Phil Garrigan OBE KFSM set to become next chair of NFCC

Photograph: Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service

All serving UK chief fire officers – and those who had served as a chief fire officer within the last two years – were eligible to stand for the prestigious role. Three “very capable” candidates put themselves forward, with the voting taking place across all NFCC individual members during September.

The outcome of the election process was duly confirmed by the NFCC’s Board of Trustees at the meeting held on Friday 4 October. Phil Garrigan will take the reins from Mark Hardingham in April next year.

Garrigan joined the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service in 1990 and, through time, has served at a variety of Community Fire Stations, duly working in some of Merseyside’s most vulnerable and deprived communities.

He has always brought a strong community focus to the Fire and Rescue Service, recognising the unique position of trust and respect in which it’s held.

National strategic advisor

Garrigan is the current vice-chair of the NFCC and the national lead for the Fire and Rescue Service in respect of children and young people. He’s also a member of the dedicated Operations Co-ordination Committee as well as a national strategic advisor who oversees national events recently (one of them being the UK’s response to COVID-19).

As chief fire officer (a role which he began in 2017), Garrigan has instilled a performance management methodology designed to drive continuous improvement. He has revised the governance of the Fire and Rescue Service and introduced a People Plan, which itself reflects Garrigan’s own inclusive management style, involving all sections of the organisation in the decision-making process.

On 23 April this year, Garrigan received the King’s Fire Service Medal from The Princess Royal during an investiture ceremony held at Windsor Castle.