Monday 16 October 2006 - 09.00hrs
Speakers from around the world will be attending an innovative
conference held by Avon Fire & Rescue Service this week.
"Changing roles, rules and reality – women as leaders in the
fire and rescue service" is a two day conference taking place in
Bristol. It is the first conference led by a fire and rescue
service to examine the role of women in traditionally male
organisations. High profile speakers include Meg Munn, the Minister
for Women and Equalities, as well as Scottish and Welsh ministers,
female principal officers and union representatives.
Conference organiser and AF&RS Assistant Chief Officer
Lorraine Abrahams said: "As a female principal officer, I have
experienced first hand the challenges that face women in the fire
service. The conference title reflects the transition being made by
women from historically administrative roles to broader and more
managerial ones. It also encompasses the visible added value that
comes from having women in more senior positions. By having these
discussions and hearing from women who have become leaders, we are
seeking to influence the fire and rescue service of the future and
address the historical imbalance."
Meg Munn will be the first speaker at the conference on
Wednesday 18 October, at the Thistle Hotel, Bristol. The conference
concludes on Thursday 19 October.
Also attending is Susan Johnson from County Durham and
Darlington Fire & Rescue Service. She became the first female
Chief Executive of a fire and rescue service in 2005.
Other speakers include the Chief Fire Officer of County Cobb
Fire Service, Georgia, USA, the head of Operational Preparation
from the Hague Fire Service and the female Deputy Chief Officers of
two other fire and rescue services.
Union representatives will also be attending, including the
president of the Fire Brigades Union, Ruth Winters.
Avon Fire & Rescue Service has two speakers at the
conference – Assistant Chief Officer Lorraine Abrahams, and
Equalities and Diversity Manager, Barbara Brown.
The conference is being attended by delegates from across the
country, and not just from the fire and rescue service. Topics
covered will include broadening the representation of women in the
fire service, balancing work / life pressures at principal officer
level and different perspectives on the role of women in the
service.
Delegates will also be taken to the South West Command
Development Centre at Lansdown, Bath, for some thought provoking
seminars.
Councillor Terry Walker, Chair of Avon Fire Authority, said:
"Avon Fire Authority is delighted to be hosting this groundbreaking
conference. It will give delegates the chance to explore many areas
around the topic of women as leaders, while interacting with
speakers of international importance. We hope it will be an
informative and innovative two days."