Congratulations Kelsey Tarabini – the recipient of the 2026 Early Career Award in Fire Operations

Kelsey, a Bushfire Risk Analyst with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action in Victoria, Australia, was presented with her award by IAWF President Trevor Howard and IAWF Director Sarah Harris at the 8^th International Fire Behaviour and Fuels conference in Hobart today.

Kelsey’s experience spans fuel management, emergency intelligence, and nationally coordinated research with practitioners and academics.

She contributes operationally as a firefighter and through incident management teams in fire behaviour, mapping, and intelligence roles. Kelsey has served with the South Australian Country Fire Service as a volunteer firefighter and continues service with the Victorian Country Fire Authority. She is also a member of the Australian Army Reserves and former Board member of Women and Firefighting Australasia.

Kelsey represents an emerging generation of fire practitioners integrating science, risk modelling and frontline experience

This award recognizes a promising early-career professional who has demonstrated outstanding ability in any field of wildland fire operations.

Well done Kelsey!

See more on IAWF annual awards here