Acting fire rescue commissioner Gavin Freeman has been appointed as the permanent commissioner of Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV).
Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes announced Mr Freeman’s appointment to the role for five years, effective from Wednesday, May 24.
Mr Freeman is a highly experienced leader with more than 35 years’ experience in emergency management and fire services.
He served as the Victorian state response controller during the 2019-20 bushfire season and has been deployed across Australia and internationally in response to major fires.
Mr Freeman also spent more than 30 years in the Tasmania Fire Service, where he held several senior roles including deputy chief officer and was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal in 2011.
Prior to this appointment, Mr Freeman held the position of deputy commissioner – operations at FRV and has been acting commissioner since March 2023. Previously he held the position of deputy chief officer with the Country Fire Authority (CFA).
FRV was established in July 2020 and has brought together the state’s career firefighters under a single organisation, while restoring CFA to a community-based, volunteer firefighting organisation..
Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes said she was pleased to announce Mr Freeman’s appointment and is looking forward to working closely with him.
“Mr Freeman is a highly experienced leader within Victoria’s emergency management sector and his extensive experience and qualifications will be essential in his leadership of FRV,” she said.
