Phil Garrigan begins new role as NFCC Chair

Phil Garrigan OBE KFSM starts his tenure as Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) today (Tuesday 01 April) for an initial two-year term. He takes over from Mark Hardingham, whose four-year term as Chair came to an end on 31 March. Prior to taking up the position, Phil Garrigan spent 35 years at Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, where he put the public at the heart of the FRS. He has vowed to build on that legacy at NFCC.

Phil was elected to the position of Chair by NFCC Members in September and has now stepped down from the post of Chief Fire Officer for Merseyside. In his new role, Phil will take responsibility for providing professional advice to Government, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Minister with responsibility for the fire and rescue service. He will also work closely with His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), national employers and other national and international fire service bodies.

Two new Vice-Chairs – Kathryn Billing (CFO, Cornwall FRS) and Rick Hylton (CFO, Essex County FRS) – will also take up their positions alongside Phil. They will serve as Vice-Chairs alongside their roles as Chief Fire Officers.

National Fire Chiefs Council Chair, Phil Garrigan OBE KFSM, said:

“It is an honour to take on the role of Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council and to build on the legacy that Mark Hardingham leaves as he starts his well-earned retirement. Mark has led the sector through some challenging times over the last four years and shown exceptional leadership and dedication throughout – I am in no doubt about the size of the shoes I am stepping into.

“Throughout my career, I have been driven by a deep commitment to public service. Having worked closely with some of the most vulnerable and deprived communities in the UK, I have continually strived to put those communities at the heart of everything we do in the fire and rescue service. That is something I want to emulate at a national level.

“Firefighters hold a unique position of trust and respect within our society, and it is a privilege to lead and support fire and rescue services across the country. Whether operational or non-operational, every member of those services plays a crucial role in keeping people safe, and it is humbling to witness their bravery and dedication every day.

“Our sector faces significant challenges ahead, particularly as we grapple with increasing risk, emerging threats associated with climate changes and a growing gap between demand and resource. But I am ready to lead, ensuring that fire and rescue services are fit for the future. I will be the strongest advocate for this sector – championing our people, our professionalism and our ability to protect communities when they need us most.”

Phil Garrigan OBE KFSM

Phil Garrigan joined Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service in 1990, serving as Chief Fire Officer since 2017 and stepping down last month ahead of his new role. He also recently served as NFCC Vice-Chair and as NFCC’s Lead for Children and Young People. He was awarded the King’s Fire Service Medal (KFSM) in the 2024 New Year Honours.

Kathryn Billing

Kathryn joined Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service as a retained/on-call firefighter in January 2000. Serving in several roles across the service, Kathryn was appointed Chief Fire Officer in May 2021. Until 2024, she was the NFCC lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, a Director for Women in the Fire Service and an Ambassador for the new UK FirePride LGBTQI+ group.

Rick Hylton

Rick started his fire service career with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service in 1997. He joined Essex County Fire and Rescue Service in 2019 as Deputy Chief Fire Officer and became Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive for the Service in January 2022. He led the Home Safety Committee from 2015 and in 2023, became the NFCC Prevention Committee Chair.

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