle offences.

Detective Superintendent Newbery has a keen interest in the investigation of arson having previously been a member of the Arson Unit at the North West Major Crime Squad from 1989 to 1993 and now in his current role as the Commander of the Property Crime Squad. Detective Superintendent Newbery is also the New South Wales Police Force Corporate Spokesperson for Arson and Bushfire Investigation.

Jane O'Connor has been a journalist, editor and communications specialist for more than 30 years. During that time she has worked as a political correspondent, foreign correspondent, features editor and News Editor for major wire services and media groups. She is currently the Group Editor for Melbourne magazine publishing company, Prime Creative Media. On Saturday, 7 February 2009, Jane and her husband Sean's chosen rural lifestyle was devastated when what became known as the Black Saturday bushfires hit their home and property without warning. Having lived in Kinglake for 17 years, they were well prepared, but the magnitude of that day saw the O'Connor's and members of their family grateful to be alive, but all material possessions had been annihilated.

Kate Riddell

Kate has lived in the Kinglake Ranges for 6 years, juggling motherhood with part-time teaching and delivering Mental Health First Aid programs.  Kate volunteers with the Kinglake Community Emergency Response Team (volunteer ambulance service) and received the Victorian Health Minister's Volunteer Award for efforts during and after the Black Saturday fires. Kate has completed extensive studies -BA (Outdoor Ed.), Dip Ed (Secondary), Grad. Dip. (Social Ecology), M. App. Sci (Social Ecology)- which have fuelled her passion for place, gender, communities and organisational change.

Jemima Richards

Jemima, 38, moved to Kinglake in 2007. She owns a beauty and well being business (www.sync.com.au) in suburban Melbourne. Her combined business experience allowed the smooth operation of the only private relief center in Kinglake which serviced hundreds of people a day following the Black Saturday fires. Jemima was nominated for the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2010. Jemima is a straight talker, fights against injustice with the greatest of integrity, is forever postitive and truly believes in the Aussie Spirit of mateship that has been displayed following the natural disasters of late.

Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers has been involved in fire fighting for more than 30 years. He has a strong operational background and has been an Incident Controller at many serious fires in both urban interface and remote environments.

As Director Operational Services Mr Rogers is responsible for leading the Service's capabilities to ensure that operational volunteers and salaried staff are enabled to prevent, mitigate and suppress fires in rural fire districts across NSW. Coordination of bush fire fighting throughout New South Wales is undertaken through the State Operations Centre at RFS Headquarters which falls within Rob's area of responsibility.

Additionally, he is also responsible for leading and directing the development and implementation of community resilience, strategies and programmes to reduce risks and educate the community.

In 2009, Mr Rogers participated in the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission appearing twice represent the position of NSW. Mr Rogers also represented NSW on the National Bush Fire Warning Taskforce.

Jason Sharples holds a PhD in pure mathematics and bachelors degrees in mathematics and physics.

He has worked in research positions in various universities including the Australian National University and the University of New South Wales. In 2006 Dr Sharples moved to UNSW at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) to work on the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre's 'HighFire Risk Project', which dealt with the broad issues surrounding bushfire risk in high country and rugged landscapes. Dr Sharples is currently a Lecturer in Applied Mathematics at ADFA, where his research interests include mathematical combustion theory and atypical modes of bushfire propagation driven by wind-terrain-fire interactions. Dr Sharples' bushfire research is complemented by his work as a volunteer with the ACT Rural Fire Service, of which he has been a member since 2003.

Superintendent John Stapleton has 25 years service with the New South Wales Police Force and holds a Bachelor of Policing. His background includes generalist, intelligence and counter terrorism policing environments. He also has a significant grounding in Emergency and Public Order Management.

In 2001 he was seconded to the Strategic Operations Unit, where he provided strategic advice to the Commissioner and Police Executive on a broad range of issues including terrorism and in 2002 was transferred to the Office of the Assistant Commissioner, Counter Terrorism, where he assisted with the establishment of the Counter Terrorism and Special Tactic Command.

In his counter terrorism role he has lead the development of the NSW Counter Terrorism Plan, State and National Counter Terrorism Alert Systems, the NSW and National Counter Terrorism Committee's Command and Control Structure for responding to and managing Terrorism, the NSW Counter Terrorism Plan and the NSW Police Force Counter Terrorism Threat Assessment Methodology.

His present responsibilities focus on the co-ordination of policy, procedures and operational response related to NSW's preparedness, prevention response and recovery from terrorism. This includes operational planning and logistics support to CT operations, counter terrorism exercises, critical infrastructure protection, business engagement and Chemical Biological Radiological issues.