DOUGLAS BROWN

BUSHFIRE ARCHITECT

In 2016 Dr Douglas Brown set up Bushfire Architecture, a research consultancy which provides advice on building in bushfire-prone areas. Since 2015 he has been an academic at Western Sydney University, where he teaches undergraduate courses in Construction Management and postgraduate courses in Bushfire Protection, such as “Building in Bushfire-Prone Areas”. He has a PhD entitled 'Domestic Architecture and the Perception of Risk in Bushfire-Prone Areas'. This research was undertaking in the Faculty of Architecture, Design & Planning at the University of Sydney and completed in 2017. He is currently working with the University of Sydney’s School of Architecture, Design and Planning on a project which uses drone technology and 3D imaging to assess how bushfires damaged selected houses during the 2019-2020 bushfire season. 

Dr Brown has previously given two CPDs on bushfire building ignitions points (vulnerable parts of a structure): Australian Institute of Architects, April 2018; and Blue Mountains Design Group, April 2015.

He is a regular contributor to The Conversation where his publications have been viewed over 83,000 times globally.

PETER BUCKWELL

ARCHITECT

Peter is an architect with experience in large firms in Australia and the US. His own practice, Buckwell and Partners based in Mt Victoria in the Blue Mountains, was established in 1979. 

Peter has also held a builder’s licence for many years and has completed the Arbitrators Course run by institute of Arbitrators.

Peter is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects, has served on juries for the Institute Awards and has been Chair of the NSW Country Division.
Peter holds a graduate Diploma of Education, has taught in the TAFE system and has participated in the Student Mentoring Program run by the NSW Chapter.

RORY BETTS-MCCRAE

M Arch Student, University of Newcastle

Rory’s mother, Sandy Betts, engaged Fergus Scott, architect, to design a house for them at Bawley Point NSW. This house, completed a decade ago, withstood an extreme fireball during the 2019/2020 fires while the surrounding landscape was decimated.

JOHN TRAVERS

John Travers has been working in the fields of bushfire and terrestrial ecology for 39 years. Between 1981 and 1991 he was a Senior Ranger with the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service before joining the Department of Bushfire Services where he  was Manager Planning & Research. For the past 27 years he has been in private practice providing advice to a vast array of clients in both the private and public sectors. 

COREY SHACKLETON

Director, Community Resilience, NSW Rural Fire Service

orey has over 16 years’ experience working in the bushfire and emergency services industry, including 14 years with the NSW Rural Fire Service.  

Corey joined the RFS in 2006 and held a number of roles before being promoted to Director Community Resilience in 2013. Corey also spent two years as Director Operational Mitigation Services where he was responsible for over 130 staff which included the State Mitigation crews as well as Remote Area Firefighting and Special Operations.  

As the Director Community Resilience, with the NSW Rural Fire Service, Corey has been responsible for the leadership, management and implementation of the NSW legislative planning framework for developments in bushfire prone areas, bushfire prone land mapping, environmental approvals, Neighbourhood Safer Places, bushfire risk management, Community Protection Planning, NSW bushfire mitigation grants and fire behaviour and predictive services. 

Corey has been responsible for significant advances in building capacity and resilience from bushfires at state and national levels. 

Corey has extensive experience having worked in both private industry and state government, including executive level positions in the NSW Rural Fire Service. Corey has been responsible for driving and maintaining industry best practice in all facets of bushfire risk management, land use planning, building controls, fire trails and community engagement.