Emergency management forum features terror attack, fires and pipeline rupture

The experiences of high-profile emergencies throughout New Zealand will come under the spotlight at Northland’s annual Civil Defence Emergency Management Forum in Whangārei on Wednesday, 01 May.

The event is held at Forum North in Whangārei and attendees include members of the emergency services, welfare agencies, lifelines utilities, councils and community civil defence groups. It is also open to interested members of the general public, at no cost.

Kim Abbott, Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group spokesperson, says the keynote speakers this year include:

• Wally Mitchell, who had only relocated from Northland three weeks earlier to take up his new role as Canterbury district operations manager for St John when he found himself co-ordinating the emergency medical response to the Christchurch terror attacks
• Michele Poole, who had a key role in public/media communication during the Pigeon Valley Fires in Nelson, and
• Damian Southorn and Julian Young of Refining NZ on the response to the rupture of the jet fuel pipeline to Auckland in 2017.

The lineup also includes a range of other local speakers.

The event runs from 9am to 1pm. Although it is free, people intending to come along need to register in advance at: www.nrc.govt.nz/cdemforum