The Australian Federal Police Association held its biennial national council meeting earlier this week, during which 44 delegates voted to elect their chief executive officer, national president, and other senior representatives.

Long-serving AFPA national president Jon Hunt-Sharman, who has been in the role since the AFPA’s inception in 1982, was re-elected.

Recently-appointed chief executive officer Dennis Gellatly, a veteran of ACT Policing, was also elected by delegates to the position.

Mr Gellatly served for a lengthy period as the AFPA’s ACT Policing vice president.

The pair emerged successfully from a challenge by others in the AFPA, winning by a clear majority vote.

A female delegate from ACT Policing was also elected to the union’s executive committee for the first time in the AFPA’s history, with Senior Constable Angela Smith winning the role of vice president of the ACT Operations Portfolio.

Mr Hunt-Sharman said the election had provided the AFPA with a balanced leadership group.

‘‘This brings our management team a balance of National and ACT AFPA representatives and, importantly, increases the representation of women in policing,’’ Mr Hunt-Sharman said.

The AFPA has turned its eye towards the upcoming federal election, and will continue fighting to exempt the AFP from budget cuts and efficiency dividends.