The Board of Authority is constituted under the Country Fire Authority Act 1958. It is ultimately responsible for CFA's overall performance and compliance with legislation and best practice.
The Board is the formal link between the community, the State Government, CFA members and Volunteer Association.
The Board is accountable to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services.
The 12 member Board comprises the CFA Chairman and members appointed by the Governor in Council. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is appointed by the Board and is responsible for implementing policies and general business administration.
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Kerry Murphy PSM, AFSM
CFA Chairman
A longstanding firefighter, Kerry became a CFA member in 1974 when he joined Mount Macedon Fire Brigade as a volunteer. Throughout his association with the brigade, Kerry has held the positions of Captain, Lieutenant, Group Officer, Firefighter and Deputy Group Officer.
During his 32 years as a CFA volunteer, Kerry has been strongly committed to development in country Victoria with executive roles at Regional Development Victoria and, before that, Business Victoria. Joining the CFA Board in 2006 has allowed Kerry to contribute to CFA in an area that differs from his volunteer roots.
He has brought a more business-oriented capacity to CFA, enriching the organisation through his economic skills and ability to effect change. He became Chairman in 2007.
In 2002, Kerry was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in recognition of his distinguished service to the Australian fire services and a Public Service Medal (PSM) for service to business in regional Victoria.
Kerry was Captain of the Mt Macedon Fire Brigade for 12 years, including during the 1983 Ash Wednesday Bushfires.
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Claire Higgins FCPA, FAICD
CFA Deputy Chairman
Claire Higgins was appointed CFA Deputy Chair on 2 October 2007. She is also Chair of the Victorian State Emergency Service and a member of the Ambulance Victoria, Manidis Roberts and Watermove boards.
Claire has extensive finance, governance and management experience with major Australian corporations OneSteel Limited and BHP Billiton. Claire is married with two daughters and lives in Surf Coast Shire.
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Mark A Byatt
Mark Byatt joined the CFA Board in July 2010. Mark has a background of senior and executive management roles in both public and private organisations across local government, education and training, transport, construction and tourism sectors
Mark has served as a CFA volunteer for 36 years. He was a District 24 Victorian Rural Fire Brigades Association President before resigning to take up a local government role as a councilor in 2008. He has since been elected Mayor for a third term. Mark operates a successful Angus cattle stud and is married with two children.
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Ross G Coyle
Ross Coyle joined the CFA Board in March 2010. A farmer on a 5,000 acre family farm at West Wodonga, Ross is heavily involved in the rural community and a member of the Wodonga West brigade since he was 14. Ross is currently the brigade's First Lieutenant.
During 2003, Ross was elected to the Wodonga City Council for a three-year term serving as chairman of all emergency management committees.
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Paul Denham B. Eng, M. Eng, AssDipAS
Paul Denham joined the CFA Board in November 2011. Paul has served in the Royal Australian Navy between 1984 and 1990, holding various roles in the Marine Engineering School, HMAS Cerberus and has worked in the Building and Construction sector since.
Paul has been a CFA volunteer since he was 16, initially serving at Picola Rural Fire Brigade and then Barmah Rural Fire Brigade before joining Boronia Fire Brigade. In 2008, Paul was awarded a life membership of Boronia Fire Brigade. Paul is a recipient of the National Medal and the Australian Defence Medal.
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Peter Harmsworth AO , BComm, GradDipDP
Peter Harmsworth joined the CFA Board in June 2007. Peter has extensive experience in senior level management across the public sector including as Chairman/CEO of the State Services Authority, Secretary of the Department of Justice and Director General of the Office of Corrections.
Peter undertook a review of CFA and MFB for the Government in 1982 and a review of the Ash Wednesday Findings for the Premier in 1983, resulting in the current emergency management legislation. In 2008, he was made an Officer in the Order of Australia.
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Ken King BForSc (Hons), DipFor (Creswick)
Ken King joined the CFA Board in July 2003. He was a former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Sustainability and Environment and a board member of the Phillip Island Nature Park. Ken has extensive experience in wildfire activities and was a forester in the public service.
Ken has been a board member of Parks Victoria since 2005 and a board member of MFB since 2008. In 1989, Ken was awarded the National Medal.
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Reid Mather
Reid Mather joined the CFA Board in December 2009. He has been a farmer since 1983 at Culgoa in North West Victoria and is an active member of the Culgoa brigade.
During March 2003, Reid was elected to the Buloke Shire Council and was Mayor for five terms. Reid has been a board member of the Municipal Association of Victoria (North West Region) since 2009.
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John R. Peberdy ANZIIF(Snr Associate), CIP
John Peberdy joined the CFA Board in September 2009. A business consultant and coach, John is a former board member of the Insurance Council of Australia. He was the CEO of Ansvar Insurance from 1999 to 2010 and is the Chairman of the board of Global Interaction Australia.
John is married with three adult children and has interests in sport, theatre, music and reading.
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James Donald (Don) Robertson B.Eng. (Civil)
Don Robertson joined the CFA Board in 2011. Don is a grazier in Strathkellar and has been a Councillor of the Southern Grampians Council for eleven years, and Mayor for three. He has been an active member of the Strathkellar Fire Brigade for more that 30 years, holding the posts of captain and officer, and remains a current operational member. In addition to this, he is currently the president of the Victorian Rural Fire Brigades Association. In 2004, Don was awarded the National Medal.
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Robert N. Spencer ANZIIF(Associate), CIP
Robert Spencer joined the CFA Board in July 2008. Robert has more than 20 years’ experience in the financial and insurance industries and is currently the Regional Insurance Manager with Elders in Victoria.
Robert has been involved with the Returned and Services League (RSL) for more than 10 years and is currently the President of Mitcham RSL.
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Michael Tudball MBA, Grad Dip Bus (Mgt), Dip CD, FAICD, MIPAA, AFSM
Michael Tudball joined the CFA Board in October 2003. He is the Managing Director of a business consultancy, President of Djerriwarrh Health Services Board and a councilor and former Mayor of Moorabool Shire Council.
He has been a member of Bacchus Marsh brigade for more than 30 years, holding the positions of captain and officer, and remains a current operational member. Michael was awarded the Australian Fire Services Medal in 2011.
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