Ashley Russell-Taylor is a progressive and passionate emergency services professional dedicated to advancing community safety, inclusion, and resilience across diverse regions. With a strong background in Fire Services, Emergency Management, and Indigenous community engagement, Ashley has built a reputation for innovative leadership and collaborative problem-solving in this space serving as a Fire Chief and Community Emergency Management Coordinator (CEMC) in communities such as Six Nations of the Grand River and Chippewas of Saugeen First Nations. Through this work, he has placed continuous emphasis on the importance of culturally informed emergency response, equitable access to accredited training, and the empowerment of underrepresented groups within the sector. As a respected project team-lead and advocate with the Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario, he has successfully coordinated both provincial and national, large-scale initiatives that strengthen capacity within First Nations communities and emergency services organizations alike. Ashley’s forward-thinking approach blends traditional knowledge with modern emergency practices, fostering partnerships that inspire sustainable, community-driven solutions. “Building capacity for resiliency”.