Respected and experienced
Meet our team
EMERG is a collaboration between highly respected and experienced individuals in the fields of fire, emergency and incident management.
EMERG is a collaboration between highly respected and experienced individuals in the fields of fire, emergency and incident management.
Mike has 15 years’ experience providing helicopter and fixed wing services to the Emergency Response sector. Mike started his career in aviation as a pilot & flight instructor giving him a solid knowledge of frontline operations before being elevated to the position of CEO of the Fleet Helicopters group in 2010. Mike has overseen the provision of aviation services across all emergency response sectors from initial emergency response through to the completion of the recovery phase and is comfortable navigating the complex regulatory and safety critical environment that is aviation. Mike is a qualified lead auditor and has formal training in certified management systems.
Mikes’ role as Managing Director is to implement the strategic goals and objectives of the company and give direction and leadership toward achieving the organisation’s corporate values.
Graeme Taylor has 25 years of experience in strategic and operational management experience with a strong focus on leadership and critical decision making in an emergency management environment. Graeme provides support to agencies, local government, and industry before, during, and after emergencies.
Graeme has a strong background in the development of risk reduction and fire protection planning, including fuel modification and management. Alongside this, he also assists in preparing communities, Governments, critical infrastructure, asset managers and other stakeholders for natural disasters and he has extensive experience in fire policy, planning, incident management, and operational services.
Brett Stephens has 25 years of experience working in the environmental and fire management industry. Brett had an extensive public service career in both SA and NT, he is widely recognised for his knowledge and experience in bushfire mitigation, response and emergency management throughout Australia and internationally through deployments to North America.
Brett has worked with many agencies and stakeholders to develop and deliver fire management programs, including fire management plans, detailed risk assessments, and emergency management planning, prescribed burning, fuel mitigation plans, policies, procedures, and Nationally Accredited Training packages.
He has pioneered indigenous capability and capacity building in dozens of communities across Australian, working with Traditional Owners and Land Managers to support improved fire management and land management outcomes.
Cameron Leary has 38 years of experience in complex multi-agency incident management, including National and International Deployments in roles including Incident Controller, Deputy Incident Controller, Operations Officer, and Strategic Safety Officer. He has a broad background in Land Management, including operational field roles, fuel mitigation, prescribed burn planning and implementation.
Cameron has a broad range of training and assessment experience in design, development, delivery, and facilitation of courses and scenarios. This knowledge has been developed through working on programs with a wide spectrum of organisations nationally.
Dave Hitchcock is an integral team member of EMERG with 40 years of experience in fire, emergency, and land management and is greatly valued for his qualifications and an impressive list of ‘hands-on’ incident management experience and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science. Dave has held multi-disciplinary roles within fire agencies and is a Retained Firefighter with FRNSW.
Dave founded his business, Fireground, from observing an opportunity to make a real change in the industry by providing quality delivery of fire training and development of training materials. Thus, he has developed a company with both consultancy and RTO capabilities. He utilises the many networks he has established throughout his years of experience working for Government Land Management Agencies.
Lachie has over 30 years’ experience in providing rotary and fixed wing emergency response services to the community.
With over 13,000 hours of flight experience including 27 years and 5000 hours of firefighting and disaster relief alone, Lachies breadth of knowledge gives the EMERG group unique insight into the operational requirements and issues faced when integrating aircraft into the emergency response and recovery space.
Lachie has a passion for, and strong focus on ensuring there is a strong and sustainable aviation industry with the capacity and capability to satisfy the emergency service industry requirements locally which has seen him responsible for mentoring and introducing over 60 pilots to aerial firefighting operations in Australia.