Profile

Colette is responsible for people, values and culture, leadership and development, operational training, workforce planning, inclusion and diversity, industrial relations and people performance. This role reports into the Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive and is part of significant and visible investment in our people, our operational training, values and culture.  

Colette is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) with 23 years of experience in this field. Fellowship is the highest level of recognition and achievement within the CIPD. She is educated at post-graduate level, is a qualified and nationally accredited mediator, qualified strengths based coach and post graduate qualified executive coach.  

Colette plays an active role in the regional NFCC HR Forum, and has just taken on a national role leading the people policies work stream for the NFCC.  

Prior to joining ECFRS in January 2017, Colette held a variety of HR and Safeguarding roles as a Director, consultant and business partner in the private, public and charity sectors. She has experience of transformational change, leading teams and managing large projects such as Transfers of Undertaking (TUPE), contract mobilisation, introduction of industrial relations, mechanisms, wholesale restructure, harmonisation of terms and conditions, creation of mediation schemes and development of training.  

Colette is the Director of People Services - Assistant Chief Executive for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS).  Within the service Colette is responsible for people, values and culture, leadership and development, operational training, inclusion and diversity, industrial relations, and people performance. 

Alongside her role as Director of People Services, Colette also plays an active part on the NFCC People Programme Board and is the Chairperson of UK Fire Cadets. Prior to joining ECFRS in January 2017, Colette held a variety of HR and Safeguarding roles as a Director, consultant, and business partner in the private, public and charity sectors.  Colette continues to be an accredited mediator and coach. 

She describes herself as being happiest when at home being 'Mum' to two teens, loving dark chocolate and (embarrassingly for the children) is usually first on any available dance floor.