’Influence Me’ Leadership Podcasts - Andrew Short AFSM

I recently joined Brett Stephens from 660 Productions for a timely discussion on lessons learnt in emergency services, and why organisational memory matters. We discussed why it is critical that emergency services organisations do more than simply review past incidents, and it's got to be more than just releasing a Safety Bulletin. The real value comes from capturing the lessons, reinforcing good...

My guest for this important episode is Leanne Riggs from "The Resilience Canopy". As outlined on their website, The Resilience Canopy seeks to transform Australia’s response to social and climate challenges by placing communities at the centre of the solution. Leanne is widely recognised for her ability to build trusted relationships, foster meaningful collaboration and apply emotional intelligenc...

In this final Part 3 of 'The State of the Emergency Services Sector in Australia' the  conversation turns to the future. In Part 3, my guest (for all three parts) Bruce Byatt AFSM and I take a hard look at what really determines success across emergency services — and where things still quietly unravel. We explore interagency cohesiveness: where collaboration works, where old wounds linger, and wh...

Part 2 is live — and this is where the conversation truly sharpens. In this follow-up episode with Bruce Byatt AFSM, we move past the polite headlines and into the structural issues that continue to hold the emergency services sector back. In Part 2, we explore: 🚨 PPRR in 2025 — Why does Response still dominate? What does meaningful Prevention and Preparedness look like today? And are we honestly...

Are you interested in how effective our emergency services really are? In this three-part conversation, Bruce Byatt AFSM — former senior executive and long-time leader in the sector — joins me to unpack what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to evolve. We explore: ✅ Vision, Mission & Strategy — are they still fit for purpose? ✅ Resource-to-risk balance — are we getting it right? ✅ The p...

This episode draws on the incredible knowledge of Michael Grinder, Krista Grinder and Gen Wilcox, in exploring the dynamics of having separate emergency services working together for a common purpose, this importantly being community safety. Whether you’re early in your time as an emergency service member, or even if you’re an experienced senior leader, jump on in and you may learn a thing or two...

The media can be a powerful ally or a formidable foe for leaders. Journalists and emergency responders often find themselves side-by-side in the most challenging situations, from natural disasters to crisis management. But despite their proximity, the media can remain a mystery to many leaders. In this ‘Influence Me’ episode, I’m joined by Graham Metcalf, a seasoned journalist and corporate leader...

Peter Dornan AM believes that men can be both troubled and troublesome — often to themselves and to the women in their lives. Despite contributing to the advancement of modern society, many men still struggle with its demands and their own responsibilities. A former senior Queensland Australian of the year (2020) and renowned physiotherapist, Peter, in his book 'In Search of Manhood – A guide to b...

Influence Me - Season 3 focuses on thought-provoking conversations with leaders who influence the emergency services sector. The big challenges facing the industry are explored in this series, whilst emphasising the role of leadership in driving progress. My guest for this important discussion about sub-culture is Shannan Quain. Shannan is an experienced Senior Leader with a demonstrated history o...

My guest for this Podcast, Dr Nikola Stepanov, has spent much of her career in service to the public sector and community. Her background is in professional ethics and governance, research and research regulation, mediation and dispute resolution, and board governance. She has expertise in resolving complex and contentious conflicts where there are grave personal or governance risks. She holds six...

“At times, you have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself.” ― Alan Alda (Actor and Educator) In this ‘Influence Me’ Leadership Podcast, I speak with my friend Doug Beitz (former emergency service officer, and successful business leader) about the benefit of understanding and then usin...

When a potential guest says he is dangerously allergic to the archaic approach to leadership development - I want to interview him! For this episode, my guest Matt Callow is a registered Psychologist with over 10 years experience consulting to organisations and delivering success in talent management, organisational development, learning & development; and strategic human resource management solut...

Brenton known as “Ben” grew up and was educated in country Western Australia. In 1980 Ben joined the Australian Army where he began a journey that would last for 32 years. He developed a passion very early in his career for training and leadership which over his extensive career took him from being a Junior Commander through to senior management level as a Unit Commander. Among numerous experience...

In this rich and informative Podcast I discuss matters of leadership during emergency operations with John Cawcutt AFSM. John is an Assistant Commissioner with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services where he leads a multi-disciplinary team of over 1000 fire service officers, emergency managers and public service officers in the delivery of all-hazards prevention, preparedness and emergency res...

As it is said, from little things big things grow. Robert’s initial experience with the fire services was as an untrained and ineffectual volunteer firefighter with the CFA in the early 1980’s. In 1983 he fled the Ash Wednesday fires with his wife and month old daughter, and shortly thereafter while he worked in TAFE, and before the era of Certificates, he conducted many Train-the-Trainer programs...

What an opportunity to speak with Doug Beitz, a long-term colleague and friend. Doug was previously an emergency services officer, a successful business operator, with him now moving into the role of life coach. This podcast tells his life story to date, including the many lessons he has gleaned, all with lots of meaning. Doug is incredibly curious when it comes to life, and he is someone who I ha...

For this podcast it’s a pleasure to have Queensland Ambulance Service - Deputy Commissioner Dee Taylor-Dutton ASM as my guest. In her current role, Dee has accountability for all aspects of QAS frontline operational service delivery. Commencing in 1995 as a Student Ambulance Officer in Townsville, Dee has since held positions in operations, communications, corporate services and management, as wel...

My guest for this Podcast Nick Dunn is a corporate professional with over twenty years in management and leadership positions with his current role with global insurance firm Aon as their Operations, Projects and Facilities Manager for Queensland and Northern Territory. Nick also travels nationally, project managing, design and construction of new office sites for Aon; as well as being the lead fo...

Kerry Howard is a best-selling author and psychologist specialising in trauma prevention and treatment. Kerry has won two international awards for her commitment to treating PTSD and improving mental health in Australia. Since 2010, Kerry has presented at a variety of international conferences including the USA, Europe and Australia. She developed professional development training in the promotion...

“Be honest, frank and fearless and get some grasp of the real values of life… Read some good, heavy, serious books just for discipline: Take yourself in hand and master yourself.” W.E.B. Du Bois (Civil Rights Leader and Author). My guest his Podcast Bruce Byatt AFSM is a second-generation firefighter who started his fire service career with the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Service on 14th January 1...

'Whether we realise it or not, in the battle arena we call life most of our time is spent in one grey area or the another' - Adelle Bradford (Author). Brian Cox is currently a senior officer within the Queensland State Emergency Service. He has an extensive 40-year military career as a regular, and still maintains his ADF connection as a current Colonel in the Army Reserve.  His military highlight...

Such a pleasure to host Assistant Commissioner Joanne Greenfield for this special International Women’s Day episode of ‘Influence Me’. Joanne has extensive experience across emergency management, health services and various international United Nations missions. Prior to joining QFES, Joanne gained experience in many countries ranging from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe leading responses to pandemics, ep...

“Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you’ll land among the stars.” — Les Brown (Motivational speaker and author). My guest for this Podcast, Ali Lane is a principal at an IT consulting firm called Enable, a role which involves project management, people leadership and managing customer success. Whilst she loves being an “Enabler” celebrating her organisation’s employee-first culture, it is no sec...

Costa Georgiadis is a landscape architect who gardens with his hands and his heart and in 2019 won the Australian Logies award for the Most Popular Presenter. Costa has an all-consuming passion for plants and people - he knows how to bring out the best in both of them, and takes great pleasure in bringing them together. In this podcast I discuss matters of people and he shares what he’s learnt alo...

Jason Sertori is a former QFES officer who courageously took an opportunity with the United Nations in 2016. Currently based in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jason Sertori is the Chief officer of the United Nations largest fire service, and has held this position since leaving QFES in 2016. In 2019, Jason was temporarily appointed as the Senior Coordinator for the Tactical Operations Centre fo...