"I wish the politicians would just p*ss off and let me deal with this crisis" Strengthening Emergency Management: Advancing Key Work Programmes
Tracks
Monarch Room
| Monday, July 14, 2025 |
| 12:10 PM - 12:40 PM |
Overview
Stefan Weir, National Emergency Management Agency, New Zealand
Details
Key Presentation Learnings:
1. Building Trust is critical: Establishing credibility and fostering relationships with political leaders builds collaboration before crises occur. Trust lays the groundwork for collaboration during high-pressure situations and ensures that operational and political goals can align more effectively.
2. Strategic Communication is Critical: Framing messages to align with political priorities ensures operational needs are understood and supported.
3. Conflict Resolution and Integrity are Key: Managing tensions between political pressures and long-term goals requires professionalism, composure, and evidence-based leadership to maintain trust and achieve resilient outcomes.
Speaker
Stefan Weir
Chief of Staff
National Emergency Management Agency New Zealand
"I wish the politicians would just p*ss off and let me deal with this crisis"
Abstract
Submission: "I wish those politicians would just p*ss off and let me deal with this crisis"
Effective leadership in emergency management often requires navigating the complex intersection of operational priorities and political considerations. The political interface is a critical space where decisions are shaped by diverse stakeholders, competing priorities, and public expectations. This presentation will explore strategies for emergency managers to lead and influence effectively in this dynamic environment.
Political leaders play an essential role in emergency management, from setting policies to communicating with the public. However, their objectives may not always align with operational realities, leading to potential friction. Emergency managers must therefore possess the skills to bridge these gaps, ensuring that sound, evidence-based decisions are made while maintaining trust and collaboration with political leaders.
This session will provide insights on building and leveraging influence at the political interface. Topics include:
• Building Relationships of Trust: Establishing credibility and fostering open communication with political leaders before crises occur.
• Strategic Communication: Framing messages to align with political priorities while advocating for operational needs.
• Managing Conflict: Resolving tensions between short-term political pressures and long-term emergency management goals.
• Leading Under Scrutiny: Maintaining composure and integrity in high-pressure, high-visibility situations.
Drawing from personal experience this presentation will give attendees tools to navigate the political interface effectively. By mastering the art of influencing and leading in this space, emergency managers can ensure that critical decisions are informed, timely, and ultimately contribute to the safety and resilience of communities.
This session is ideal for emergency management professionals, policymakers, and anyone working at the intersection of politics and crisis leadership.
Effective leadership in emergency management often requires navigating the complex intersection of operational priorities and political considerations. The political interface is a critical space where decisions are shaped by diverse stakeholders, competing priorities, and public expectations. This presentation will explore strategies for emergency managers to lead and influence effectively in this dynamic environment.
Political leaders play an essential role in emergency management, from setting policies to communicating with the public. However, their objectives may not always align with operational realities, leading to potential friction. Emergency managers must therefore possess the skills to bridge these gaps, ensuring that sound, evidence-based decisions are made while maintaining trust and collaboration with political leaders.
This session will provide insights on building and leveraging influence at the political interface. Topics include:
• Building Relationships of Trust: Establishing credibility and fostering open communication with political leaders before crises occur.
• Strategic Communication: Framing messages to align with political priorities while advocating for operational needs.
• Managing Conflict: Resolving tensions between short-term political pressures and long-term emergency management goals.
• Leading Under Scrutiny: Maintaining composure and integrity in high-pressure, high-visibility situations.
Drawing from personal experience this presentation will give attendees tools to navigate the political interface effectively. By mastering the art of influencing and leading in this space, emergency managers can ensure that critical decisions are informed, timely, and ultimately contribute to the safety and resilience of communities.
This session is ideal for emergency management professionals, policymakers, and anyone working at the intersection of politics and crisis leadership.
Biography
Stefan Weir is the Chief of Staff at NEMA New Zealand, a role he’s held since 2022. Before this Stefan was based in the Beehive (NZ Parliament) as Private Secretary to the Minister for Emergency Management (2015-2022) and Minister for Youth (2013-15). For the last ten years Stefan has been in the "inner circle" alongside Ministers, Prime Ministers and senior leaders during emergencies including Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle, the Kaikoura earthquake, Port Hills Fires, Christchurch terror attack, Whakaari White Island eruption, COVID and many many other severe weather related events.
