Are you interested in how effective our emergency services really are?

We explore:

A thoughtful, candid look at how emergency services can better serve their communities — and what leadership in this space really takes.

Please enjoy Part 1. Part 2 and 3 will be released in the near future.

This episode draws on the incredible knowledge of Michael Grinder, Krista Grinder and Gen Wilcox, in exploring the dynamics of having separate emergency services working together for a common purpose, this importantly being community safety. Whether you’re early in your time as an emergency service member, or even if you’re an experienced senior leader, jump on in and you may learn a thing or two from these three great minds.

The media can be a powerful ally or a formidable foe for leaders. Journalists and emergency responders often find themselves side-by-side in the most challenging situations, from natural disasters to crisis management. But despite their proximity, the media can remain a mystery to many leaders. In this ‘Influence Me’ episode, I’m joined by Graham Metcalf, a seasoned journalist and corporate leader with over 40 years of experience in media relations, crisis communication, and strategic leadership. Back in the day, Graham was key in the development of media capability within emergency services. This guy knows his business, so any current emergency management practitioner will learn something about media and communications in the context of operations. Grab the opportunity or push the episode to someone you know who might benefit. Enjoy.

Peter Dornan AM believes that men can be both troubled and troublesome — often to themselves and to the women in their lives. Despite contributing to the advancement of modern society, many men still struggle with its demands and their own responsibilities.

A former senior Queensland Australian of the year (2020) and renowned physiotherapist, Peter, in his book 'In Search of Manhood – A guide to better male health and lifestyle’, explores the complexities of modern masculinity. Drawing from a life fully lived — including surviving prostate cancer and founding vastly improved support for many diagnosed men and their families — Peter examines why men resist vulnerability, cling to dominance, communicate poorly, and neglect their health. His new book defines the challenges men face, delves into their roots, and offers clear, practical solutions for change.

It's a pleasure to have Peter as my guest for this very important episode for emergency services, and society more broadly, as we explore how his own personal journey led him to write this book.

Influence Me - Season 3 focuses on thought-provoking conversations with leaders who influence the emergency services sector. The big challenges facing the industry are explored in this series, whilst emphasising the role of leadership in driving progress.

My guest for this important discussion about sub-culture is Shannan Quain. Shannan is an experienced Senior Leader with a demonstrated history of achievement across all levels of Government. Skilled in Innovation, Strategy, Leadership, Organisational Development, Human Resources, and Culture Change. Strong skills in human centred design and agile work methods with Post Graduate qualifications in Human Resources and Change Management. Neuroscientist in training, passionate about developing leaders with resilience and kindness. Currently researching performance management in workplaces, with a view to helping organisations better lead their people.

My guest for this Podcast, Dr Nikola Stepanov, has spent much of her career in service to the public sector and community. Her background is in professional ethics and governance, research and research regulation, mediation and dispute resolution, and board governance. She has expertise in resolving complex and contentious conflicts where there are grave personal or governance risks. She holds six degrees, including a Juris Doctor (JD) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). She completed her PhD at the University of Melbourne with the School of Global and Population Health and the Melbourne Medical School. In her spare time, she is a devoted section and thru hiker. She has just returned from hiking the 270 Km Portuguese Coastal Camino (through Portugal and Spain in 36-37 degrees!) and for her next trip is planning to hike the stunning 'W Trek’ through the Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia. Have a listen to this podcast if you wish to improve your approach to navigating those challenging ethical and Integrity moments in both professional and personal life.

“At times, you have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself.” ― Alan Alda (Actor and Educator)

In this ‘Influence Me’ Leadership Podcast, I speak with my friend Doug Beitz (former emergency service officer, and successful business leader) about the benefit of understanding and then using your intuition for personal and professional effectiveness. Do yourself a favour and consider how this area of interest may bring bring extremely positive changes to you. #intuition #leadership #service #growing #experience #gutfeel 

When a potential guest says he is dangerously allergic to the archaic approach to leadership development - I want to interview him!

For this episode, my guest Matt Callow is a registered Psychologist with over 10 years experience consulting to organisations and delivering success in talent management, organisational development, learning & development; and strategic human resource management solutions. Matt blends commercial realism with proven behavioural science to help organisations increase productivity, performance and profitability. Matt work’s in partnership with Executives, OD, HR, L&D and Recruitment Leaders in determining the profile of success for their people, and consequently, the productivity and profitability of their organisations. Matt is also obsessed with seeing people challenge themselves. With more than 10 years of psychology-in-the-workplace and behavioural-intervention experience, he's obsessed with innovating new ways of rebuilding leaders and cultures; creating high impact programs and alternate delivery mechanisms that exude passion and produce tools and insights that are ludicrously useful and effective. Matt is dangerously allergic to the archaic approach to leadership development – a ‘death by PowerPoint’ approach limited in efficacy due to the cognitive dissonance and paltry half-life associated with traditional learning. Described as a mix between a mad scientist and sports coach, Matt uses powerful brain tools, psychology and neuroscience to enhance success and give people the choice and opportunity to grow beyond today.

Brenton known as “Ben” grew up and was educated in country Western Australia. In 1980 Ben joined the Australian Army where he began a journey that would last for 32 years. He developed a passion very early in his career for training and leadership which over his extensive career took him from being a Junior Commander through to senior management level as a Unit Commander.

Among numerous experiences and qualifications Ben specialised as a Bomb Disposal Technician operating in and leading small teams and later up to regimental (600 personnel) size groups. Having moved through the ranks from a Private soldier to a Commissioned Officer Ben’s life and leadership experiences are extensive.

Ben has undertaken training and operational duties in Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Tonga, India, Pakistan, United States, Iraq and Afghanistan. Ben is fluent in Pidgin English having also spent two years seconded to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force as a Military Adviser.

Ben has been the recipient of several military Commendations including three from the Chief of the Australian Defence Force for meritorious service in the fields of training and leadership. The greatest honour was when Ben received the Order of Australia Medal (Military Division) in the 2009 Australia Day awards.

Leaving the Australian Army in 2011, Ben joined emergency services sector of the Queensland State government where he is currently employed as the Executive Manager, QFES Workforce Development Unit.

Ben is married to Maureen and has one son Matthew. Ben has several hobbies (none of which he is good at) including, fishing, woodworking (ruining perfectly good timber), caravanning and collecting military memorabilia.

In this rich and informative Podcast I discuss matters of leadership during emergency operations with John Cawcutt AFSM. John is an Assistant Commissioner with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services where he leads a multi-disciplinary team of over 1000 fire service officers, emergency managers and public service officers in the delivery of all-hazards prevention, preparedness and emergency response operations for Brisbane city and regional surrounds.

John has been a firefighter for over thirty five years and has served in metropolitan and regional centres in operational and management roles specialising in emergency response, risk and disaster management. In his operational and leadership capacity John has led multiple interstate and intrastate responses to emergencies of national importance and has frequently presented at both national and international conferences. John is an Australian Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Taskforce Leader and led disaster response teams to the Sumatran fires as well as to earthquakes in Padang, Indonesia and Christchurch, New Zealand.

He has represented Australia at numerous United Nations Search and Rescue meetings and is an international Classifier having assessed more than a dozen different countries. In addition, John was the official mentor for the Japan, New Zealand, USA and China international disaster response teams. John is a Graduate of the Institute of Company Directors and has a broad range of academic qualifications that include a Masters in Public Administration, Masters in Leadership & Management (Policing), Graduate Diploma in Executive Leadership a Bachelor of Further Education & Training. John has sat on a number of humanitarian Boards and committees and among other awards was proud to receive the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours list.