When a man fell 20 metres down a disused mine shaft on the West Coast, the first people to reach him weren’t only emergency responders – they were neighbours, friends, and volunteers. Among them was Brittany Gibson, an OCS Contracts Manager in Westport and a proud member of the Brunner Volunteer Fire Brigade.
For Brittany, balancing professional responsibilities with community service is part of everyday life. Inspired by her grandfather’s firefighting service and the sound of the fire station alarms she used to hear from across the road, she joined the brigade two years ago.
“I figured if I was already awake, I might as well help out,” she says with a smile.
Since then, she has trained every week, responds to almost 40 callouts a year, and is now working toward full qualification as a firefighter. Her experiences have included fires, medical incidents, car crashes, and rope rescues – each requiring courage, teamwork, and calm under pressure.
What makes it possible? The support of her OCS whānau.
“I don’t think I could be as hands-on if I were with any other company,” Brittany says. “OCS allow me to take time off for training and attend emergencies at a moment’s notice. I don’t think any other employer would be as supportive or value community involvement as much as OCS do.”
When asked what she loves most about firefighting, she doesn’t hesitate:
“We’re a little family. They have my back and are my biggest supporters and encouragers.”
At work, Brittany manages key West Coast customer relationships, including BT Mining and the CleanSweep Award-winning Buller High School. Just as in her firefighting role, she sees herself as part of a team working to keep people safe, facilities reliable, and communities strong.
We’re incredibly proud of Brittany – combining professionalism at work with personal dedication to community and living our TRUE values. She’s a shining example of how our 125-year legacy and ESG commitments are sustained through our people, making people and places the best they can be.
