Dr. Matthew Ellis is the Program Chair of Business Continuity Management and Integrated Emergency Management at Rabdan Academy. His teaching and research are driven by decades of practical application in the United States and Australia where he held various roles in emergency services, response and emergency management with government, and private industry.
From 1993 to 2015, Dr Ellis worked as an emergency responder in Australia and the United States where he held various roles and qualification. His vocational qualifications and experience included structural and wildland firefighting, lifeguard/lifesaver, Emergency Medical Technician/ Paramedic, Hazardous Materials Technician, Cargo Tank Truck Specialist, and rescue specialist. In 1998, Dr Ellis returned to Australia where he continued to work in emergency services while pursuing formal academic studies in emergency management.
While undertaking further emergency management academic studies, in 2008 Dr Ellis was employed by the City of Sydney to incorporate emergency management into the organisation as part of a department restructure. In 2012, Dr Ellis undertook PhD studies through the University of Sydney faculty of science. While undertaking these studies he completed various contract roles for the University of Sydney, Court Services Victoria, and the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services where he integrated contemporary practices and raised the profile of emergency management. Expanding on his initial research Dr Ellis’ PhD included practitioners across Australia using human capital theory to better understand the role as a policy in practice thesis rather than a purely theoretic program of study.
Qualifications EDUCATIONAL
• PhD from The University of Sydney
• MComDev with a concentration in Emergency Management from Southern Cross University
• BSc with a concentration in Geography (Honours 1)
• BSocSc with a concentration in Emergency Management from Charles Sturt University
VOCATIONAL
• Firefighter 1 from the Connecticut Fire Academy
• Hazmat Technician/ Specialist from the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management
• EMT/Paramedic in New Jersey/ Australia
• Rescue Specialist in Swiftwater, Surf, Ice, Dive, Confined Space, Vertical Angle, Building Collapse, Vehicle Extrication, Rope
• Emergency Management Governance
• The intersection of Human Capital and the Emergency Manager (knowledge: education and experience)
• The evolution and professionalisation of Emergency Management and the Emergency Manager
PUBLICATIONS
• Ellis, M. (2014). Navigating the New Normal? Developing a Unique Independent Position. In International Association of Emergency Managers/ Bulletin Vol.31. No. 10 October 2014
• Ellis, M. (2015). A Global Student Council & a New Higher Education Database
• Ellis, M. (2015). IAEM- Global Student Council looks to the future. IAEM Bulletin 2015
• Surf Lifesaving New South Wales (2002/3). Guide to safer surf clubs’ for Surf Lifesavers (Contributor)
• IAEM-USA (2014). Membership Value Analysis FINAL 28 Feb 2014. (Analysis Team lead)
CONFERENCES
• Presenter: Australian Institute of Geographers (AIG). (2015). ‘The Australian emergency manager: An analysis of qualification, training, knowledge, competence and confidence.’ Presented at the Australian National University.
• Presenter: World Conference on Disaster Management (WCDM). (2014). ‘The evolution of the Emergency Manager.’ Presented in Toronto.
• Presenter: The Compass Inquiry Day (STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). (2013). Emergency Management: The practical application of theory in disaster science.’ Presented at the University of Sydney.
TRAINING PROGRAMS
• Surf Lifesaving New South Wales. (2002/3). Certificate IV in OH&S for Surf Life Saving Clubs – RTO (Technical team)
