A NEW chief fire officer (CFO) and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority has been named.

Louise Harrison has been appointed after working in policing for over 31 years, most latterly as the Director of Operations for the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC).

Councillor Simon Rouse, the chairman of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority, said: “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Louise Harrison as the new Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service.

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“In a field of high calibre applicants, Louise’s track record of transformational leadership, passion for creating a high-performance culture and commitment to public safety stood out.

“This is an exciting moment for the Service. The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority are very much looking forward to supporting Louise in her leadership of the Fire Service, which plays such a vital role in protecting our communities.”

During her career, Ms Harrison has undertaken a variety of uniformed and specialist roles and has experience in community safety, partnership and multi-agency working.

On her appointment, Ms Harrison said: “I am genuinely excited to be returning to the community I grew up in.

“It means a great deal personally, to be able to continue my commitment to public service here.

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“I am joining a fantastic team and am confident that we can continue to meet the challenges ahead and continue a journey of positive improvement, delivering a quality service to the communities of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.”