A teacher by first profession, Christine spent her teacher career working in the public school system in the USA where she developed lifelong experiences teaching in the Detroit and Toledo public schools. This early career has always been the foundation of Christine’s passion for education, building capacity and capability of people and mentoring the next generation of emergency management professionals. She has taught and instructed across all three levels of education.
Christine has worked in emergency management (EM) at the local, state and federal levels of government. Christine worked in one of the highest bushfire risk local governments in Australia, the City of Armadale, developing their Bushfire Risk Management Plan and other emergency management arrangements.
Christine worked in learning and development at the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) as part of the SEMC team developing the state exercise. A COVID interrupted project that delivered enduring training and tools for the EM sector in WA, Christine developed online learning processes to support the building of capability in organisations to exercise their capacity in emergencies.
As an Assistant Director at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Christine helped establish NEMAs early footprint in WA, with extensive involvement in the Kimberley Flood Recovery operations. Over the 2023-24 higher risk weather season, Christine was Team Leader for the Crisis Coordination Team in the National Situation Room, Canberra. On a monthly rotational basis over the 6 month season, Christine was deployed to Canberra to lead the team delivering on the federal government’s remit to support local and state government, and communities, during disasters. Christine was in the team leader role during all 4 major cyclones to impact Australia during this period.
Christine is part of the on-call roster with international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organisation, Samaritan’s Purse. In this role Christine is part of the International Disaster Relief Unit, proving aid and support following major international disasters. In 2025 Christine has deployed to Syria following the regime change, and Myanmar for earthquake relief and recovery.
Christine holds a range of qualifications in teaching, training and assessment, government, compliance and emergency management.
