Annie
Barry

Speaker Profile

Annie joined the NZ Fire Service in 1975 and after quite a struggle became Australasia's (and it seems the Commonwealth's) first professional female firefighter in 1981. In 1976 she became the first woman in the world to obtain a degree in Fire Engineering and in 1990 was awarded the Queen's Commemorative Medal for Services to Women. Her husband and she joined the Fire Service for the amazing shift system it offered and feel they have utilised their time off to the maximum. Annie has been able to live an incredible life which is written about in her two books - Playing with Fire and Never Say Old.

Annie appeared on the Breakfast Show with Paul Henry and has had radio interviews with David Steemson (Radio NZ) and Pam Corkery. She has presented to various groups around Australia and NZ - Victorian bush fire communities, Probus, Rotary, Breast Cancer, NZ & Australia National Council of Women, Country Womens' Institutes (Australia & NZ), Business Women's breakfast meetings and the Parkinson's Society.

Annie's presentations are very much on the humorous side - the struggle to fatefully become 'Fireman Barry' and life on a fire station - living, sleeping and existing in a totally male environment for a couple of decades. Also included is her 'other life' - living on their self built boat for 7 years diving and cruising the coast and then 12 years travelling around NZ and Australia in their customised bus, playing hundreds of golf courses and having extraordinary adventures.