Our team

Chris leads the Otago Civil Defence & Emergency Management Team in the role of Regional Manager and in times of emergency, Group Civil Defence Controller. Chris’s day to day role is instrumental in moving the Emergency Management Group’s planning and activities to a higher level of integration and consistency for the long term benefit of all of the Communities of Otago.

Chris’s primary focus is to:

• Plan and co-ordinate the work programmes for the Group
• Build and maintain high levels of interaction with the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management and all key partner agencies
• Ensure that the Group has a fully functional Emergency Operations Centres and a Regional Coordination Centre available on a 24/7 basis
• Support key committees and groups across the Region

Chris is based in the Otago Regional Council offices in Dunedin but he regularly supports each of the five Districts of Otago.

Paul is focused on improving the resilience of communities in the Dunedin area. He works with groups in the city and outlying areas, helping them build their communities' capacity to cope with emergencies. 

Matt's day to day role is to support the development of resilient communities in the Central Otago District. Based in Alexandra, he works across the district to help each community develop its own response plan, increasing local awareness of hazards, identifying its resources and building capability to deal with emergencies.

Trevor is the Emergency Management Officer for the Queenstown Lakes District.  Trevor’s day to day role is to support the development of resilient communities in the District and to assist the Regional Team in moving the Emergency Management Group’s planning and activities to a higher level of integration and consistency for the long term benefit of all the communities of Otago. 

Trevor’s primary focus is to:

• To assist in leading local emergency management preparedness and planning
• To contribute to regional activity and development in support of a resilient Otago.
• To build and maintain strong relationships with key individuals, partner organisations and communities to achieve a high level of community resilience to adverse events and fulfil Emergency Management objectives.
• To ensure operational readiness and effectiveness for any Civil Defence incident or emergency.
• To support key communities, committees, and groups within the community especially in response to their Community Response Plans.
• To support the regionally focused committees.
• To maintain the local Emergency Operations Centre facilities, resources and plans for optimum functionality in an event.
• To establish and maintain a team of key operations centre staff trained for various roles within the Emergency Operations Centre.
• Facilitate training of personnel from response agencies with a role in Civil Defence Emergency Management.
• Develop and test operational procedures, plans and protocols.

Trevor is based in the Queenstown Lakes District but also supports each of the other districts of Otago, particularly in the areas of community response planning and development.

The role that Karen undertakes provides a combination of Emergency Management Officer and Business Support Service.  This is to ensure that information and operation systems are functional and that data is kept current to assist an efficient and effective response capability along with actively participating in incident and emergency responses for the Civil Defence Emergency Management Operations.

Ewen is a member of the Otago Civil Defence & Emergency Management Team in the role of Emergency Management Officer in the Waitaki District.  Ewen’s day to day role is to support the development of resilient communities in the Waitaki District and to assist the Regional Manager in moving the Emergency Management Group’s planning and activities to a higher level of integration and consistency for the long term benefit of all the Communities of Otago.

Ewen’s primary focus is to:

• To assist in leading emergency management preparedness and planning within the Waitaki District.
• To contribute to regional activity and development in support of a resilient Otago.
• To build and maintain strong relationships with key individuals, partner organisations and communities in order to achieve a high level of community resilience to adverse events and fulfil Emergency Management objectives.
• To ensure operational readiness and effectiveness for any Civil Defence incident or emergency.
• To recruit and train sufficient personnel to be able to respond effectively and efficiently to an emergency, including community volunteers.
• To support key committees and groups within the community as required.
• Support key regionally focused committees.
• To maintain the local Emergency Operations Centre facilities, resources and plans for optimum functionality in an event.

Ewen is based in Waitaki District Council buildings in Oamaru, however he works together with the five Districts of Otago to further strengthen Emergency Management Otago.

Sarah manages the coordination of the Otago Civil Defence & Emergency Management Team in the role of Otago Group Coordinator and in times of emergency, within the ECC as one of the Response Management Team.    Sarah’s day to day role is moving the Emergency Management Group’s capacity forward to deliver the guiding principles, policies and strategic plan into an operational delivery, thus providing a strong cohesive and integrated response for the long term benefit of all of the Communities of Otago.

 Sarah’s primary focus is to:

• Manage the overall operational coordination and delivery within the Otago Emergency Management Group
• Develop and monitor the delivery and outcomes based performance indicators for the strategic plan into operational activity across the different strategic priorities
• Provide coordination and support to the various Governance Committees, Strategic Partners and Emergency Management groups across the Region
• Manage the delivery of outputs as specified by the various Governance committees
• Facilitate and manage key projects for the Region
• Maintain the Regional Coordination Centre resources and plans for optimum functionality in an event
• Ensure capability in a response; ensure the centre and core response team is activated, adequately resourced and appropriately tasked and supported in an event

 Sarah is based in the Otago Regional Council offices in Dunedin and occasionally works within the five Districts of Otago to provide them with additional support as required.

As Group Welfare Manager Tony supports Emergency Management Otago to build resilience by coordinating and supporting the delivery of welfare services by local authorities to communities within Otago.

The key purpose of the Group Welfare Manager role is to:

•   Lead welfare coordination for Emergency Management Otago

•   Provide direction and support in welfare planning

•   Manage the Welfare function in the Emergency Management Centre (ECC) during response to an emergency

•   Continue leading and coordinating the delivery of welfare services in recovery.

•   The role of the Group Welfare Manager is integral to achieving the objectives of the Emergency Management Otago Group Plan

Tony is based in the Otago Regional Council offices in Dunedin but he regularly supports each of the five Districts of Otago.

Glenn is a member of the Otago Civil Defence & Emergency Management Team in the role of Emergency Management Officer for the Dunedin District.  Glenn’s day to day role is to support the development of resilient communities in the Dunedin District and to assist the Regional Team in moving the Emergency Management Group’s planning and activities to a higher level of integration and consistency for the long term benefit of all the communities of Otago. 

Glenn’s primary focus is to:

• To assist in leading local emergency management preparedness and planning
• To contribute to regional activity and development in support of a resilient Otago.
• To build and maintain strong relationships with key individuals, partner organisations and communities in order to achieve a high level of community resilience to adverse events and fulfil Emergency Management objectives.
• To ensure operational readiness and effectiveness for any Civil Defence incident or emergency.
• To support key committees and groups within the community as required.
• To support key regionally focused committees.
• To maintain the local Emergency Operations Centre facilities, resources and plans for optimum functionality in an event.
• To establish and maintain a team of key operations centre staff trained for various roles within the Emergency Operations Centre.
• Facilitate training of personnel from response agencies with a role in Civil Defence Emergency Management.
• Develop and test operational procedures, plans and protocols.
• Review and maintain information on hazards within the city.

Glenn is based in the Dunedin City Emergency Operations Centre but also supports each of the other districts of Otago, particularly in the area of training and capability development.

As Group Public Information Manager, Michele coordinates all communication activities across the Otago CDEM Group. This includes media liaison, social media and digital platforms, and supporting community and stakeholder engagement.

She is also responsible for increasing public awareness of hazards and preparedness.

Brendon is a member of the Otago Civil Defence & Emergency Management Team in the role of Emergency Management Officer for the Clutha District.  Brendon day to day role is to support the development of resilient communities in the Clutha District and to assist the Regional Team in moving the Emergency Management Group’s planning and activities to a higher level of integration and consistency for the long term benefit of all the communities of Otago. 

Brendon primary focus is to:

• To assist in leading local emergency management preparedness and planning
• To contribute to regional activity and development in support of a resilient Otago.
• To build and maintain strong relationships with key individuals, partner organisations and communities in order to achieve a high level of community resilience to adverse events and fulfil Emergency Management objectives.
• To ensure operational readiness and effectiveness for any Civil Defence incident or emergency.
• To support key committees and groups within the community as required.
• To support key regionally focused committees.
• To maintain the local Emergency Operations Centre facilities, resources and plans for optimum functionality in an event.
• To establish and maintain a team of key operations centre staff trained for various roles within the Emergency Operations Centre.
• Facilitate training of personnel from response agencies with a role in Civil Defence Emergency Management.
• Develop and test operational procedures, plans and protocols.

 Brendon is based in the Clutha District area but also supports each of the other districts of Otago, particularly in capability development and response planning in the rural communities.