Carlene York was appointed NSW SES Commissioner in 2019, leading the agency through the largest floods in NSW’s history. A former NSW Police Assistant Commissioner, she has received the Australian Police Medal, the Audrey Fagan Memorial Award, and was named Australian HR Director of the Year in 2017. In 2021, she became AFAC’s first female president. Since retiring in 2024, Carlene continues to champion emergency services and gender diversity through various boards.