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Regional Representatives

Yorkshire and Humberside - Vacant

East - Karen Elliott

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service - Retained Firefighter, Speech and Language Therapist, Local Community First Responder, and mother of six.

Karen Elliot In 2006 Karen became the first woman firefighter to be stationed at Nayland in rural Suffolk. She is a qualified driver of the appliance and a designated First Aider. Responding to her first shout (neighbour’s field on fire), her very proud 5-year-old son answering the telephone said, “My mummy’s a firefighter, she’s out fighting fires!”

Karen taught English for several years prior to taking her Master’s degree in Language Pathology and now works as an independent Speech and Language Therapist. She is also a volunteer Local Community First Responder for the East of England Ambulance Trust.

Karen’s six children were all born at home! Her eldest daughter is studying for a PhD. She has two sons and a daughter taking degrees at university and another daughter at college. Her youngest son is undertaking a choristership in Ely.

Soon after joining the Service Karen trained as a Firebreak Instructor working with young offenders. She is also an Equality and Diversity Advocate for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service and a member of the Equality Action User Group who liaise with the Fire Management Team in raising awareness on Equality and Diversity issues and influencing policy development.

Karen has been associated with NWFS since early 2008 and the following year took on the role of Regional Representative for the East of England. She is involved with the Positive Action Project launched in 2009, which offers guidance and practical support in promoting the recruitment of women who remain under-represented in the Fire and Rescue Service. She has assisted with events around the country utilising the mobile Firefighter Selection Unit and delivering awareness sessions on the national physical selection tests to over 300 candidates.

London - Angela Curnick

North East

Lynsey McVay - North West

South East - Julie Gilbert-King

I work for East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service and am the South East regional representative (shared with Karen Beadle from West Sussex FRS). I am currently a Group Manager and work at Headquarters in the Protection Directorate as the Policy and Support Manager. I have been involved in NWFS for the last 10 years and before that I regularly attended the conferences organised at the Fire Service College and other Services.

I joined the Fire & Rescue Service in 1994, originally being posted to Eastbourne Fire station. Since then I have worked at various locations across the County in different roles. In 2002, I was promoted to Station Manager for Crowborough and Forest Row, and then transferred to Station manager for Wadhurst, Mayfield, Heathfield and Burwash in 2005.

I was appointed as the Borough Commander for Hastings in 2006 which was part of a new Borough Structure introduced in East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.

In 2008 my partner Mani and I adopted Scott (3) and Bethany (2) and took time away from work to spend with the children. (The children are now 6 and 7 and growing fast!)

In 2009 I returned to work as the Borough Commander for Eastbourne where I stayed for 3 years and have recently taken a move into Headquarters.I am also part of a Professional Women’s Group in East Sussex and am part of the local network called SWANS.

Away from work, I love being outdoors and spend many happy hours on the South Downs with my family and Springer Spaniel, Frankie. As a family we also spend quite a lot of time camping. I also play hockey for a local team and am a keen football fan. I also enjoy running and cycling.

West Midlands - Jo Hammersley

International

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