Board strengthened with new Directors

The Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC is delighted to announce two additions to its Board, Dr Stephanie Rotarangi and Dr Greg Ayers. 

Dr Rotarangi is Deputy Chief Officer at the Victorian Country Fire Authority. Her firefighting career spans more than 20 years in New Zealand and Australia and she holds a PhD in Geography, a Master of Environmental Science and a Bachelor of Forestry. Prior to joining the CFA in 2018, she held the position of Chief Fire Officer from 2016 at the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

Dr Ayers brings expertise from an extensive career in research and research management and governance. He was the former director of Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology and Chief of the (then) CSIRO Division of Marine and Atmospheric Research. He joins the Board as an Independent Director and will chair the Research and Utilisation Committee.

The Chair of the CRC, Dr Katherine Woodthorpe AO, welcomed Dr Rotarangi and Dr Ayers and said their expertise in both operations and research would greatly support the CRC’s focus on establishing long term research for the sector. 

Dr Ayers replaces Prof Alistar Robertson, who has retired from the Board after serving since 2007 on both this Board and its predecessor the Bushfire CRC. He was the Chair of the Research and Utilisation Committee and was Acting Chair in 2018 during Dr Laurie Hammond’s illness and following his death late last year. CRC CEO Dr Richard Thornton said Prof Robertson made many valuable contributions to the CRC during his long service.

“Natural hazards research in Australia and New Zealand has greatly benefited from Prof Robertson’s vision and research knowledge over a long period of time. Prof Robertson’s retirement from the Board will be a loss to the sector, and I’d like to thank him for his significant contributions to both the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and the former Bushfire CRC.

“The Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC will now gain from the extensive experience of Dr Rotarangi and Dr Ayers; their knowledge will be vital over the coming years,” Dr Thornton said.

Dr Rotarangi replaces Dr Paul Smith, former CEO of the CFA who resigned following his appointment to a new role as Senior Advisor on Climate Change in Industry Transition at the Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. The CRC thanks Dr Smith for his contribution to the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC.