Stephen Smith AFSM is the Commissioner of Queensland Fire Department, an organisation of approximately 34,000 staff & volunteers. Stephen started his firefighting career in Queensland in 1994 and has served in regional and state roles in a variety of specialist areas before taking on the role of Commissioner in October 2023.
He has extensive knowledge, skills and experience in emergency and crisis management, both domestically and internationally, with a particular interest in leadership and capability development including organisational level change, leadership influence, and the human factors that influence organisational behaviour.
In 2011 Stephen was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal for distinguished service and success in technical rescue with outstanding commitment and drive in improving the profile and capability of the Queensland Urban Search and Rescue Taskforce.

Drawing on his experience leading through some of Queensland’s most complex and high-pressure challenges, Stephen offers practical insights on making critical decisions when the path forward is unclear and the stakes are high — lessons that resonate with leaders navigating uncertainty in any sector.