The BBCA is an independent, not-for-profit organisation translating research into tangible action to reduce climate and disaster risk for households, communities, governments and industry.

Our members are independent bushfire resilience experts working to solve complex disaster risk problems with innovative adaption tools.

Our Expert Advisory Board

CEO AND FOUNDER

KATE COTTER

Kate Cotter is the CEO and founder of the BBCA. She established the organisation to develop collaboration between experts, industry, communities and governments to motivate and reward disaster and climate adaptation.

CIVIL & FIRE SAFETY ENGINEER

DR IAN BENNETTS

Ian is a structural and fire safety engineer who has contributed to bushfire building standards and is a former member of Emergency Management Victoria’s Expert Panel.

FIRE SAFETY ENGINEER & ABCB BOARD MEMBER

STEPHEN KIP

Stephen is a fire safety engineer and risk management expert. He is a board member of the Australian Building Codes Board, Chair of the BBCA Expert Panel and a former member of Emergency Management Victoria’s Expert Panel.

FORMER EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMISSIONER VICTORIA

CRAIG LAPSLEY

Craig is the former Victorian Emergency Services Commissioner and an expert on community-wide resilience, re-building and emergency planning. Craig has held senior operational fire-fighting positions.

EMERGENCY RISK MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT & FIREFIGHTER

JOHN MEALIA

John is an experienced risk, firefighting and emergency management specialist in fire operations, fire safety & protection, building and dangerous goods risk assessments and compliance, risk and fire engineering.

BUSHFIRE, CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENT & EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

KYLIE STEEL

Kylie specialises in climate change, bushfire science and emergency management. Kylie is an experienced government agency board member and consultant for disaster and climate risk mitigation.

RESEARCH SCIENTIST AND DIRECTOR OF FIRE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AUSTRALIA

VINCE DOWLING

Vince is a Research Scientist and Director of Fire Science and Technology Australia, with 40 years’ experience in material flammability. He has participated in highly successful projects at the University of Sydney, CSIRO, VU, QUT, the Nanjing University of Science and Technology in China and is a member of several fire committees, including Standards Australia and ISO.

BUSHFIRE ARCHITECT, INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER, BUSHFIRE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

DR IAN WEIR

Ian is a registered practising architect specialising in designing for bushfire prone, bio-diverse landscapes. He is the Head of Landscape Architecture at the Queensland University of Technology.

"We’ve been working with the BBCA team over the last two years to input into the development of the Bushfire Resilience Star Rating system and we’re excited about its potential to improve understanding of bushfire risk, and to incentivise and support people to take actions to reduce and mitigate these risks."

IAG Executive Manager Natural Perils, Mark Leplastrier

"After decades of inquiries and recommendations we are finally able to apply Australian science and technology to deliver practical action. This is a break-through moment and an exciting world-first project that will help protect Australian lives and properties."

Former Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner, Craig Lapsley

"The introduction of the Bushfire Resilience Star Rating system represents a significant step in addressing the bushfire resilience of Australian homes and communities. It empowers homeowners to take practical action, based on scientific evidence, including the careful selection of materials. Through our support of the Star Rating system, we hope to help strengthen our communities for the future.”

BlueScope Sustainability Manager, Philippa Stone

“We recognise the critical role of preparing property for bushfires to avoid property loss while giving homeowners, business owners, farmers and communities clear practical actions to help them to prepare for and strengthen their resilience to bushfires. We are proud to support this initiative, which provides Australians a user-friendly way of understanding how to prepare for a bushfire.”

NAB Executive Personal Banking, Rachel Slade

"We can’t prevent natural hazards from occurring so reducing our vulnerability to those hazards is central to limiting the impact they can cause. The Star Rating self-assessment app will help put knowledge in the hands of all Australians to guide their risk reduction decisions."