Fernando Hernandez serves as the Risk & Safety Manager for the City of Austin. He joined the Risk Management team in January 2025, and although he is new to the City of Austin, he is an experienced risk manager, having started his career in risk management in 2009. Over the years, Fernando has had the opportunity to work across various areas of risk, including employee safety, claims management, workers' compensation, and risk mitigation planning. He states, “Every decision has the potential to prevent harm, reduce costs, and support essential community services.” He finds that risk management is “incredibly fulfilling when you identify risks early, implement solutions, and realize those efforts translating into a safer, more resilient organization.”