Membership - VAFI - Victorian Association of Fire Investigators

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VAFI - Committee Members

Current Committee Members

President Andrew Kerr Andrew has been a member of Vic Pol for approximately 20 years. He is a Senior Sergeant with the Victoria Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit. Email andrew.kerr@police.vic.gov.au

Vice-President Brain Neal (CFA & Firepoint) Brian is Fire Officer with the Country Fire Authority (CFA) located at Boronia Fire Station. Overall service with CFA, 37 years and 30 years in career service. Been involved with Fire Investigation since 1988 ( 16 years ) and had positions in CFA as State Fire Investigation Officer (1988 – 1991) and currently Region Fire Investigation Co-Ordinator for Region 13. Was part of the inaugural meeting of the Victorian Chapter in 1990 and has been a committee member, president, secretary and currently vice president. Also the Victorian editor for Firepoint Magazine.

Treasurer Rod East Rod has been a fire fighter with the MFESB for close to 20 years. He is now the specialist electrical investigator with the Fire Investigation & Analysis Unit. Email rod.east@mfb.vic.gov.au

Secretary George Cooney (Victoria Police) George has retired from Victoria police after 30 years. He was formally the OIC of the Fire & Explosion Unit. Email georgecooney@optusnet.com.au

Ex-officio & Interim Membership Officer Ian Hunter Ian began his fire fighting career in 1964 as a volunteer with the CFA Brigade at Wandin and from here he transferred to the Lilydale Urban Brigade in 1971. He was appointed Manager in the MFB Fire Investigation and Analysis Unit in 2001. As Chair of the AFAC Australasian Fire Investigation and Research Group Ian has been an active campaigner for the development accreditation of the Advanced Diploma of Fire Investigation Course. Ian was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal in 1995. email ian.hunter@mfb.vic.gov.au

Committee Members

Geoff Fletcher Geoff has been a firefighter with the MFB for around 12 years. He is currently attached to the FIU department.

Nicole Harvey (CFA) Nicole Harvey is a member of the CFA and coordinator of the CFA Fire Investigation Unit. Email n.harvey@cfa.vic.gov.au

Karen Ireland – Forensic Scientist, Victoria Police Karen has been a member of the Forensic Services Department Fire and Explosion Unit since 1995 and investigates the cause of fires and explosions.

Russell Lee (Private Investigators) Russell is the Principal of Russell Lee Pty. Ltd. He is an engineer specialising in fire cause & origin and has conducted a number major of investigations both in Australia and overseas.

John Lording (Insurance Industry) John is former member of Victoria Police and is currently an investigator conducting and co-ordinating investigations for an insurance company.

Norm Jackson Norm is Team Leader-Investigations with Office of Gas Safety. He has been in the gas industry for many years specialising in gasfitting regulations and standards work before becoming involved in investigations into serious gas-related incidents. Norm has been a member of the Australian Standards Committee for Gas Installations for over 10 years.

Membership Officer - on leave Alex Conway (MFESB) Alex has served close to 30 years with the MFESB. He is the Membership Officer for the Association. Alex received the Australian Fire Services medal for his work in fire investigation and has been with the Fire Investigation & Analysis Unit for 15 years.

Belinda Webb Belinda is an investigator conducting investigations for an insurance company

Michael Weekes Michael has been an Electrician since 1988 and Licensed Electrical inspector from 1999. He was also self employed running an Electrical Contracting Business from 1991 until 2002. He has been employed by the OCEI and Energy Safe Victoria since 2002 as an Electrical Installation Compliance Officer. This role includes compliance checks on electrical work and electrical installation workers, investigating incidents, fires and un licensed workers.

Trevor Pillinger Trevor served 25 years with the MFB as an operational fire fighter and was a registered volunteer with the CFA for 14 years. A large proportion of his time with the MFB was with the Fire Investigation & Analysis Unit. He is now owner and Training Director for Salamander Fire Australia Pty Ltd a Registered Training Organisation conducting courses in the fire, OHS & Fire Investigation areas.

Scott Barnes Member of the Victoria Police Arson & Explosive Section.

George Xydias Fire Scene Examiner, Member of Victoria Police Forensic Science Centre.

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