Released 05/05/2025
Following a competitive nation-wide recruitment, David Dutton BM ASM has been appointed as the new Chief Officer of the ACT Ambulance Service (ACTAS).
This appointment represents a full circle for David, who began his career as a student paramedic with ACTAS in 1996. After qualifying as an Intensive Care Paramedic, he worked for ACTAS in road and aeromedical operations, clinical education, emergency operations, operational support and senior executive management roles including Deputy Chief Officer and A/g Chief Officer.
In 2013 David made the move to NSW Ambulance Service in the role of Executive Director Service Delivery before being promoted to Deputy Commissioner and Executive Director Clinical Operations, where he led cultural reform and a team that answered more than 1.2 million triple-zero calls a year.
David has a strong interest, and wide-range of experience, in emergency management, including as a frontline responder to the 1998 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race Disaster, operational commander for the 2003 Canberra bushfires, and senior executive for the 2014 Lindt Café Siege, multiple floods, bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.
David returned to the ACT at the beginning of 2025, taking on the role of Assistant Commissioner Collaboration, Community Engagement and Intelligence Support at the ACT Emergency Services Agency.
David will formally start as ACTAS Chief Officer on 12 May 2025.
Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Dr Marisa Paterson, said she was grateful to have someone with such a wealth of experience re-joining ACTAS.
“The ACT Ambulance Service is made up of well-respected and hard-working individuals and I am pleased to see the new Chief Ambulance Officer also exemplifying these attributes.
“Mr Dutton’s experience across NSW and the ACT will be incredibly valuable to ACTAS. He is a strong and engaging leader, and I look forward to working closely with him as he takes on this important role.
“I would also like to thank Mr Patrick Meere for his work as Interim Chief Officer since February. Mr Meere has worked diligently to lead ACTAS through a time of change, ensuring we continue to provide a strong emergency service to our community.”
Quotes attributable to incoming ACTAS Chief Officer, David Dutton
“I am honoured and humbled to be appointed as Chief Officer of ACTAS. It is quite the full circle moment to return to lead the service where my career started.
“Although I’ve worked in NSW for the past 12 years, the ACT has always been the place that my family has called home. I think it is a beautiful place to live, filled with a wonderful community that I am proud to once again serve.
“The reason I became a paramedic was to help people during their time of need and I look forward to continuing to do so as Chief. I am excited to start in the role and look forward to working with the Commissioner and government to lead ACTAS forward into the future.”
- Statement ends -
Marisa Paterson, MLA | Media Releases