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

Long-serving national president Jon Hunt-Sharman, who has been in the role since the organisation's inception in 1982, was re-elected. Recently appointed chief executive officer Dennis Gellatly, a veteran of ACT Policing, was also elected by delegates. Mr Gellatly served for a lengthy period as the group's ACT Policing vice-president.

But the victory was not straightforward. The pair faced a challenge by others in the organisation, but in the end won by a 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. Senior Constable Angela Smith takes the role of vice-president of the ACT Operations Portfolio.

Mr Hunt-Sharman said the election had provided the organisation 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,'' he said.