BILL SKERMER
Yackandandah,VIC
Summary
I am a passionate and experienced freelance festival and events professional. Originally from a live music performance background, I integrated experience and skills developed from band management into festival and event management, curating, and programming. Co-Director of a family-run fundraising music festival in my parent's backyard in the Northeast of Victoria, Australia since 1996, I am also privileged to have worked in the Victorian Festival and Events industry, specialising in operations, site, and emergency management for small and large single and multi-day festivals and events. This has led to many opportunities including international travel to run divisions of major events. With a love for working with and for the community, a deep understanding of how to produce successful events, priding myself in integrity, work ethic, professionalism and dedication to the position, steeped in respect, care and empathy for networks, teams, workmates, and colleagues; to deliver cutting edge sustainable festivals and events.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Safety Manager
Knotfest Melbourne
01.2023 - 04.2024
- Collaborated with management to develop company-wide safety policies, procedures, and guidelines.
- Conducted thorough accident investigations to identify root causes and prevent future occurrences.
- Developed and implemented safety programs.
- Inspected job sites and facilities to detect potential health hazards and put corrective measures immediately into effect.
- Reduced accident rates through proactive hazard identification, analysis, and mitigation strategies.
- Implemented corrective actions following incidents to minimize risks and improve overall safety performance.
- Developed and executed training programs for employees, improving overall safety awareness and compliance.
- Facilitated meetings with upper management and executives to discuss ways that safety could be improved.
- Enhanced workplace safety by implementing comprehensive risk assessments and safety audits.
- Championed a positive safety culture by promoting employee involvement in health and safety initiatives.
- Established emergency response plans, ensuring preparedness in the event of a crisis or disaster.
- Consistently achieved high levels of employee engagement in safety meetings, fostering an environment focused on continuous improvement.
- Streamlined incident reporting processes for accurate documentation and data-driven decision making.
- Cultivated strong working relationships with cross-functional teams, facilitating collaborative efforts to maintain a safe and healthy workplace for all employees.
- Monitored workplace activities to determine compliance with safety regulations and standards.
- Developed and implemented safety policies and procedures to promote workplace safety.
Public Safety Officer
Pitch Music and Arts Festival
03.2016 - 03.2024
- This position was virtually the same role as for Rainbow Serpent Festival, but for only 18,000 patrons
- Maintained accurate records of incidents and actions taken during shifts, contributing to effective communication between team members and supervisors.
- Patrolled assigned areas on foot, and by vehicle.
- Monitored surveillance systems for potential threats or suspicious behaviour around critical infrastructure, reporting findings to appropriate authorities for further investigation.
- Prepared reports on public safety activities and initiatives, contributing to decision-making processes for resource allocation and strategic planning.
- Talked regularly with citizens to establish rapport and become familiar presence in area.
- Assisted in the development of emergency response plans, taking into account potential threats and vulnerabilities within the community.
- Notified emergency personnel of incidents requiring medical assistance and aid.
- Collaborated with law enforcement agencies to share intelligence, coordinate responses, and support investigations into criminal activity.
- Same Workflow structure, accountability, roles, and responsibilities
Event Commander / Chief Warden
Chi Wah Wah Town
02.2022 - 02.2024
- Ensured compliance with federal, state, and local regulations governing correctional institutions by maintaining accurate records and documentation.
- Enhanced facility safety by conducting regular security audits and addressing potential risks.
- Fostered strong working relationships with external agencies, such as law enforcement, courts, and social services to facilitate successful offender reintegration into society.
- Streamlined operations with effective budget management and resource allocation strategies.
- Cultivated a culture of transparency between administration and inmates through open dialogue channels like town hall meetings or suggestion boxes.
- Prioritized mental health support for both inmates and staff by partnering with local mental health providers to offer counselling services onsite.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Coordinated multi-agency responses for effective disaster relief during major incidents.
- Monitored severe weather events, providing timely alerts and guidance to affected communities.
- Evaluated response efforts after incidents, identifying opportunities for improvement in future emergency management operations.
- Organized large-scale emergency exercises to test interagency coordination and resource allocation capabilities.
- Prioritized the safety and well-being of all community members by fostering a proactive, risk-based approach to emergency management.
- Conducted thorough risk assessments to identify potential hazards and vulnerabilities in the community.
- Maintained accurate records of all emergency management activities for regulatory compliance purposes and reporting needs.
- Inspected facilities and equipment to determine operational and functional capabilities in emergency situations.
- Maintained current understanding of local, state and federal guidelines for emergency response.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to prepare plans and procedures to respond to emergency scenarios.
Co-Director, Executive Producer, Artistic Director
Folk, Rhythm and Life Festival
10.1998 - 12.2023
- The Festival of Folk, Rhythm, and Life (FRL) is an inclusive, innovative and sustainable biennial three-day outdoor music, arts and lifestyle camping festival, that aims to raise $100K every festival for selected FRL beneficiaries. As a family operated philanthropic enterprise, three brothers assume management positions for the overarching direction of the festival. This includes its viability and sustainability, and its focus on its and vision mission statement, which is to initiate developments, and develop initiatives in the environment, community, and the arts.
- Held in the heart of a remote national park in Victoria's Northeast, the program features more than 180 high caliber live musical acts and performance artists, with a full content for children and families. FRL features four main stages, lifestyle and healing villages, films, comedy, workshops, markets and food stalls, plus two bars.
- Over the last 26 years, FRL has fostered thousands of emerging artists, and facilitated them to thousands of people who love to enjoy quality high art and music in beautiful surroundings; as patrons, artists, volunteers, staff, and crew. Typically, FRL hosts over 4000 people and is supported by the efforts of more than 400 volunteers, and is a launch pad for a myriad of emerging and developing artists and is a key event for important Australian touring artists, and their avid fans, and has kept a loyal core crew of 'FRLians' since 1999
- Co-Director As Co Director with two others, I determine and ensure the sustainability, viability, and success of the festival. Together, we have created, and sustained an internationally renowned and world leading Festival
- I also sit as the Artistic Director, and Operations Manager
- We have achieved this through a holistic process of soulfully identifying and solving problems, creating original procedures, using guidelines, guidance and advice, and the engagement and application of professional and technical knowledge and prowess, acquired through 25 years of experience in the field
- All budgets for every department are built and managed using projections from previous events, the availability of all goods and services, and the volume of tickets sales
- All donations are subject to change, however $100,000 is deemed to be divided into support for organisations that align with our mission statement
- Executive Producer/Artistic Director Duties include: Curating and programming and all production, music, performance art, audio and visual content
- Development and management of all finances and budgeting, and timelines
- Maintain and develop all key relationships with artists and production Hiring and managing of all key staff and crew, including Production Companies, Production Managers, Stage Managers, Artist Liaise, Artist Management. All relevant contract management. All relevant insurance management. Operations Manager Duties include Engaging and managing all logistical, and operational aspects of the event including administration, logistics, operations, layouts, timelines, budgets, amenities, signage, lighting, resource management, waste management, human resource management, permits and compliance
- Executive management of Site Services including Emergency Management, Compliance, Traffic Management, Volunteer Management, Artist Management, Liaise with key partners, internal and external stakeholders
- Media Manager Management of media and marketing including Facebook, website, ticketing, promotions, merchandising, and branding.
- Fostered an inclusive environment that valued diversity of thought, experience, and background among team members.
- Streamlined operations for increased efficiency by identifying areas of improvement and implementing necessary changes.
Site and Operations Manager
Festival 23
10.2019 - 03.2023
- Festival 23 is a three-day boutique festival for 1500 patrons
- An hour from Melbourne in a unique setting where camping festival meets luxury resort and a curated program of music, arts, and lifestyle activities
- Site and Operation Manager I adapted my experience and skills set to an indoor/outdoor setting
- Regular communications and liaise with community, landowner, Local Council, venue, directors, accounts manager Wrote, and had approved all planning, and compliance Hired and managed site and operations crew Booked and managed all goods and services, and agencies, including production, crews, security, medical, food stalls, market stalls, traffic management, Managed all budgets Assumed the position of Event Commander Reported to Festival Director, Producer, and Artistic Director Reconciled all budgets, invoices, and wages
- Supervised operations staff and kept employees compliant with company policies and procedures.
- Empowered employees to take ownership of their responsibilities, leading to increased accountability and improved performance outcomes.
- Developed and maintained relationships with external vendors and suppliers.
Public Safety Officer
April Sun
04.2021 - 05.2021
- April Sun was a series of live show events at the St Kilda precinct over three weeks, attracting between 1500-3000 patrons per night
- I was responsible for the coordination of the emergency services' communications onsite, facilitating all EM meetings held on a 6-hourly basis, and observing and reporting all and any live safety issues onsite and calling into action all emergency service and site and operation requests as required
- After completion of regular checklists, final reports made and submitted within two weeks of final event
- Working collaboratively within emergency management department, successfully delivering 10 safe shows across three weeks
- Have been providing this service to festivals and events in Victoria since 2007, and overseas in 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017
- Festivals include: Folk Rhythm and Life Festival, Rainbow Serpent Music Arts and Lifestyle Festival, Knotfest Melbourne, Good Things Festival, Pitch Music and Arts Festival, Beyond the Valley, Chi Wah Wah Town, Off-Grid Living Festival, Maitreya Festival, Let Them Eat Cake, White Night Melbourne, Inner Varnika, Earthdance, Festival 23, Panacea Festival
Public Safety Officer
Rainbow Serpent Festival
01.2007 - 03.2019
- Rainbow Serpent Festival (RSF) is a five-day music, arts and lifestyle festival that attracts around 20,000 people and is held in Victoria's Western District
- RSF is renowned, world-class outdoor event that hosts over 1500 artists
- Since 2007, I have held a pivotal role in contributing to the development and implementation of RSF's emergency management, and risk management plans, including safety and security management, policy and procedures, occupational health, and safety standards, as well as closely liaising with local government and emergency control services
- Work within the Emergency Control management team, reporting to the Event Commander and Site Manager, working alongside Police, Fire, First Aid, Security, Site Manager, Chief Warden, Local Council, Operations Manager, Volunteer Manager
- Work within and report to different departments of festival management including Emergency Management, Production, Site, Volunteers, Info, Markets
- Accountable for the management, development, and implementation of the RSF Emergency Plan
- Hold a pivotal role in key emergency organisation and local council relationships
- Liaise with Local Council, and emergency services prior to festival commencement including Police, Fire, Security, and First Aid
- Oversee safe work practices and procedures for Site Management, Volunteer Management, Traffic Management, Logistics, and Operations
- Hold a pivotal role in ensuring all punters, volunteers, and staff members' safety and well-being is upheld
- Uphold Part 11, Section 1105 of the Building Regulations Act 2006, namely Place of Public Entertainment, Conditions of Use
- Exemplary leadership working within and reporting to a team of executive emergency control management, as well as other festival management groups
- Powerful, and clear communication and negotiation skills
- Highly developed interpersonal skills, ability to think and act clearly and calmly under stressful, high-pressure conditions
- Development and execution of emergency control procedures
- Identification, prevention and management of emergencies, risks and hazards
- Production, implementation and execution of Festival Risk Management Plan, and Emergency Management Plan
- Implementation, production and management of remote safety satellite hubs in campgrounds for punters
- Effective management of team of volunteers for safety satellite hubs
- Effective and clear communication with large crowds
Education
Certificate IV Workplace, Health And Safety
Techskill, QLD04.2024
Diploma, Advanced Diploma - Event Management
Swinburne University of Technology (SUT)
Prahran, VIC03.2011
Certificate IV Training and Assessing - Education
Complex Training Academy
West Melbourne, VIC02.2011
Certificate III Security and Crowd Control -
ISTA
Melbourne, VIC06.2009
Public Entertainment Safety Officer - Safety Management
Metropolitan Fire And Emergency Services Board
Burnley, VIC01.2008
Skills
- Ability to Work in Team
- Ability to Work Under Pressure
- Ability to Multitask
- Effective Communication
- Event Organization
- Meeting Deadlines
- Computer Skills
- Digital Media
- Incident Investigation
- Implementing policies
- Safety program development
- Hazard Identification
- Staff Training
- Incident Reporting
- Safety audits
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Safety inspection
- Risk Identification
- Training Program Development
- Incident Response
- Regulations and compliance
- Report Preparation
- Compliance Management
- Site assessment
- Occupational health management
- Developing training programs
Languages
English
Personal Information
- Place of Birth: Melbourne
- Date of Birth: 07/31/71
- Nationality: Australian
- Driving License: 046265712
References
References available upon request
Hobbies and Interests
- Avid musician, classically trained pianist. I also play bass guitar, and percussion, as well as electronic synthesisers, drum machines and keyboards.
- I love all good music - live is my favourite form
- I enjoy being in nature, AFL, cricket, and mathematics
- I am especially fond of my 13yo cat
Timeline
Safety Manager
Knotfest Melbourne
01.2023 - 04.2024
Event Commander / Chief Warden
Chi Wah Wah Town
02.2022 - 02.2024
Public Safety Officer
April Sun
04.2021 - 05.2021
Site and Operations Manager
Festival 23
10.2019 - 03.2023
Public Safety Officer
Pitch Music and Arts Festival
03.2016 - 03.2024
Public Safety Officer
Rainbow Serpent Festival
01.2007 - 03.2019
Co-Director, Executive Producer, Artistic Director
Folk, Rhythm and Life Festival
10.1998 - 12.2023
Certificate IV Workplace, Health And Safety
Diploma, Advanced Diploma - Event Management
Swinburne University of Technology (SUT)
Certificate IV Training and Assessing - Education
Complex Training Academy
Certificate III Security and Crowd Control -
ISTA
Public Entertainment Safety Officer - Safety Management
Metropolitan Fire And Emergency Services Board
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