Justin Francis

Justin Francis is a passionate operational Fire Officer of 26 years experience. He is employed by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. Justin is currently studying a Masters of Emergency Management. He has a Bachelor of Emergency Management from Charles Sturt University which has given him a practical and theoretical base. He also has a Bachelor of Visual Arts from Griffith University. Justin has attended and assisted to manage a large range of emergency situations across Australia including major Cyclones, significant flood events, wildfire campaigns and a huge variety of Fire/Chemical/Rescue type incidents. He combines a vast operational fire service background with significant experience in building fire safety and emergency management to provide a unique, global perspective. Justin’s focus is on ensuring people can visit, work, reside and manage emergencies in the built environment with optimum safety. Justin is a regular speaker on the international circuit of firefighting and building fire safety and attempt to challenge both areas to ensure improvements are implemented. He has do-developed a high rise training course aimed at bridging the gap between fire fighters and the complexities of building fire safety systems and has had a variety of papers published internationally on the subject of high-rise fire safety and firefighting. Other projects include the development of the Australian Firefighter Safety Initiative with a focus on reducing firefighter exposure to toxic fire effluents. In 2016 he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to analyse modern methods of evacuation from high-rise buildings and large structures. His journey took him to Canada, China, Finland, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, USA, and United Arab Emirates.