NZFBI Council
Below are the current members of the NZFBI Council:
Allen Bestwick
PresidentAllen is Training Officer for Devonport Volunteer Brigade, and National Operations Manager of AFS Total Fire Protection Ltd.
John Stevenson
Vice PresidentWith a wealth of experience in the fire industry, Jon is currently a Qualified Fire Alarm Technician, Qualified Sprinkler Technician, Qualified Vesda Design Engineer, and Fire Services Co-ordinator at SkyCity.
Michael Dombroski
Council MemberMichael Dombroski joined the Fire Service in 1987 as a volunteer in Inglewood, Taranaki. He also served with the Waitara and Levin brigade’s before becoming a career firefighter following a 6 year career in the NZ Police. He is currently serving as a Senior Station Officer in the Wellington Fire area, based at Newtown. Michael has been extensively involved in training during his career and has trained career and volunteer recruits, as well as being a specialist pump operator instructor. He was awarded the 2010 Firefighters’ Scholarship and traveled to Germany and USA where he was attached to departments to study aerial deployment and a number of other secondary subjects. He holds the Institution of Fire Engineers’ Graduate Diploma and is a Fellow Member of the NZFBI.
Sam Bennett
Council MemberSam joined the Council in November 2012. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Council, having earned his NZFBI Fellow Diploma as well as a Diploma in Fire and Rescue Services. He served 26 years with the New Zealand Fire Service before retiring in 2012 and now works in a full time role as Training Manager with M&O Pacific Ltd. Sam serves on the boards of Taranaki Chamber of Commerce and Taranaki Community Emergency Response Team. He is also a Justice of the Peace for New Zealand and Marriage and Funeral Celebrant. He has two adult children with his wife Donna.
Ian Wellings
Immediate Past PresidentIan joined the Tokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade in !991, was promoted to CFO in 2000, and stepped down to SSO in 2011. He is currently employed as Emergency Manager for the South Waikato District Council. He was born in the UK, where he undertook an engineering apprenticeship at Rolls Royce Mtrs, Shrewsbury. He came to New Zealand 1989 as a fitter / turner at Waratah NZ Ltd, and left the company as the IT manager. He is married with three children and three grandchildren, and enjoys fishing and riding his Triumph motorcycle.