Please introduce yourself:
I am a Senior Fire Engineer at Marshall Fire Ltd. I was raised in South Africa which is where I started my career in fire engineering. I have over 17 years of experience in the fire protection industry, in South Africa, Southern Africa and the UK.
Tell us about your career to date:
Whilst I was studying for my degree in electrical engineering I worked during the semester breaks for my father who ran a fire safety contracting company. I was then presented with an opportunity to work for a large international consulting firm, which expanded my understanding of how large the fire safety industry is and the opportunities therein.
In order to further progress I joined the IFE and progressed into another consulting firm specialising in fire safety which allowed me to work on interesting projects around Southern Africa. Just over 2 years ago, I left South Africa and joined a UK consulting firm also specialising in fire safety. Over this time I completed the process of becoming an Incorporated Engineer with the Engineering Council through the IFE.
Please describe your role or position:
My role is quite varied as we are a consultancy that provides fire engineering and consultancy services to all sectors of the built environment - primarily working on fire strategies for new buildings and looking at retrospective strategies for existing facilities.
Are there any particular challenges or unusual aspects to your role?
The biggest challenge is staying at the forefront of what risk new hazards pose, what is considered acceptable risk and what are the accepted strategies of mitigating risk. A personal challenge I have faced is the familiarisation of the British regulations. Although all national fire regulations strive to achieve the same goal, the process in achieving it can vary dramatically.
What do you find most enjoyable about your job?
Going out to see the facilities I am compiling the fire strategies for, especially if they are industrial facilities that you wouldn’t normally get to see.
What contributed to your decision to become professionally registered / gain IFE membership?
To further progress my career, I knew I needed to be professionally registered with a respected association. Therefore I wanted to gain an IFE membership because I believe the IFE is the most recognised and respected professional body in the fire industry.
How do you benefit from being a member/registrant with the IFE?
My peers and my clients can now demonstrably see that I have been assessed by industry professionals and that I have been accepted as competent in my field. I would hope that registration will open further opportunities for more interesting and unique projects.
Would you recommend joining the IFE?
Yes, I would recommend joining the IFE to anyone in the fire industry. I also recommend working towards professional registration. If you meet the basic criteria, or if you are unsure, contact the IFE and find out. Start the process, it might take a few years, but you will never get it if you do not start it.