Doug has been involved in human resource management and, for the past 35 years, emergency management in the Gippsland region of Victoria. His experience covers operational, theoretical and training aspects across all dimensions of emergency management practice.

He is passionate about Emergency Management and was recognized in the Australia Day Honours list in 2010 with the award of the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community of Gippsland through a range of ex-service, sporting and local government organisations.