Shantha Dickinson

Assistant HMI (His Majesty’s Inspector)

Biography

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Shantha Dickinson joined HMICFRS as an Assistant HMI on a secondment from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service in May 2023. She provides additional support across fire and rescue service inspections, and the wider work of the inspectorate.

Shantha began her career serving as an officer in the British Army for 10 years, before moving into local government and the fire sector. She has undertaken a variety of roles within Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service, as well as nationally, which have all shared a common theme: using intelligence to improve firefighter and public safety.

She joined the Fire Service in 2014 as Head of Knowledge Management before taking up the appointment as Assistant Chief Fire Officer in November 2016 and joining the Strategic Command team.

Shantha has been Deputy Chief Fire Officer since June 2021 with responsibility for the policy, planning and assurance functions for the Service. These teams work together to understand risk in the local communities and how the Service can deliver activity that makes a positive difference for every community it serves.

In 2016 Shantha completed the Fire Executive Leadership Programme and is an alumna of the National Leadership Centre ‘Accelerate’ programme.

Shantha is the Strategic Lead in the National Fire Chiefs Council for The Fire Fighters Charity, working with a diverse group of colleagues from the sector to enable the charity to extend its reach and relevance to beneficiaries. She also became a trustee for the charity in November 2022.