"Do something that matters to you, grab opportunities, and take a few risks!"

Dawn Whittaker KFSM, former Chief Fire Officer at East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, tells us about her career and what she would tell her younger self.

I have been fortunate to have had a very varied career, working in the private, public and third sector and the opportunity to take on a wide range of roles, which were all really rewarding and shaped the leader I became.

Growing up in a rural farming community in South Wales was wonderful, I had space and freedom, but not a great deal of exposure to career options, so I went with something that I knew I could do and enjoyed and studied Hotel and Catering. After four years of study this led me into a graduate opportunity with the John Lewis Partnership.

As I reflect, I moved from a close knit rural community into a larger and more diverse commercial community. JLP was unique, it was a partnership and as a partner in the organisation, at that time, you had a real say in how things were done. I was a “branch councillor” and became actively involved in the internal democracy, as I cared deeply about the people I worked with and the quality of service we offered. Something I carried with me into public service later in my career.

My next role saw me move into corporate role at a County Council, which gave me practical insight and understanding of how the public sector and political democracy worked. It was here that I took the opportunity to take a six month secondment into the Fire and Rescue Service. Little did I know that this would open the door to a 20 year career in the service and the privilege and challenge of leading an organisation as a Chief Fire Officer. Having recently retired I now look back on a rewarding and challenging career as a public service leader but, the journey continues. I am now passing on the experience and the skills I have developed to other organisations particularly in the charity sector and wherever I can, support aspirant leaders of the future.

So, what would I say to the 20-year-old woman who was just leaving Colchester Institute after 20 years of education? I would say “be true to yourself. Choose something that matters to you, as “community” has mattered to me. Find a vocation and employers that strive to make a difference and give you the opportunity to shine.

The second piece of advice would be, grab opportunities and don’t be afraid of doing something different or taking different paths. If I hadn’t taken the secondment earlier in my career or taken the chance more recently to support a charitable organisation, I may not have become a Chief Fire Officer or now an experienced Board member in the third sector.

And finally, don’t be afraid to take a risk or two and be true to yourself and your values. In my career I haven’t always taken the path of least resistance especially if I firmly believed it was the right thing to do. Not always easy or popular but I have been told by those that may have disagreed with me that they respected the decisions I made based on the fact it was the right thing to do.

So, in summary, I would say to my younger self, do something that matters to you, grab opportunities and take a few (calculated) risks. Above all enjoy the journey and the wonderful people you come across along the way.

Throughout March, Faerfield are marking Women's History Month by sharing short reflections from women leaders.

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