Joseph Pred

Founder of Mutual Aid Response Services

Joseph Pred is a board-certified Emergency Manager with over 30 years of festival experience. His professional focus on risk management and harm reduction relates to the delivery of medical and emergency services at temporary mass gatherings. He is the founder of Burning Man’s Emergency Services Department and as a member of the senior management team was responsible for guiding organizational safety strategy and public safety agency relations for over 16 years. Joseph also founded Mutual Aid Response Services in 2000, an emergency management consulting and emergency medical operations company which oversees medical and harm reduction services at events, venues, and festivals up to 100,000 people in size. Additionally he has served two terms on the San Francisco Entertainment Commission, approving permits as well as safety and security plans for all large events and venues in San Francisco. This combined, alongside Joseph’s experience as a Supervisor for San Mateo County American Medical Response (the 911 ambulance service provider for the county), has resulted in a unique understanding of festival and corporate event production, permitting, and public safety agency perspectives.

Joseph is a subject matter expert who has authored several books, published research, written articles (online and print), and has served as an expert witness in legal cases. He has also presented at many conferences including multiple keynote presentations, such as at SXSW, Canadian Music Week, the Malaysia Major Events Symposium, the International Club Health Conference, and at the California Emergency Services Association.