2026 Australia Day Honours

The ACT Emergency Services Agency congratulates ACT Fire & Rescue Commander Paul Owens, who has been announced as a recipient of the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in the 2026 Australia Day Honours. 

 

The AFSM recognises distinguished service by a member of an Australian Fire Service. 

 

Mr Paul Owens commenced his service with ACT Fire and Rescue (ACTF&R) on 20 June 2002. During his 23-year operational career, he has honed and developed a profound passion for rescue disciplines, developing specialist rescue capabilities.

 

As a station officer, Mr Owens joined the fire safety section and was instrumental in revolutionising communication pathways within the section and with building industry stakeholders in the ACT. In this role, he initiated and consolidated relationships with developers, builders, architects and engineers that remain in place to this day, whilst simultaneously completing fire engineering studies.

 

However, it was on his promotion to commander of fire safety that Mr Owens excelled. Through an excellent work ethic, innovative approaches, and a devotion to staff development he contemporised and embedded a post-graduate Building Assessment and Fire Engineering pathway that made positions within his section one of the most sought-after in the service. Whilst the section was the

embodiment of excellence within ACTF&R, it was the raised profile and respect earned in external industry that was his key achievement. This reputation solidified ACTF&R’s importance in the planning and building approval system that ensures the safety of the public and firefighters alike inthe built environment.

 

Mr Owens has represented the ACT on a national Built Environment Technical Group, responsible for influencing changes under the National Construction Code supporting fire safety in the built environment. His expertise was also pivotal in the ACT’s response to combustible cladding after the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017.

 

He has earned the respect and admiration of his peers and colleagues through his mentorship of firefighters, generously sharing his experiences and knowledge as well as compassion during difficult times. Mr Owens embodies ACTF&R’s core values of professionalism, dedication, and community service, consistently making impactful contributions to the safety and well-being of Canberra

residents.