VICSES Board and Executive overview
Our Board and Executive
Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) is governed by a Board of Directors accountable to the Victorian Minister for Emergency Services, and is run by the Executive Management Team.
After VICSES was established as a Statutory Authority on 1 November 2005, a Board was appointed to govern the organisation. The Board meets monthly and reports directly to the Minister for Emergency Services.
Between them, the Board members possess a wealth of experience in the emergency services, finance and other business industries.
Our Executive
Rob Purcell
Chief Executive Officer
Rob was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in March 2025, bringing with him over 35 years of experience in the emergency management sector and a passion for volunteerism. This includes key leadership positions at Metropolitan Fire Brigade (now known as Fire Rescue Victoria), Airservices Australia, and the Royal Children’s Hospital, as well as volunteer roles as part of local community groups and not-for-profit organisations.
Rob is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and a member of the Institute of Fire Engineers and a fellow of Leadership Victoria.
Kate White
Executive Director Community and Corporate Services
Kate joined VICSES in 2011, and has extensive experience in emergency and crisis management, communications, asset management, governance, finance and banking across the public and corporate sectors.
Kate is passionate about delivering improved public safety outcomes, building resilience and promoting innovative practices; driving sustainable and well governed solutions that are inclusive and aligned with the needs of the diverse and dispersed communities, workforce and stakeholders at VICSES.
Kate currently leads the Community and Communications, Finance, Payroll, Strategy, Performance and Risk, Infrastructure and Property, and Assets portfolios.
Alistair Drayton
Acting Chief Officer Operations
Alistair was appointed as Acting Chief Officer Operations (COO) in February 2025.
With over three decades of experience in emergency management, Alistair brings extensive operational expertise, leadership, and commitment to public safety.
A long-standing member of the Country Fire Authority for more than 35 years, Alistair has served in both volunteer and staff capacities. He has over 25 years of experience in incident management and is an accredited Incident Controller, Regional Controller, and State Response Controller. Alistair has led responses during some of Victoria’s most significant emergencies in addtion to international deployments.
Debbie Mann
Executive Director People, Safety and Wellbeing
Debbie Mann joined VICSES as Executive Director People, Safety and Wellbeing in August 2024, bringing more than 20 years’ experience in people and culture leadership across health, pharmacy, and publishing sectors.
Holding a Master of Management, Debbie is passionate about building organisational capability through a focus on developing and enabling leaders to meet current and future needs. A trusted, collaborative, and versatile leader, experienced in strategic advisory, business partnering, workplace relations, cultural transformation, change management and service operations.
Silvia Silverii
Chief Information Officer
Silvia Silverii joined VICSES as Chief Information Officer (CIO) in July 2018, bringing more than 20 years’ experience in Information Technology and a wealth of experience and skills in optimising the use of data and information flow for organisations, here and internationally.
In 2019, Silvia developed, and is now delivering, an Information Services Strategy which supports the corporate strategy, and in-turn underpins an improved volunteer experience
Our Board
Jasmine Doak
Board Chair
Jasmine Doak joined the VICSES Board in February 2023 and was appointed as Board Chair in May 2024, and is also the Chair of the People, Culture and Remuneration Committee.
Jasmine Doak has had more than 25 years’ experience leading legal and human resource functions across various industries within both public and private sectors.
A passionate, inspired, and dynamic leader, Jasmine is well-regarded for her approach to driving organisational change and transformation, building high-performing teams, and supporting inclusive cultures to thrive.
A practising lawyer, human resources professional, and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Jasmine’s career spans leading organisations, including senior executive positions at Minter Ellison, Mazda Australia, Linfox, AGL, Orica, and Coles Group.
Jasmine is a general board member of the Victorian Managed Insurance Agency (VMIA) and Chair of the Remuneration and Capability Committee. Previously, Jasmine has also served as a board member of the National Safety Council of Australia Foundation and also as President of the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board.
Committed to living with connection and purpose, Jasmine is regularly engaged as a speaker and storyteller on the topics of people, culture, transformation, gender equity, leadership, and engagement.
Casey Nunn ASM
Casey Nunn ASM joined the VICSES Board in February 2020, and was appointed Deputy Chair in May 2024.
Casey has extensive experience in emergency services, having served as a volunteer with Ambulance Victoria for over 18 years and the Country Fire Authority as an operational support volunteer for 13 years. She was awarded an Ambulance Service Medal in the 2011 Australia Day Honours.
In 2012, Casey was awarded an Emergency Services Foundation (ESF) Scholarship and travelled throughout the United States and Canada studying recruiting, retaining and leading volunteers.
Casey is a former Hume Young Citizen of the Year and a Youth Parliament Participant. In 2012, Casey was elected to Hume City Council and served as Mayor from 2013 - 2014. Casey serves as a board member of the Salvation Army 3064 Advisory Board and is also a Trustee Director for Vision Super.
Casey is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2019.
Dr. Bernadette Northeast
B.Sci (Hons), PhD, GAICD
Bernadette has been a VICSES volunteer with the Warrnambool Unit since 2002. Holding a number of leadership, training, and operational roles; she has qualifications in almost all of the VICSES response areas.
Bernadette is passionate about community and volunteerism, and her contribution to community development and safety has been recognised a number of times, including a Royal Humane Society bravery commendation for her role in an ocean rescue event; 2017 Warrnambool City Council Australia Day Citizen of the Year, and 2019 Rotary International Peace Award.
Bernadette brings strong governance, risk and strategic planning background from 25 years of experience on private and public sector Boards. She is currently the Deputy Chair of the Victorian Fisheries Authority, Deputy Chair South West Healthcare, Board Director PrimeSafe and Chair Wimmera & South West Family Violence Partnership.
Jane Foley
Jane was appointed to the VICSES Board in September 2021.Jane brings extensive corporate governance, strategy, risk, organisation improvement and change management experience. She has worked across a diverse range of industry sectors including superannuation, professional services, government, education and international aid.
She has held diverse board and committee governance roles in commercial and not-for-profit organisations and is currently a Board member of Box Hill Institute and Chair of its Education Quality Committee.
Her qualifications include a Master of Arts (International Relations) and GAICD.
Noel Clement OAM
Noel joined the VICSES Board in October 2023.
Noel has over 30 years’ experience in the community sector, working across a diverse range of social causes, with a particular depth of experience in emergency management and migration (asylum seekers and refugees).
He spent 20 years in senior leadership roles at Australian Red Cross, most recently as Director of Australian Programs where he was responsible for all programs and for state/ territory operations across the country.
Noel has worked on emergency management issues from a local to global level. His experience encompasses the full spectrum of preparedness, response, and recovery programs, and he has been particularly active in calls for a greater investment in disaster risk reduction and community preparedness.
He has been involved in dozens of response and recovery initiatives for major emergencies over the last two decades, including the Bali Bombings (2002), Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004), Black Saturday Bushfires (2009), Victorian Bushfires (2021), and a large number of other significant events.
Noel is the current Chair of Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia, is a member of the Social Impact Hub’s Professional Impact Network, and has been undertaking a range of other work in the human services sector ranging from mentoring, teaching, and consultancy projects.
A critical thinker, Noel looks to unpack organisational and community issues to shape strategic and tactical responses. He has substantial experience in building effective relationships and collaborative partnerships across public, private, philanthropic, and not-for-profit sectors.
Noel is a qualified Social Worker (PIT 1988) and holds a Masters in Social Policy (RMIT 2000).
Shikha Gupta
Gabrielle Castree
Gabrielle joined the VICSES Board in July 2025.
Gabrielle brings over 30 years’ experience navigating complex environments, delivering strategic insights, and providing robust governance oversight. A specialist in Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC), she has worked across diverse portfolios including environment, health, education, and primary industries, in both government and professional services sectors. Gabrielle currently serves on the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee of Cancer Council Victoria.
Gabrielle is passionate about empowering communities to strengthen their capacity to plan for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. Gabrielle has held various volunteer roles and is currently a volunteer member with VICSES Bellarine.