Course Description:

Any rank or role in the fire service demands self-confidence, and trust in one’s own knowledge and capabilities. Most fire service women have successfully challenged sexist comments, behaviors, and policies to get their positions, but internalized sexism often still holds us back. The lifetime of sexist messages has us doubt our judgment, competence, and leadership capacity. This workshop will examine how self-doubt affects our leadership, training, support of other women firefighters, and separates us. You’ll be offered strategies to identify and to confront internalized sexism – to help every woman, at any level of the fire service – perform her very best.

Instructor(s):

jona olsson, Assistant Chief (Training & Safety), Latir Volunteer Fire Department

jona is the Director of cultural bridges to justice and Asst. Chief of Latir Volunteer FD in New Mexico, US. jona has presented for IAFC, IAFF, FBU, i-women, CAFC, FSWO, London and Edinburgh Fire brigades, Ottawa and Calgary Fire Departments, Australasian Fire and Emergency Authorities Council, Women and Firefighting Australasia (WAFA) plus many other agencies in the U. S., Canada, UK and Australasia. She was named 2012 Volunteer Chief of the Year by Fire Chief