John Roberts is the Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS). He has overall responsibility for leading the organisation, setting its strategic direction, and ensuring that WYFRS delivers its statutory duties safely, effectively and sustainably. This includes accountability for operational service delivery, performance, governance, financial management, and workforce leadership. He works with the Fire and Rescue Authority, Executive Leadership Team and Strategic Leadership Team to ensure the Service remains focused on making West Yorkshire safer and responding effectively to current and emerging risks.
Dave Walton is the Director of Service Delivery at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS). He is responsible for overseeing the delivery of frontline operational services, ensuring that response, preparedness, training and operational standards are effective, consistent and aligned to the Community Risk Management Plan. His role includes providing strategic leadership across operational service delivery, supporting continuous improvement in operational readiness, and ensuring that the Service has the capability, capacity and resilience to respond safely and effectively to current and emerging risks across West Yorkshire.
- Operations Support provides the systems, processes and specialist support that enable frontline crews to operate safely and effectively. Operations Support acts as the link between strategic planning and frontline delivery, ensuring that resources, information and assurance arrangements are in place to support effective response and risk reduction across the Service.
- Response is the frontline operational function responsible for attending emergencies and incidents across West Yorkshire. Response focuses on delivering a safe, effective and timely service to the public, deploying staff and appliances based on risk and demand.
- Fire Protection focuses on reducing risk in the built environment by ensuring that businesses and other non-domestic premises comply with fire safety legislation. The Protection function delivers risk-based inspections, audits, advice and enforcement activity, targeting higher-risk buildings and premises in line with the CRMP.
Nick Smith is the Director of Service Support at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS). He is responsible for managing all Service Support functions, ensuring that our support services operate efficiently to enable effective frontline delivery. He implements and maintains robust operational learning and assurance processes, making sure that lessons learned are embedded throughout the organisation to drive continuous improvement.
Nick leads a range of initiatives designed to promote organisational learning and foster a culture of development and innovation within WYFRS.
- (DDaT) Digital, Data and Technology team is responsible for managing the Service’s IT systems, digital infrastructure and data services. They ensure that technology solutions support operational and organisational needs, maintaining secure and effective communications and information management.
- Logistics functions oversee the provision and maintenance of equipment, vehicles and supplies. This team ensures that operational crews have access to the tools and resources required to deliver a safe and efficient response.
- Estates manages the Service’s buildings and facilities, including fire stations, offices and training centres. Their role is to maintain, repair and develop premises to support operational requirements and provide safe working environments.
- Training delivers learning and development programmes for staff, ensuring operational personnel are competent, prepared and equipped to respond to incidents. They provide specialist courses and ongoing education to maintain high standards across the Service.
- Operational Policy and Learning develops and reviews operational policies, procedures and guidance. It also manages operational learning, ensuring lessons and improvements are identified and embedded to enhance safety and effectiveness across the organisation.
Alison Wood serves as the Director of Finance and Procurement. Alison leads the Service’s financial planning initiatives and procurement strategy, ensuring that WYFRS remains financially robust and able to deliver on its strategic objectives.
- Leads financial planning and the development of procurement strategies that support the organisation’s long-term vision.
- Manages the Service’s budgets and oversees financial performance to ensure the highest standards of stewardship and accountability.
- Oversees procurement processes, ensuring value for money and compliance with all relevant regulations and industry best practices.
- Monitors expenditure closely and takes corrective action where necessary to safeguard the financial health of WYFRS.
Sonia Pawson is the Director of People and Culture at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS). She is responsible for leading the Service’s people strategy, workforce planning and organisational culture, ensuring WYFRS attracts, develops and retains a skilled, inclusive and motivated workforce. Her role includes oversight of areas such as recruitment, learning and development, equality, diversity and inclusion, wellbeing, employee relations and leadership development. She works closely with operational and corporate leaders to ensure people and culture arrangements support effective service delivery, organisational readiness and continuous improvement.
Martin McCarthy is the Director of Corporate Services at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS). He is responsible for leading the Service’s corporate functions and ensuring strong governance, assurance and organisational effectiveness. His role includes oversight of corporate governance, legal and democratic services, strategic development, service improvement, and the Portfolio Management Office (PMO). Through these functions, he supports effective decision-making, delivery of the Service’s programme of change, and continuous improvement aligned to the Community Risk Management Plan. He works closely with the Chief Fire Officer, Executive Leadership Team and Fire and Rescue Authority to ensure WYFRS remains well-governed, transparent and sustainable.