Chris started his career as an operational firefighter based at Gateshead Community Fire Station in 1997.

He has an impressive and varied background in training, community safety and operations and has taken a lead role in a number of national resilience programmes.

He was appointed Chief Fire Officer in February 2017, taking up the post in April 2017. Chris has held a number of roles within the fire service, including Station Officer for community safety, during which time he was instrumental in introducing home safety checks which have significantly reduced fires in the home.

After joining the Strategic Management Team in 2009, Chis worked as an Area Manager and then in 2013 was appointed Assistant Chief Officer, assuming overall responsibility for services across five districts, operations, community safety and fire safety.

Chris sits on the Operations Co-ordination Committee (OCC), the lead body for Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) and he was the project executive for the national guidance work on transport.

He led the introduction of Targeted Response Vehicles (TRVs), day crewing close-call shift patterns, Cobra Coldcut technology and more efficient methods of staffing appliances while facilitating first-class firefighter training.

Policy and collaboration are integral to Chris’s current role and will continue to be a focus going forward. He works collaboratively with Northumbria Police and other key partners, and the implementation of the Integrated Risk Management Plan is an important part of his remit.

Under his leadership, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service will focus on workforce reform and broadening and strengthening our contribution to our community.

Chris is also on social media and you can follow him on Twitter at @TWFRS_CFO.

Peter joined TWFRS in January 2020 from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, where he was Deputy Assistant Chief Fire Officer and Head of Response and Resilience.

Peter joined Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade in October 1992 and served at several fire stations across Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders as Firefighter, Leading Firefighter, Sub Officer and Station Officer.

He also held roles as a Fire Safety Enforcement Officer, training Officer, in Operational Planning as well as a range of managerial and leadership roles including a two-year secondment to the Scottish Fire Services College as a Group Manager in the learning development team.

In 2013, following the creation of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Peter was Programme Manager and led work on Operational Response and Resilience to ensure readiness for the commencement of the new service on day one.

Lynsey began her career with Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service in May 2000 where she initially served as a firefighter at Carlisle Fire Station. She progressed to become a Crew Manager at Workington Fire Station then took on a Watch Manager role.

In 2008 Lynsey took a national secondment, which involved developing and delivering the Enhanced Command Support capability as part of the National Resilience Programme.

On her return to Cumbria she worked as part of the Operational Training Department and played a key role in establishing a new incident command school. Lynsey then progressed to the role of Flexible Duty Station Manager in service delivery, overseeing both whole time and retained fire stations.

She went on to manage the initial fire control transition from Cumbria to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. This project developed further with the agreement of the introduction of a North West Fire Control function which was to be based in Warrington.

As Transition Manager for North West Fire Control, Lynsey managed the changeover of Cumbria’s mobilising function into the regional facility. She later took on responsibility for a number of strategic projects on behalf of Cumbria.

In May 2015 Lynsey secured a Group Manager position with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, where she was responsible for the Operational Policy and Assurance function. This included:

• operational training
• incident command training
• business continuity
• internal and external planning
• fire control liaison
• technical services
• operational policy

She spent 12 months in the role then transferred to service delivery, where she was responsible for Warrington and Halton unitary areas.

Lynsey is an avid supporter of staff networks in order to encourage and support minority groups and members of the local community.

She was the North West Regional Representative for Women in the Fire Service for several years. She was also an active member of Cheshire’s FirePride network and successfully launched women’s networks in both of her previous services.

Ken joined Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service in 1994 where he was posted to the Fossway Fire Station on the Green Watch. Ken worked at various locations within Tyne and Wear culminating in him becoming a Watch Manager at Tynemouth Fire Station. After 16 years on station, Ken moved into a Station Manager Role, within Service Headquarters.

Ken worked as a Station Manager within the Operations Department. His role was to develop the Service operational capabilities. He was instrumental in the introduction of Targeted Response Vehicles, cold cut extinguishing technology and the Services enhanced Command and Control Appliance.

Following his role as a Station Manager within the Operations Department, Ken undertook various roles as a Group Manager, firstly as a Group Manager within Service Delivery, then Head of the Services Training Centre. Ken also head spells as Head of the Resilience Department and Head of Operations and Fire Control.

Ken recently undertook the role of Area Manager for Digital, Data and Safety, delivering on one of the Services three key strategic priorities; Digital and Data.

Outside of work, Ken is a keen Newcastle United supporter, and current season ticket holder.

Dave started his career with Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service in April 1997 where he served as an operational firefighter based at Buxton Fire Station.

In September 1998, Dave joined TWFRS as an Inter Service Transfer and was initially based at Pilgrim Street Fire Station as an operational firefighter, in 2006 progressing to Crew Manager and then Watch Manager, Dave served across a number of Community Fire Stations including, Wallsend, Newcastle Central, West Denton and Gosforth.

On being promoted to Temporary Station Manager at Byker Community Fire Station Dave played a key role in supporting and enhancing Tyne and Wear’s only water based response station. He was instrumental in introducing SFRBOI’s into the Service.

As a Group Manager, Dave has served in a number of roles including District Manager for Newcastle and Head of Service Delivery West where his focus was on managing service delivery performance, building partner relationships within local Community Safety Boards in Newcastle and Gateshead promoting community safety and firefighter safety. As Head of Operational Standards, he dealt with all areas of staffing including, diversification of the workforce, promotions and recruitment and the Service lead on NFCC On-Call practitioners Group.

Dave is currently Area Manager for Service Delivery ensuring we have the right people, with the right skills, at the right place, at the right time based on risk and demand to provide the fastest and most effective operational response to the community of Tyne and Wear.

Prior to joining the Service, Dave served 4 years with HM Forces, Corps of Royal Engineers and 1 year working in Debt Collection for the Department of Social Security.

Paul joined Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service in 1993 where he was posted to Grindon Fire Station on the Blue Watch. Paul developed in his career as an operational Firefighter and a Crew Manager serving at a number of Community Fire Stations including Fulwell, Washington and Sunderland Central. Paul took up a role as a Watch Manager in 2011 working in / across a variety of roles including Workforce Development, as an Incident Command Instructor and in Service Delivery Learning and Development.

Paul was promoted to Station Manager in the Risk Department in 2015 where he was responsible for the effective delivery of Operational Assurance activities within incidents and training environments, contributing to continuous improvement and Firefighter safety.

Following a posting as Station Manager in Service Delivery Operational Standards Paul took up a role as Group manager in Learning and Organisational Development, followed by a role in Service Delivery Staffing and Training; ensuring operational crews had the correct skills and training to fulfil their roles effectively and safely to fulfil the variety of operational demands placed on them.

Paul recently commenced the role of Area Manager for Digital, Data and Safety delivering on one of the Service’s three key strategic priorities Digital and Data.

During his time in the Service Paul has served as a School Governor and Director of a Multi Academy Trust in his local community from 2009 until 2021.

Dennis began his career in the private sector, before joining the accountancy section of Sunderland City Council in 1978. He gained his AAT qualifications and qualified as a CIPFA Accountant in 1985.

He has wealth of experience and knowledge of public sector finance, specialising in local government and fire service related finance.

Dennis held various senior management roles at the council, covering:

• government grant funding mechanisms
• resource planning and management
• VAT
• Treasury management
• income management

He also provided a full financial service to external bodies including Beamish Museum, Bowes Railway Ltd and the former Tyne and Wear Development Company Ltd. More recently he advised on the technical issues in respect of the council’s newly created ‘Care’ trading companies.

Dennis joined us in October 2016. He is responsible for the finance and procurement functions of the Authority and is also the statutory Section 151 Officer for the service.

This means that he manages all of the financial affairs of the service. He has a responsibility to the taxpayers of Tyne and Wear to ensure sound and proper arrangements are in place to effectively administer the financial affairs of the Authority.

John works closely with our other senior managers to provide strategic direction for the Service and inform Fire Authority decision-making.

He has extensive experience of Human Resources and Organisational Development with a strong record of leading complex services and projects in demanding, dynamic circumstances.

John specialises in:

• Human Resources strategy and leadership
• employee engagement
• employee relations
• unionised negotiations for change and transformation
• employment law and formal processes
• pay and reward
• diversity and inclusion
• organisation development
• joint working with executives / non-executives (boards and elected members)