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Eps Director Communications

Communications Director - Harry Whan

Harry’s priorities for the next 12 months are:

Identify areas for improvement across the broad communications portfolio of EPS and in line with the Business/Action Plan

Create a clear transparent information pathway between members and the Board of Directors

Ensure procedures are in place for the regular update of the EPS Website:-

1 Internally at Branch and HQ

2 Externally with the Contractor

Develop a Communications/Marketing Strategy for agreement at the EPS Board and overview implementation by the Communications Officer (to be appointed following agreement at AGM 2010)

In conjunction with the Director of Branches be part of the monthly teleconferences with branch chairs to update on delivery and obtain timely member feedback

Overview the review of corporate branding (if required)

Encourage the submission of articles for the EPS Magazine in a timely manner from EPS Branches

Support other Directors and HQ in the development of EPS as a professional body

Ensure best value for the membership and promote recruitment

Harry’s profile

Harold Whan (Harry) joined the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) in January 1981. Within nine years he had progressed through the ranks of Leading Ambulanceman, Station Officer (Regional Training School), became the first In-Service Training Officer, was promoted into a Senior Manager position as Divisional Officer in charge of East City Division (Belfast). During this time he worked with the National Health Service Training Authority developing National Training Competences for the UK Ambulance Service; was Ambulance Incident Officer at many multiple casualty incidents; obtained national recognition for Ambulance Driving Instructors through the Institute of Advanced Motorists; became the first Paramedic to be trained in Ireland and assisted in the development and introduction of Paramedic Training in Northern Ireland along with the legislative change which was necessary for Paramedics to prescribe and administer medicine to patients.

In 1998, Harry was appointed as a Senior Emergency Planning Development Officer at the Northern Ireland Office to work with Government Departments in Northern Ireland to develop Integrated Emergency Management and to promote best practice in emergency management across Departments, Agencies, Emergency Services and voluntary organisations in line with the “Innes” recommendations (1996). Having taken a career break for the three years he returned to the Ambulance Service in February 2001.

For almost 22 years (1978 – 2000), Harry was also a Retained Fire-fighter in the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade, responding to fire calls when not on duty with NIAS. Most of his Service was in Lisburn Retained Station which, at its peak, responded to an average of 1,400 emergency calls per year.

Harry was one of the founding members of the Northern Ireland Branch of the Emergency Planning Society (EPS), has been Chairman for the maximum six year period and is currently Vice Chairman. He chaired a team that managed the 2004 National Conference in the Waterfront Hall Belfast and has presented on two occasions at the EPS National Conference.

In 2003 he was seconded for almost three years to the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety. As Project Manager he developed National Disaster Medical Systems in Northern Ireland based upon principles from the United States of America. The Emergency Medical Assistance and Rescue Team (EMART) was a multi-skilled and trained team of volunteers, uniformed, equipped and with dedicated clearly recognisable vehicles, which were capable of being mobilised to a major emergency in support of NIAS or the Fire and Rescue Service locally or deploy to other parts of the world as necessary.

In March 2007 Harry took up the position of Emergency Planning Co-ordinator for the Eastern Group of Environmental Health Committee in order to develop structures and plans in line with the Civil Contingencies Act and the Ministerial Guidance of the Civil Contingencies Framework (NI).

Harry completed a Masters in Public Administration at the University of Ulster achieving a distinction and also obtained distinction at Queens University in a Certificate in Emergency Planning.

Outside of work Harry has a keen interest in silver bands playing with both Banbridge Silver and Heatherbrook (band which raises money for the Southern Area Hospice) and enjoys the wind in his hair whilst motorcycling!!

Having been involved with emergency response/planning his entire career and led in the creation, management and development of an EPS Branch for the past 10 years he believes that the appointment to Director of Communications is a natural step in assisting the professionalism and management of EPS nationally.

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