On 7 November 2016, I was honoured to take up the role as Chief Fire & Rescue Officer.  It was a huge honour personally and professionally to be appointed to lead our Service.  There have been many highlights, and indeed challenges, during my first year as Chief.  Without doubt, the key highlight of the year was meeting and engaging with you, our people.

From the heat of gorse fires in May and bonfires in July to the flooding in late August, I am proud to say that through it all Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service was there to respond and to help ‘Protect Our Community’. Whether you are a Firefighter, an Officer, Regional Control Centre or Support Staff every day we work together, as a team, to Protect Our Community. Thank you, to each and every one of you, for your contribution and for serving NIFRS with such distinction over recent months.

I believe the vision, mission and values we assign to an organisation are critical to its future success. But do we fully understand what these abstract terms mean and how do we bring them to life for NIFRS?