Ms Fiona Macken AFSM commenced her Country Fire Association (CFA) journey in 2007. Since that time, she has served in a range of volunteer and professional roles, attending to over 1,260 fire brigade calls.  

“It wasn’t long until the Black Saturday fires which impacted my local Shire, leading me to discover a love for community safety and engagement, as well as Peer support.”

For four years, Fiona led the Community Based Bushfire Management (CBBM) program, before becoming Manager of the Fire Medical Response (FMR) implementation in 2002, a role she says combines her love of “project management, paramedicine and working with CFA’s amazing volunteers.”

Fiona commenced as Community Safety Coordinator at her brigade in 2015 and became a Lieutenant in 2018. Today, she remains Community Safety Coordinator alongside her roles as 3rd Lieutenant and Instructor and Strike Team Leader (as a volunteer).  

Balancing her CFA commitments with raising a family, Fiona works tirelessly and consistently in her personal, volunteer and work lives.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to experience much of what CFA has to offer, both as a volunteer and a staff member. Wherever I have worked, the people I have met and the experiences I’ve had keep me coming back for more.”

Fiona is currently working with brigade colleagues to reinvigorate the Junior’s Program – of high importance to her as she has “an 11-year-old daughter who is very enthusiastic about CFA!”

The overarching principle of Fiona’s, and of all the CFA’s work, is “achieving better outcomes for those in the community,” which Fiona acknowledges is incredibly rewarding.  

She also acknowledges the inspiration gained from the interactions she has with everyday CFA members, meeting “so many truly inspirational, passionate, humble and dedicated people” along her journey.

Crediting the great leaders in her time in her sector, Fiona says she seeks to emanate their leadership style. Furthermore, acknowledging the overarching success of “building a program that communities all across Victoria are benefiting from, thanks to the amazing FMR brigades,” an experience she cherishes dearly.  

Fiona encourages everyone to pause and take a moment to recognise the great work that CFA volunteers, and others in the community, generously undertake – especially in a volunteer capacity.  

She remarks, “more worthy people should be nominated, if not for themselves, then for the inspiration they provide to others coming up the ranks … I’d love if my story inspired others in the CFA, particularly other women.”

Fiona’s lasting reflections surround care, respect, connection and belonging:

“I believe in learning to truly listen to others … the Peer training I have undertaken has helped me learn how to be a better listener and it’s not an exaggeration to say that this is a skill I use every day of my life.

“Thanks to my brigade membership, I feel truly embedded in my community. Thanks to my professional roles, I feel truly embedded in CFA as an organisation. Thanks to my brigade, I have gained a second family. My service has brought a sense of belonging in so many places and parts of my life and I sometimes wonder whether my life would have been so fulfilling and rewarding if I had never joined CFA.”

Fiona’s Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) was announced in The King’s Birthday 2026 honours list.  

Congratulations, Fiona.