Bruce Esplin AM

After a distinguished career spanning more than 20 years in emergency management, Bruce Esplin AM formed BRUCEESPLIN PTY LTD to provide a range of consulting services that capitalise on his extensive expertise in leadership, crisis managment, media relations, risk management, strategic planning, and the use of technology to enhance public safety and community connectedness.

As principal of BRUCEESPLIN PTY LTD, Bruce brings a plethora of knowledge and experience to organisations across the country and has established himself as one of Australia’s most recognised experts and thought leaders in the area of emergency management.

As Victoria’s first and longest serving Emergency Services Commissioner, Bruce worked tirelessly to comrehensively change the sector and in his 10 years in the role, created the framework for best practice in emergency management in Australia. Bruce represented Victoria on the National Emergency Management Committee for more than 15 years and was a prolific and well-respected contributor to the development of emergency management policies and principles at both state and national levels.

In recognition of his significant service to the emergency management sector, in 2001, Bruce received the Centenary Medal and as a testament to his outstanding contribution to public administration and exemplary service to the Victorian community, Bruce was awarded the status of Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria) in 2009.

Most recently, Bruce was honoured to be appointed as a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2013 Australia Day Honours List.

Bruce has always been a staunch believer in the premise that safety is the shared responsibility of communities, the private sector, government and its agencies. An astute student and thinker on social issues, he possesses an intrinsic understanding of community sustainability and is committed to the view that resilience is a product of local leadership, existing community structures and quality information – a factor that builds from the community level up and cannot be forced. Accordingly, Bruce is a powerful advocate of the inclusive approach to emergency management, and encourages communicative and collaborative partnerships between communities, government, emergency services, the media and the private sector.

Bruce is a strong supporter of the need for change in the emergency management sector and believes that emerging technology can and should be used to much greater effect, not only in helping to improve public safety through better communication and emergency warnings, but also, in what is becoming an increasingly networked society, by facilitating and supporting greater social inclusion.

Maintaining an ongoing interest and commitment to emergency management and the broader public safety sector, he holds a vision for progressive emergency management where communities are not passive recipients of services, but active participants in their own safety planning and decision making.

Bruce is an outstanding communicator, equally at home around the Cabinet table, the Boardroom table or the kitchen table. During his time as Emergency Services Commissioner, he devoted significant time to visiting communities threatened by, or affected by emergencies. His high profile position exposed him to intense and high pressure media and public scrutiny, arming him with the requisite skills and expertise to effectively manage any media situation.

A passionate, challenging and entertaining public speaker on a range of topics, Bruce is highly sought after for speaking engagements including keynote addresses, after dinner speeches and business presentations.

Bruce is the former Chair of the Regional Arts Victoria Board and a board member/deputy chair of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, roles which give him the opportunity to combine his on-going work with communities and his passion for the arts. He is a non executive director of Board of Emergency Warning Systems Ltd (EWSGlobal).

Bruce is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia, Victoria (IPAA) and is a Fellow of  Emergency Media and Public Affairs.

Bruce is a committed photographer, sculptor and writer and is a very passionate advocate and frequent speaker on the role art can play in assisting individuals and communities to deal with, recover and rebuild their lives after trauma. He has been the subject of a number of media broadcasts and is a regular guest presenter on local and national radio programs.

BRUCEESPLIN PTY LTD has been retained by corporate, government and not-for-profit clients to provide expert advice and a range of professional consulting services including crisis leadership and crisis management, the role of technology in public safety and social connectedness, risk management, emergency services planning, strategic planning, executive coaching, public speaking, and mentoring.

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