Chief Executive SAFECOM

  David Place, Chief Executive (SAFECOM)

David Place is the Chief Executive of the SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM).  SAFECOM is the agency responsible for supporting the Country Fire Service (CFS), Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) and the State Emergency Service (SES), undertaking strategic policy planning, governance and resource allocation for the overall fire and emergency services sector.  The sector has 1,200 employees and has responsibility for around 17,000 volunteers.

David is the presiding member of the eight-member SAFECOM Board which comprises the Chief Officers of each agency, representatives of the volunteer associations and government and business leaders.

The Chief Executive is Chairperson of the Emergency Services Leadership Council and National Chair of the Remote Indigenous Communities Advisory Committee - a committee that is leading policy for remote Indigenous communities in terms of emergency management. 

David is one of two Australian Emergency Management Committee (AEMC) members representing South Australia on the national Emergency Management Committee (EMC).

Following his appointment as Chief Officer of the SES in 2004, David held the dual positions of Chief Executive of SAFECOM and Chief Officer of the SES.

Prior to these roles, David was a senior executive for the SA Ambulance Service (SAAS), involved in Regional Operations, Communications and other corporate services.

David commenced with SAAS in 1984 and spent ten years as a frontline Ambulance Officer prior to being promoted through the operational ranks.  David's career with SAAS spanned twenty years.