John joined the NSW Fire Brigades in 1966 and progressed through the ranks to retirement as Deputy Commissioner in 2006. In his career with the Brigades, John served in operations, education and training and fire safety and prevention. On retirement from the Fire Brigades, John was Chair of the NSW State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC). As Chair of the SEMC, John represented NSW on the Australian Emergency Management Committee and chaired the National Risk Assessment Advisory Group.
John has extensive experience in emergency management and planning, building fire safety and management and has experience in human relations, industrial relations and education and training. Through his extensive operational and planning experiences, John has long recognised the effect that climate can have on natural disasters such as bushfire, storm, flood and inundation and their effects on the lives and well-being of people, flora and fauna.