Please introduce yourself:
I’m a chartered fire engineer, working as an Associate Director at OFR Consultants. I’m based in Edinburgh where I did my degrees at The University of Edinburgh, and first learned about fire safety. I worked for a few years at a large multidisciplinary consultancy then moved to OFR where I have worked since 2016. During my time as a fire engineer, I have worked alongside people from so many backgrounds: fire engineering is a truly diverse field which is part of the joy of working in the industry.
Please describe your role or position:
The primary purpose of my job is to ensure the life safety of people in the event of a fire in the built environment, and to support our clients in complying with applicable fire safety legislation. A key part of this is to ensure that fire safety is so well integrated into a building’s design that people instinctively know what to do in the event of a fire. My day-to-day job is therefore leading the delivery of projects to fulfil this purpose.
I also have numerous non-technical responsibilities such as line management and financial management. I also contribute to the wider business through initiatives such as supporting those applying for professional registration, assisting with the development of our graduate programme and facilitating our internal Women in Fire Safety group.
What do you find most enjoyable about your job?
That every day is completely different. One day I can be on site in Aberdeen, London or Manchester and the next I’ll be reviewing a detailed drawing of a façade, attending training events or interviewing for the next generation of fire engineers.
The variety of projects I get involved with is never ending – blocks of flats, houses, offices, manufacturing facilities, prisons, schools, hotels – even castles! I love the variety of new challenges that come with each project, design team and client.
Is there a great professional achievement that you would like to tell us about?
One of my favourite current projects is the refurbishment of the Jenners Building, an iconic, historic department store and hotel in the centre of Edinburgh. It’s an incredible building with a striking atrium. It’s a privilege to be part of the team supporting the refurbishment and I love talking to my friends and family about my input into the project. The two most memorable projects from my career to date have been the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the NHS Louisa Jordan COVID hospital in Glasgow.
What inspired you to become an engineer?
I was always interested in how our built environment was created and how it was so resilient. “Why does this bridge not collapse under the weight of all these cars” or “why does that building not blow over in a storm”. I even used to duck going under bridges just in case they fell down on my way through!
Despite that, I was convinced I didn’t want to be an engineer because I thought engineering was only car mechanics and builders, which were not careers that I was interested in pursuing. However, when I learned that engineering would be the way I’d answer all those “whys” I knew it would be the right choice for me.
What contributed to your decision to become professionally registered?
Chartership is a fantastic way to demonstrate your competence within the industry, particularly as this competency is assessed by peers who are independent. In an environment where both competence and ethics are so incredibly important, professional registration is the most obvious and most widely recognised route to demonstrating these skills.
How do you benefit from being a member/registrant with the IFE?
Chartership was a key enabler in my progression into a more senior role at OFR Consultants. It is also the key benchmark in the industry for professional competence and so its benefits are recognised by clients, approvers and peers alike. I am a member of the IFE Scotland Branch Committee and, as part of this – and because of my chartership – I have had the opportunity to contribute to Scottish Government and Building Standards initiatives such as the development of the Single Building Assessment and the Building Standards Hub.
Are you involved in the IFE in any other capacity?
I am also currently going through the process of becoming a reviewer for IEng and CEng application. I hope to progress from this to become an interviewer. The process for becoming chartered relies on input from volunteers and I felt it important to support that process after others gave their time to support me in becoming professionally registered.
Would you recommend joining the IFE to others?
Absolutely - joining your professional body allows you to contribute to your wider industry for example through committees or by giving feedback to the institution. It also provides you access to CPD events and a network of fire safety professionals. The field of fire engineering is rightly very focussed on competency at present and I do not think there is any better, or more recognised, means for demonstrating competency than becoming professionally registered. It also allows you to contribute your time and knowledge to support the development of others which is something I consider to be very worthwhile.
Any advice you would give to someone considering registration / membership?
I thought the process for becoming chartered would be very intimidating, time consuming and challenging. The reality was that by spending a little bit of time regularly working on my application and getting advice from chartered colleagues, it was actually not scary at all. I found the process of writing down what I’d achieved in my career to date very positive, and it allowed me time to reflect on my successes which is not something we generally spend enough time doing. If you don’t know where to start, just reach out to someone who’s been through the process - I’m sure they’ll be delighted to help.