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Bruce Esplin, Emergency Services Commissioner

The Emergency Services Commissioner provides independent advice to the government on major issues affecting the state's emergency management arrangements and emergency service organisations. He also plays a pivotal role in whole-of-government response to emergency situations impacting Victoria.

Work history

Bruce was appointed Victoria's first Emergency Services Commissioner in June 2000. Before that he held several executive roles within both state and federal governments:

• Director Emergency Management Policy, Department of Justice
• Deputy Director, Fire and Emergency Services Division, Ministry for Police and Emergency Services
• Assistant Director, Crime Prevention Division, Ministry for Police and Emergency Services
• Director, Efficiency Program 2, Ministry for Police and Emergency Services
• Industrial Relations Coordinator, Ministry for Police and Emergency Services
• Senior Manager/Project Manager, Commonwealth Primary Industry
• Manager Manpower Planning and Staff Development, Commonwealth Primary Industry.

Career achievements

Mr Esplin's career achievements include:

• playing a central role in the whole-of-government response to many major emergencies in Victoria including bushfires, gas explosions, extreme storms and floods, and critical infrastructure failure - Mr Esplin has coordinated Victoria's emergency response to international crises such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, the Bali, Madrid and Jakarta embassy bombings, Australia's response to the tsunami in South East Asia, and the London bombings in 2005
• playing a key role in planning for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne reviewing security and emergency management arrangements, and independently undertaking risk assessment for the games as a special adviser to government
• leading the Victorian Bushfire Inquiry in 2003 and conducting a number of independent, highly sensitive inquiries into the activities of government agencies and the appropriateness of the state's emergency management arrangements.