The Northern Territory Fire and Emergency Services (NTFES) is pleased to announce the permanent appointment of Mr Stephen Sewell AFSM as Chief Fire Officer (CFO).
Following an extensive merit-based selection process, Mr Sewell, who has been acting in the CFO role for the past 12 months, has officially been appointed to the position.
This appointment brings stability to the NT Fire and Rescue Service (NTFRS) and allows for the continued recruitment of Deputy Fire Officers, which is set to begin this month.
Before stepping into the role of Chief Fire Officer, Mr Sewell served as the Deputy Chief Fire Officer for Territory Operations. He has been with the NTFRS since 2009 and has held an executive position since 2020.
In addition to his extensive experience with NTFRS, Mr Sewell has served in various regiments of the Australian Army since 1989 and remains an active member of the Australian Army Reserve.
He has been recognised for his service with several prestigious awards, including the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM), and medals for his deployments, such as the International Force East Timor Medal, the Afghanistan Medal, and the Iraq Medal.
NTFES Commissioner, Andrew Warton congratulated Mr Sewell on his appointment, acknowledging his significant contributions over the past 16 years.
"Stephen brings a wealth of strategic and leadership experience to this role, along with an unwavering commitment to protecting the lives, property, and environment of the Northern Territory," said Commissioner Warton.
"Over the past 16 years, Stephen has made significant contributions to our operations, firefighting preparedness, training and development, fire safety initiatives, recruitment, and community engagement."
In addition to his operational expertise, Mr Sewell holds qualifications in human resource management, public safety, training and assessment, and occupational health and safety.
Quotes attributed to Mr Stephen Sewell AFSM:
"It is a tremendous honour to be appointed permanently as Chief Fire Officer, and I am committed to ensuring that the NT Fire and Rescue Service continues to serve the community with the highest standards of professionalism, preparedness and safety."
"My focus will be on maintaining the safety of our communities, supporting our dedicated firefighters, and further strengthening our operational capabilities to respond to emergencies across the Territory."
"The role of Chief Fire Officer is both challenging and rewarding, and I am excited to continue the work of enhancing community resilience while working closely with all stakeholders to ensure a safer Northern Territory."
"I want to thank the dedicated men and women of NTFRS for their commitment and service. Together, we will continue to advance the agency's mission to serve and protect."
With the recent formation of the NT Fire and Emergency Services, which merges the NT Fire and Rescue Service, NT Emergency Service, and Bushfires NT into a single agency, Mr Sewell's leadership will be vital in further enhancing the agency's ability to respond to emergencies while prioritising community resilience.
Media contact
Rickie Abraham
