Jim Hamilton AFSM

Jim Hamilton joined the then NSW Fire Brigades, now Fire Rescue NSW, in 1980, progressing through the ranks, serving in a variety of operational and specialised positions. In 2008, Jim was appointed Assistant Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner in 2016, as well as serving a term as the Interim Commissioner, before retiring in November 2021. Jim has extensive national and international operational experience, including developing counterterrorism capabilities, being the Australian Emergency Services representative on a high level Australian, US, UK and Canadian international counter-terrorism committee for six years; former member of the NSW Bushfire Coordinating Committee and NSW Fire Services Joint Standing Committee, as well as Co-Chair of NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire Rescue NSW Joint Operations Taskforce responsible for implementing the Keelty Review and Bushfire Royal Commission recommendations post the devastating Tathra bushfire. Jim was also a long-standing member of the AFAC Urban Operations Group and Chair of the Hazmat Technical Working Group. He also has significant experience in leading and coordinating state level natural disasters and international deployments. Jim is highly decorated and holds a Master’s Degree in Management, a Graduate Certificate in Management and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Police Management.