Catherine James
Summary
An experienced community engagement professional with a strong background in volunteer leadership, stakeholder collaboration, and program development. Proven ability to design and deliver initiatives that build community resilience, strengthen partnerships, and align with risk-based engagement strategies. Passionate about empowering volunteers and fostering meaningful community connections. A managerial professional with a proven record of streamlining processes and leading teams. Strong analytical skills, collaborative leadership and adaptability and a commitment to achieving results are well-known.
Community Engagement Strategic Program Development
Designed, evaluated, and delivered strategic CE programs, strengthening operational CE capability across seven Area Commands.
Leadership & Team Management
Led and supported volunteers and staff, coordinating activities and developing guidelines, policies, and procedures for consistent, high-quality engagement.
Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration
Built strong relationships with senior volunteers, operational staff, inter-agency partners, and external stakeholders to align CE efforts with best practices and risk reduction strategies.
Research & Continuous Improvement
Applied data-driven insights and sector research to refine initiatives, ensuring alignment with modern risk reduction and community resilience approaches.
Volunteer-Based Service & Risk-Based Engagement
Extensive experience with the RFS volunteer model as a brigade Community Engagement Officer, ensuring CE initiatives empower volunteers and enhance community preparedness.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Acting Manager Community Engagement
NSW Rural Fire Service
02.2025 - Current
- Guided the team in the improved approach and design of Get Ready Weekend, ensuring consistency with Public Awareness Campaign and sector best practice
- Progressed key projects such as collateral procurement tender and delivery of daily operations
- Established relationships with sector counterparts from Queensland, ACT and Victoria
- Drove planning for improved approach to stakeholder engagement, internal communications and volunteer capability development
- Analysed and responded to sector and committee papers and project plans
Community Engagement Coordinator
NSW Rural Fire Service
01.2023 - 01.2025
- Developed robust and collaborative relationships with senior community engagement volunteers across all Area Commands
- Created and maintained collaborative working relationships with Community Risk and Capability staff across all Area Commands and multiple Districts
- Participated in District and Area Command Community Engagement forums, providing tailored support and advice to empower volunteer delivery of community engagement activities as targeted bush fire risk treatments
- Evaluated, developed and delivered updated Community Field Liaison program to 130 volunteers across 7 Area Commands as well as providing the training package to NSW SES and FRNSW
- Developed community engagement activity guidelines to support community program delivery by volunteers
- Participated in inter-agency community engagement working groups to identify best practice and collaborate on capability development for volunteers
- Coordinated and managed large team of volunteers to successfully deliver RFS engagement at Royal Easter Show
- Delivered Community Engagement Facilitator training to volunteers and operational staff, highlighting community engagement as a bush fire risk treatment approach within the RFS
- Improved understanding of community engagement and the broader emergency management sector by participating in ACEFA and AFAC conferences
- Coordinated and supported state-wide training for primary school teachers to deliver Project Firestorm in years 5 and 6
- Improved understanding of NSW RFS and Emergency Management by completing the Operational Leadership and Development program
Research Executive Advisor
Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise, Australian Catholic University
04.2021 - 12.2022
- Managed a small team that provided support to strategic planning and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise
- Researched, analysed and evaluated sector practices and identified and implemented improvements aligned with ACU mission and strategy
- Researched and analysed policy issues and identified updates aligned with best practice
- Evaluated and updated Higher Degree Research Regulations and Guidelines, ensuring compliance with Legislation and consistency with sector best practice
- Prepared high quality written policy proposals and analyses for the DVCRE
- Prepared, maintained, updated and contributed to strategic documents and strategic planning and review of activities of the DVCRE portfolio
- Liaised and negotiated effectively with internal and external high-level stakeholders
- Participated in Research Committees, contributing to analysis and output
- Provided strategic recruitment support to the DVCRE
- Executed projects and activities as required by DVCRE
Portfolio Coordinator
Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise, Australian Catholic University
10.2018 - 03.2021
- Provided executive level support to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research
- Undertook sector and data analysis and identified recommendations for improvement in the Higher Degree Research (HDR) space
- Provided HDR policy and procedural advice to stakeholders
- Coordinated multi-campus training for HDR supervisors
- Contributed to and coordinated the university’s recommendations to Oxford University Press for the development of online training for supervisors
- Reviewed OUP final suite of modules to identify ACU currency requirements and make updates in HTML before embedding into Moodle-based LMS
- Developed, coordinated and delivered multi-campus Orientation for HDR students
- Used participant and stakeholder feedback to create online orientation training content for delivery via a Moodle-based LMS
- Liaised with Human Resources to issue contracts of employment and with migration agents to ensure appropriate visas are obtained
- Executed projects and activities as required by DVCR and PVCR
Acting Research Project Manager
Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise, Australian Catholic University
01.2018 - 09.2018
- Contributed to development of service improvements with the ACU HDR space
- Project Managed the review and development of online supervisor accreditation mechanism
- Supported the Manager, Graduate Research in projects and activities
Research Project Officer
Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise, Australian Catholic University
07.2016 - 12.2017
- Provided high quality customer service in the HDR space
- Coordinated HDR admissions and scholarship assessment processes
- Provided high level support to Research Committees including minute taking
- Contributed to development of service improvements with the ACU HDR space
- Maintained accurate and confidential information
- Executed projects and activities as required by the Manager, Graduate Research
Education
Graduate Certificate - Disaster and Emergency Management
Queensland University of Technology
08-2026
Cert IV - Training and Assessment
Plenty Training Institute
01-2023
Cert II - Public Safety (Firefighting Operations)
NSW RFS
01-2023
Post Graduate Certificate - Primary Education with Modern Foreign Languages (Italian)
Canterbury Christchurch University
01-2009
Bachelor of Psychology with Honours - Psychology
Queen’s University
01-2007
Certificate - American Business Practice
Millsaps College
01-2006
Skills
- Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration
- Leadership
- Research & Continuous Improvement
- Relationship building
- Community Engagement Program Development
- Volunteer-Based Service & Risk-Based Engagement
- Complex Problem-solving
- Verbal and written communication
Professional Development
- Operational Leadership Development Program (OLDP), NSW RFS, 2024
- Mentoring Skills for Leaders, CCE, University of Sydney, 2022
- High Performance and Leadership Workshop (HEW 7-9), Liquid Learning, 2021
- Emerging Leaders and Managers Program (eLAMP), LH Martin Institute, 2018
Awards
NSW RFS Commissioner’s Certificate of Commendation (Individual), 2024
Timeline
Acting Manager Community Engagement
NSW Rural Fire Service
02.2025 - Current
Community Engagement Coordinator
NSW Rural Fire Service
01.2023 - 01.2025
Research Executive Advisor
Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise, Australian Catholic University
04.2021 - 12.2022
Portfolio Coordinator
Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise, Australian Catholic University
10.2018 - 03.2021
Acting Research Project Manager
Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise, Australian Catholic University
01.2018 - 09.2018
Research Project Officer
Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise, Australian Catholic University
07.2016 - 12.2017
Graduate Certificate - Disaster and Emergency Management
Queensland University of Technology
Cert IV - Training and Assessment
Plenty Training Institute
Cert II - Public Safety (Firefighting Operations)
NSW RFS
Post Graduate Certificate - Primary Education with Modern Foreign Languages (Italian)
Canterbury Christchurch University
Bachelor of Psychology with Honours - Psychology
Queen’s University
Certificate - American Business Practice
Millsaps College
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