The Service Leadership Board is responsible for making strategic decisions to ensure the effective delivery of Avon Fire & Rescue Services responsibility of protection, prevention, resilience and response. Meeting bi-weekly, the Board manages Avon Fire & Rescue Service on behalf of elected members of Avon Fire Authority.
The Board is led by Chief Fire Officer Simon Shilton and supported by the Director of Corporate Services, along with Assistant Chief Fire Officers Richard Welch and Luke Gazzard, who oversee the day-to-day operations of Avon Fire and Rescue Service.
Simon Shilton – Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive
Appointed Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive in April 2022, Simon began his firefighting career at Avon Fire and Rescue Service (AF&RS), spending the first 15 years in various roles, including Station Manager overseeing Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), Training Manager, and Incident Command Trainer. He also served as an operational firefighter at stations in Avonmouth, Bath, Temple, and Southmead.
After eight years at West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service, where he served as an Area Commander, Simon returned to AF&RS in 2017 as Assistant Chief Fire Officer for Service Delivery Support.
Richard Welch – Assistant Chief Fire Officer Service Delivery Support
Richard was appointed Assistant Chief Fire Officer for Service Delivery support in August 2022. Richard joined London Fire Brigade in 1996, progressing through various roles. Notably, he established the Local Intervention Fire Education (L.I.F.E) project in East London, earning the prestigious Mayors London Day Award in 2003. His community engagement extended globally, delivering training to Fire and Rescue Services in the UK and abroad.
Promoted to Station Manager in 2009, Richard held roles at East Ham and Poplar Fire Stations. He later became Borough Commander in Bexley, Southwark, and Lambeth before advancing to Deputy Assistant Commissioner in regulatory fire safety in 2017. Between 2019 and 2022, he served as Deputy Assistant Commissioner for the South East and North East Areas of London.
Luke Gazzard – Assistant Chief Fire Officer Service Delivery
Appointed Assistant Chief Fire Officer for Service Delivery in June 2024, Luke has been with the Service for over 25 years. Joining Avon Fire & Rescue Service in 1999, Luke started his career as a firefighter on Avonmouth Red Watch, followed by working at Southmead, Bath, Patchway and the CYP team before being promoted to Station Manager in the Service’s Learning and Development team.
Luke was promoted to Group Manager working in Risk Intelligence and Technical Services, Nova Way before becoming Area Manager – Head of Operational Response, then headed up the Service’s Improvement Team. Luke holds a BA First Class Honours in Leadership and Management Practice and is also the NFCC Contaminants Working Group Lead.
Paula Lyons – Assistant Chief Fire Officer Service Improvement
Information about Paula coming soon.
Verity Lee – Statutory Finance Officer
Verity was appointed as Statutory Finance Officer in May 2023. Following graduation from the University of Warwick, Verity started her training to become a chartered accountant. In 2012, whilst working as an external auditor she qualified as a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Following 4 years working within an Accountancy Firm, Verity spent 9 years working in the Aerospace industry as a Financial Accountant and later as a Finance Manager.
Verity works 3.5 days per week and holds the statutory appointment under Section 112 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, to make arrangements for the proper administration of the Fire Authority’s financial affairs. Within this role Verity has specific responsibilities for the Fire Authority’s Statutory Accounts and to lead the Financial Strategies, including the 4-year Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), the Reserves Strategy, Treasury Management Strategy and the 3-year Capital Strategy. Verity is responsible for ensuring there is appropriate financial monitoring and forecasting of the budgets, implementation of internal financial controls and leads the relationship with Authority’s External Auditors.
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