Mr Shane Fitzsimmons AO AFSM joined the NSW Rural Fire Service as a member of the Duffys Forest Brigade in 1985, joining the staff 11 years later. His long volunteer and career service led to his appointment as Commissioner from 2007 to 2020.
Mr Fitzsimmons led the RFS through the catastrophic 2019/20 Black Summer bush fires before becoming the inaugural Commissioner of Resilience NSW and Deputy Secretary, Emergency Management with the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
In 2020, he was named the NSW Australian of the Year. Mr Fitzimmons is currently the Managing Director of SAF Leading Advisory, sits on the Advisory Board of Fireant digital platform consultants and is a member of the not-for-profit Fathering Project.
Mr Fitzsimmons was appointed a Director of the RFS Benevolent Fund in 2024. He brings his passion for the Service and its people, along with broad government, industry and volunteer experience, to the Board. In March 2025, he was awarded the RFS Long Service Medal Clasp for 40 years’ service.
