Mark Duckworth is Executive Director, Citizenship and Resilience in the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC), in Victoria. He is responsible for a range of governance, policy, security, community engagement, multicultural and public administration issues. National positions he holds include:
- member of the National Counter-Terrorism Committee (NCTC) and chair of its Countering Violent Extremism and Legal Issues sub-committees;
- member of the National Emergency Management Committee (NEMC) and co-chaired the National Disaster Resilience Strategy Working Group that prepared the strategy endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments in February 2011.
He is also a member of Monash University’s Global Terrorism Research Centre Advisory Board. Before joining DPC, Mark worked at the Cabinet Office of New South Wales, the University of Sydney Law School and the Law Reform Commission of Victoria. In the 2007 Australia Day Honours he was awarded the Public Service Medal for his work in establishing the National Counter-Terrorism arrangements.
Speaking On:
Developing partnerships & shared responsibility
Murray was born on 10 June 1959 at Bankstown in Sydney. In 1980 he joined the New South Wales Fire Brigades as a recruit firefighter.
He served in a variety of roles within the NSW Fire Brigades including six years as an Assistant Commissioner, following experience in operations, training, communications centres and corporate strategy. His education qualifications include a Post Graduate Certificate in Applied Management and a Certificate in Strategic Management. Murray is also a graduate of the Institute of Fire Engineers.
He was deployed overseas in 2002 as part of an Australian contingent to assist the United States with one of the largest wildfires in that nation’s history.
His last appointment before becoming the Commissioner of the NSW State Emergency Service was as the Director Community Safety for the NSW Fire Brigades. Holding the rank of Assistant Commissioner, Murray was responsible for the capability and provision of all prevention services across the State. From 2003 to 2006 he was responsible for an operational command that covered two thirds of the State, incorporating all remote areas. He received the highest honour a firefighter in Australia can receive on Australia Day 2006 with the awarding of the Australian Fire Service Medal.
He assumed the appointment of then Director General, now Commissioner, of the New South Wales State Emergency Service on 4 November 2008. The SES State Headquarters is based in Wollongong. He is a member of the NSW State Emergency Management Committee, the NSW State Rescue Board, the Australian Council of State & territory Emergency Services and the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council.
He is married to Jo-Anne and they have three adult children, two sons and one daughter. They have been residents of the Macarthur area for 27 years and now reside in Glen Alpine.
His interests include aviation, and is a staff pilot with the Scouts Australia Air Activity Centre at Camden Airport, is a member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Campbelltown, a member of the Campbelltown – Koshigaya Sister City Association, and enjoys reading, information technology and camping.
Speaking On:
Exploring new partnerships to promote community resilience
Tim Costello has long been the voice of social conscience for many Australians, having led debates on issues such as gambling, urban poverty, homelessness, reconciliation and substance abuse.
Tim first studied law and education at Monash University, followed by theology at the International Baptist Seminary Rueschlikon in Switzerland, and a Master’s in Theology at the Melbourne College of Divinity. He has been a Baptist Minister in St Kilda, and in the city at Collins St Baptist Church. Tim continued to serving the local community by successfully running for Mayor of St Kilda in 1993, ending with the State Government’s disbanding of councils shortly afterwards. He founded Urban Seed, a not-for-profit Christian outreach service for the urban poor.
As CEO of World Vision Australia, Tim leads an organisation of about 560 staff, with an annual income of about $350 million, and 400,000 children overseas sponsored by Australians. Tim has witnessed the worst of humanitarian disasters and seen the most inspiring human responses to suffering.
In July 2004, Tim was named Victorian of the Year 2004. In June 2005, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), for “service to the community through contributions to social justice, health and welfare issues, international development assistance, and to the Baptist Church”.
Tim is currently Chairman of the National Australia Bank’s community advisory council, a member of the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation, and Chairman of the Community Council for Australia, a peak body for the Not For Profit sector.
Speaking On:
Uncapping the seeds of hope & capability in communities to be more resilient
Empowering Resilience & Knowledge
In the aftermath of recent natural disasters, there is a growing national need and greater shift towards prevention and preparedness activities that enable community resilience. Investing time and resources into mitigation measures is less costly and can ultimately save lives.
Under the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience, jurisdictions are implementing policies and plans designed to help the community understand risk and share and communicate knowledge to build community resilience and trust.
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