Jo Dawson

I joined Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) in 2005 as an administrator at their training centre and after some doing some ‘ridealongs’ on fire engines, I realised being a firefighter was the career for me.  I worked hard to transform myself from someone who couldn’t run for a minute to someone who loved lifting weights and prepared hard for the selection process. I successfully applied to NFRS and completed my training in 2008.

Since joining, I have been seconded into the Organisational Development and Inclusion Team where my role focussed on issues affecting women in NFRS. From this moment I haven’t looked back and have received further promotion.

My journey has gone from keeping my head down and hoping no-one would notice I was a female firefighter, to championing female issues and currently chairing the NFRS Women’s network.

I strive to support others in the work I do and my involvement with Practice to Progress will enable me to support others who want to love life and a career as much as I do. 

Outside of the world of Fire and Rescue, I am a mum who likes rugby and running, but my main passions are family holidays and cake.