The IFE announce new Regional President for GCC UAE branch

30 January 2023

by Iain Hoey Breaking News People

The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) has announced that Terry Johnson FIFireE has taken over as Regional President of its GCC UAE branch. He takes over the role from Peter Stephenson who stood down at a recent AGM to take a supporting role.

Johnson is currently engaged by Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), Dubai, as Technical Manager for Emergency Response Coordination and Resilience. In this role his focus is on sustainable, environmental positive solutions which match compliant, competent protection for high-risk asset protection.

He is also dedicated to firefighter wellbeing and is exploring realistic and innovative solutions to give enhanced assured tactical safe practices, whilst remaining focused on talented proficient, skilled and refined capability.

His long, decorated operational career has led him to a position of cultured leadership and structured mentoring at tactical and strategic levels, maintained by his willingness to be ‘always open’ to discuss or advise anyone interested or related to fire and life safety.

Commenting on his appointment, Johnson said: “Being involved with the Institution of Fire Engineers and having the opportunity to support individuals or groups in UAE, along with coordinated integration across the GCC is something which I am enormously proud of and I will work tirelessly to engage within the region.

“With the fabulous support from the General Directorate of Civil Defence Dubai, I will be able to increase the IFE membership, support academic ambition, activate live debate and interaction on current fire safety issues and with the ambition to hand over the baton to a local member to build on a great foundation and over a century of courageous leadership and stewardship.”

About the IFE GCC UAE Branch

The GCC UAE branch was formally inaugurated on 28 November, 2016, attended by Steve Hamm representing the Board of Directors from the UK HQ. To organisation said that establishing a registered branch within the UAE proved to be a long but worthwhile process, with the journey beginning in 2014 with the establishment of a Founding Committee to satisfy the requirements of IFE (UK) governance.

Following extensive research into the most appropriate route to register a not-for-profit branch of an International Institution, such as the IFE, the Founding Committee chose to register through the Dubai Association Centre (DAC). The Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry is the licensing arm of DAC and the branch successfully obtained registration as the fourth association to be registered with licence number DAC-0004.

Peter Stephenson is currently a DAC Ambassador supporting the growth of international association membership which now totals over 70 member organisations. The Centre has been established by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and the Dubai World Trade Centre. Together, all partners are committed to offer holistic assistance for the establishment of non-profit, apolitical and nonreligious professional associations and trade bodies in the Emirate of Dubai. As a result, associations are now able to benefit from economies of scale, experience in the association marketplace, flexibility and adaptability, buying power and centralised facilities of the Dubai Association Centre.

Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) have been supportive of the branch formation and supported the IFE Examinations at Al Awir Training Centre in 2014, prior to Tyco (Johnson Controls) Training Facility in Dubai providing ongoing support from 2016 to date.

The objectives of the Branch are:

To engage GCC Nationals and ex-patriots in the region to share knowledge, experience and understanding under the umbrella of the IFE.
To consolidate the IFE GCC UAE Headquarters in Dubai to serve all 7 Emirates and ultimately use Dubai as a platform to expand the IFE Branch Network into other GCC Countries by establishing and supporting local groups.
To encourage and develop a Branch that will have GCC Nationals on future Committees.
To grow membership in the region at all grades particularly at Affiliate level in the first 1-2 years of operation through Continued Professional Development (CPD), professional review and IFE examinations.
To continue to provide a venue for IFE examinations in the region.
Produce IFE material and publications in Arabic to further engage with GCC Nationals.
Encourage and support membership retention of all current members.
Encourage Engineering Council registration for EngTech, IEng and CEng.
To establish working groups to encourage and support the development of International Best Practice in the Middle East.
To work with and support our members and sponsors across the Middle East.

The IFE Committee lead by the regional president Terry Johnson believe the following are the key to success in the region, namely:

Engaging with GCC Nationals and regional Civil Defence Authorities, particularly Dubai Civil Defence.
Encourage diversity of membership.
Retaining the established IFE brand identification.
Offering enhanced sponsorship and advertising opportunities.
Attaining an agreed increase in membership and encouraging diversity by promoting all sectors within the industry.
Providing and building a successful conference programme within all GCC Countries and Internationally.
To establish an agreed regional business process in line with IFE guidelines.
Connecting and collaborating with other professional associations, particularly those looking to establish in the Middle East.
Forming local Specialist Interest Groups.
Establishing and supporting regional IFE Groups and providing administrative support.

The branch has said it looks forward to on-going regional success for members and supporting the wider fire safety goals of the community.

Gove gives builders six weeks to sign fire safety upgrade contracts

30 January 2023

by Iain Hoey Breaking News

Builders in the UK have been given six weeks to sign a Government contract committing them to pay for upgrades of cladding in houses and apartment blocks deemed a fire risk, cabinet minister Michael Gove said.

Hundreds of thousands UK residents were found to be living in buildings that were deemed a fire risk following an investigation in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire in Kensington, London in 2017.

A subsequent change in Government regulation has banned flammable building cladding, however this left leaseholders on the hook for upgrades and in many cases unable to sell their homes.

The new contract is to be today (Monday 30 January), Gove said in interviews with UK media on Sunday in a move to ensure more building companies pay for necessary repairs.

“Some have already indicated that they will,” he told Sky News. “If they don’t sign the contract, we’re making sure, in effect, that they won’t be able to build anything more in the future.”

Registration open for The Fire Safety Event

27 January 2023

by Iain Hoey Breaking News Events

Uniting the UK’s fire safety industry at the NEC Birmingham

The Fire Safety Event will open its doors at the NEC Birmingham on 25-27 April 2023 and will play host to leading manufacturers and suppliers to showcase their latest approved products and solutions. Dedicated to supporting industry practitioners, professionals and organisations in achieving and maintaining the very highest standards of fire safety management.

The UK’s largest showcase of exhibitors and supporters

With over 150 exhibitors participating at the show, some of the industry’s leading brands including Advanced, Aico, Apollo, Checkmate Fire, Draeger, Eaton, Plus+ Group, Sentry Doors, TOA and many more, will be showcasing their latest research and development, product and solution launches and live demonstrations.

A number of key association and industry bodies will be supporting the Fire Safety Event and will be on hand to offer guidance and expert advice to visitors. These include the Association for Specialist Fire Protection, National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers, Fire Protection Association, Smoke Control Association, Institute of Fire Safety Managers, Institution of Fire Engineers, BAFE, NSI and ECA/FSA and more.

Unmissable CPD-Accredited Conference Theatres

Education is at the heart of The Fire Safety Event. Boasting three industry-led theatres and offering 45+ hours of free-to-attend CPD content this is the perfect opportunity for visitors to gain direct insight into improving, maintaining, and championing fire safety for all businesses.

The Passive Fire Conference is in partnership withthe Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), this conference theatre will cover passive fire protection topics and various fire safety measures in the built environment. Hear from the experts and get the essential advice from specification, installation, inspection and maintenance.

The Fire Safety Theatre will feature a line-up of leading industry experts and keynotes who will share their insight and expertise on best practice, regulatory updates and topical areas impacting the fire safety sector. Gain the practical knowledge and strategies to navigate new policy changes and stay fully compliant with fire safety standards.

New for 2023, The Fire Innovation Theatre will showcase presentations on the important industry updates and guidance for practitioners and business owners. With a focus on standards, regulations and industry best practice, these sessions will be vital to ensure businesses remain compliant and are best equipped to meet the needs of their clients.

Face to face meetings and networking opportunities

To meet the business needs of fire safety professionals, The Fire Safety Event will be introducing the specialised matchmaking service CONNECT+ Live. CONNECT+ Live is a free-of-charge personalised matchmaking service that match qualified buyers with hand-picked solution providers. Visitors will be able to save time and money, and be able to make new invaluable contacts to benchmark and gain invaluable insight.

To facilitate more networking and build new contacts, there will also be two networking receptions taking place on the end of day one and two from 16:00. Visitors, exhibitor and partners are invited to unwind and recoup from their day in an informal seating.

Part of the largest UK tradeshow dedicated to the protection of people, places and assets.

The Fire Safety Event is uniquely co-located with The Security Event, The Health & Safety Event, The Workplace Event and The National Cyber Security Show, which together form The Safety and Security Series. With only one registration, delegates have access to all five of the biggest of their kind in the UK, making this one unmissable opportunity.

Additionally, the events offer free parking on site at the NEC. This will further enforce that the NEC is the most accessible venue for any event in the fire and security sector with a train station and airport on side and the venue adjacent to the M42 motorway.

For more information or to register for your FREE pass visit: https://www.firesafetyevent.com/asfp-2023

Historic London church destroyed overnight in large blaze

27 January 2023

by Iain Hoey Active Breaking News

St Mark’s church, a Grade II listed church in north-west London has been destroyed in a fire overnight. London Fire Brigade (LFB) said that 80 firefighters attended the church in Hamilton Terrace in St John’s Wood after a call at 23:19 GMT on Thursday.

The church fire in #StJohnsWood is now under control. There were no reports of any injuries. Fire Investigators are on scene to begin their investigation into the cause of the blaze (📷 from earlier in incident) https://t.co/PfRfeMugRc pic.twitter.com/0zDrwEzxqU
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) January 27, 2023

The fire brigade said there were no reports of injuries and the cause of the fire, which is under control, is not known. Westminster City Council said there would be local road closures until late morning, but all residents were “safe and accounted for”.

More than 10 fire engines were reportedly deployed to the scene, with crews from North Kensington, Paddington and West Hampstead working to put out the flames. Firefighters used three ladders to spray water onto the building, including two 34m (111 ft) ladders and one 64m (209 ft) ladder that is the tallest of its kind in Europe.

LFB said investigators were working to discover the cause of the blaze.

The National Churches Trust has described St Mark’s as an “architectural and historical treasure”. The Victorian church, which is more than 150 years old, has links to author Lewis Carroll and Queen Victoria’s son Prince Leopold and is situated near Abbey Road Studios and Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Fire Standards Board launches Leadership and People standards

26 January 2023

by Iain Hoey Breaking News

The Fire Standards Board (FSB) has announced the launch of its leadership and people Fire Standards: Leading the Service and Leading and Developing People.

Both Fire Standards have been developed to support services in strengthening professionalism and leadership at all levels of their organisation, encouraging more positive working environments for the benefit of their people and the community they serve.

The Leading the Service Fire Standard was developed to clearly articulate the expectations on those who lead within services, particularly their behaviours, ethics and the activities required to lead well in an ever change world.

The Leading and Developing People Fire Standard is focussed on how services should attract and retain a competent workforce that is diverse, motivated, and engaged. The standard also puts an emphasis on workforce development, health and wellbeing.

The development of these standards was led by the NFCC Vice-Chair and Chief Fire Office, Justin Johnston, and NFCC Lead for Leadership, Chief Fire Officer, Wayne Bowcock. Many contributions were received from leaders at all levels from within UK fire and rescue services, as well as leadership experts and peers from outside the service.

Both standards have been benchmarked against recognised leadership standards but, as with all Fire Standards, have been put into a context suitable for fire and rescue services.

In combination with other Fire Standards such as the Code of Ethics and Safeguarding, the Fire Standards Board is aiming to ensure services are equipped to operate well in often challenging and changing environments.

As with all Fire Standards, there are corresponding Gap Analysis Tools to support services with implementation. The tools help services in both assessing how well they currently meet the standards as well as considering any additional actions that may be required for them to achieve the standards.

Chair of the Fire Standards Board, Suzanne McCarthy said: “The two Leadership and People Fire Standards are a significant step forward in helping services deliver the right behaviours and values across fire and rescue services. They build on our increasing suite of standards, which together support and enable services to drive continuous improvement.

“I want to thank all the individuals and services for their contributions towards the content of these standards. Like the others published, these have been developed by the service for the service, acknowledging and incorporating what good looks like.”

Chair of the NFCC, Mark Hardingham said: “The NFCC welcomes the publication of the Leadership and People Fire Standards. They will become an important part of how services shape their leadership and workforces in the future, underpinned by much of the existing and future guidance, tools and leadership development programmes developed and led by the NFCC.

“Thank you to all of those who were involved in the development of these pivotal standards.”

NFPA releases new edition of the Fire Protection Handbook

25 January 2023

by Iain Hoey Breaking News Products

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has released its 21st edition of the Fire Protection Handbook (FPH).

The two-volume printed set is now available for pre-order. One of the organisation’s most significant publications, the Handbook is a comprehensive, one-of-a-kind reference guide of fire and life safety prevention and protection information for students and professionals across a wide range of industries worldwide.

“The NFPA Fire Protection Handbook is the most comprehensive industry resource for professionals who need to be well informed and stay current in their field,” said NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley. “It is the fire protection encyclopedia and there is no other resource like it anywhere in the world.”

First published in 1896 as the Handbook of the Underwriter’s Bureau of New England, the NFPA Fire Protection Handbook provides exclusive content unparalleled anywhere else in the industry.

Across 21 editions and its 126 years of impact on safety, NFPA has regularly updated the Handbook’s contents according to industry trends, the latest training methods, case studies, and code requirements at the time of publication. The new edition reflects the very latest fire protection and fire safety information, research and data, emerging technologies, and safety practices. The last edition was published in 2008.

As industry practitioners advance in their careers and new workers enter the labor force, professionals including engineers, designers, building managers, fire prevention managers, fire service members, insurance agents, inspectors, students, and other individuals who have responsibilities related to fire prevention and protection can use the Fire Protection Handbook to get the answers they need to their fire protection questions.

The information and methodologies used for calculations, system designs, and related processes give students and professionals not only the opportunity to enhance their understanding of a given concept, but they also can put that knowledge into practice to help safeguard lives and property and mitigate hazards in their communities.

Included in the 21st edition of the Handbook are 14 new chapters that address many of the current and emerging issues and related hazards in a rapidly changing world:

Wildland Fires and the Wildland/Urban Interface
The Interconnected All-Hazards Fire Department
Smart Infrastructure and Fire Protection
Facilitating Occupant Movement During Emergencies
Additive Flame Retardants
Solid and Liquid Oxidizers
Organic Peroxides
Photovoltaic Systems
Energy Storage Systems
Fuel Gases Detection
Cannabis Processing Facilities
Active Shooter/Hostile Event Operations
Modular Construction
The NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem™

The handbook also forms the required body of knowledge for candidates pursuing the NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) exam, internationally recognised as the gold standard in certification for fire protection professionals to demonstrate their proficiency in fire safety, protection, prevention, and suppression technologies. A newly revised certification exam that aligns with the updated Fire Protection Handbook will be available in Fall 2023.

With input from more than 200 industry specialists and NFPA subject matter experts, the 21st edition of the Fire Protection Handbook consists of two volumes featuring 210 revised and updated chapters, 21 sections grouped by industry topic, full-color images, and accompanying index tabs for navigation.

The 21st edition of the Fire Protection Handbook is now available for pre-order, with an expected delivery date around February 23, 2023.

Fire Safety regulations come into force in England

24 January 2023

by Iain Hoey Breaking News Safety

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, which implement the majority of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations, come into force as of 23 January 2023.

The regulations are new requirements for ‘responsible persons’ of mid and high-rise blocks of flats to provide information to fire and rescue services to assist them with operational planning and provide additional safety measures.

In all multi-occupied residential buildings, residents should now be provided with fire safety instructions and information on fire doors.

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 are now law from 23 January 2023 and form part of a package of risk mitigating fire safety measures that the government is delivering following the Grenfell Tower fire to keep the public safe.

In high-rise residential buildings, responsible persons will be required to:

provide their local fire and rescue service with up-to-date electronic building plans and information on the design and materials of their external wall
undertake monthly checks of firefighting lifts, evacuation lifts and other key pieces of firefighting equipment
install a secure information box and wayfinding signage

In mid-rise residential buildings (over 11 metres), responsible persons will be required to undertake annual checks of flat entrance doors and quarterly checks of all fire doors in the common part.

Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire, Chris Philp, said: “I am very pleased that measures to improve fire safety in blocks of flats are now law following recommendations made by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

“Keeping the public safe is our utmost priority and we are committed to ensuring that the Grenfell tragedy must never happen again.”

Industry responds to annual State of Fire report

23 January 2023

by Iain Hoey Breaking News

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and Fire Brigades Union (FBU) have responded to the annual State of Fire and Rescue assessment of fire and rescue services in England across 2022.

This report draws on findings from inspections of fire and rescue services (FRSs) in England, to provide an overall view of the state of the fire and rescue sector.

‘A lot to be proud of’

In the report, HMICFRS Chief Inspector Andy Cooke said: “I am continually struck by the dedication of firefighters and other staff, and I know the public feel the same – they are enormous assets to our communities.”

Responding to the report, NFCC (National Fire Chiefs Council) Chair Mark Hardingham commented: “There is a lot to be proud of in this year’s annual report. To see the dedication of professional staff highlighted is no surprise, with 84 per cent of the public valuing the work carried out by fire and rescue services.

“I am also pleased to see the role of NFCC, and our national work highlighted. Our programmes provide all fire and rescue services with the tools to build on the excellent work taking place, while making improvements in areas we know need to be better.”

Firefighters and fire and rescue services were also praised for dealing with the significant increase in the number and scale of wildfires last year, linked to the increasing impact of climate change on the sector.

However, Mr Cooke renewed the call for urgent reform of the fire and rescue service and for the government to act on recommendations set out in this and previous reports.

Prevention work is an area that has been highlighted as requiring improvement to continue to drive down deaths and injuries from fires and other incidents, targeted especially at the most vulnerable people in communities.

Concerns about the culture and inclusion in some fire and rescue services stands out as an area which requires improvement, referencing unacceptable levels of bullying, harassment, and discrimination.

HMICFRS will be producing a spotlight report on values and culture later this year, drawing from inspections already undertaken across every fire service in England.

Mr Hardingham added: “We know there is a lot to do in areas such as culture, diversity, and wider reform. As set out in the report, this is more than just having a representative workforce, it is about creating the right inclusive environment to ensure all staff feel valued, safe, and able to realise their full potential at work.

“Whilst there is much that every fire service can do, and some are, to maximise the potential benefits for staff and the public it needs all those working across the fire sector to continue to work together to address areas where there are clear issues.

“NFCC has a wide range of well-developed national work underway with a focus on people and culture. We believe this will make a difference and deliver improvements across all fire services. However, the journey of culture change is rarely a ‘quick fix’ and requires sustained investment, and I welcome the forthcoming HMI spotlight report focusing on values and culture.

‘Disappointed’

Matt Wrack, the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said the FBU was disappointed with the new State of Fire and Rescue annual report, which continues its ill-judged commitment to the White Paper.

Wrack said: “The FBU hoped that the Inspectorate, under new leadership would abandon the misguided White Paper that seeks to give chief fire officers a free hand to instruct the workforce, ignoring their contracts of employment and conditions of service. These ‘reforms’ are aimed at undermining the FBU, despite the vast majority of firefighters choosing to belong to the union.

“HMICFRS has chosen not to listen to rank and file firefighters. The FBU would again urge Mr. Cooke to map his own course to achieve what we all want: a properly funded fire service that includes decent resources and fair pay for firefighters, and that reflects the extraordinary job they do.

“The Inspectorate claims to sympathise with firefighters during this cost of living crisis yet unfortunately provides nothing more than warm words. Firefighters want their contribution to society recognised with a fair pay rise, not continued political attack that seeks to abolish their collective bargaining structures.

“Mr. Cooke does recognise that services are falling short of response standards they themselves have set and describes a postcode lottery that the FBU has warned about for years. Despite the correct diagnosis, he doesn’t prescribe the correct course of treatment – national standards. Neither does the report address more than a decade of central funding cuts, 11,500 firefighter posts lost and years of pay cuts.”

IFSJ Exclusive: The next generation of fire engineers

20 January 2023

by Iain Hoey Breaking News

Katy Lowe, Director of fire engineering recruitment agency KL Connections talks about attracting talent to an underserved sector

Fire engineering is a profession in high demand, and yet the number of people being trained and brought into the sector is diminishing. We sat down with Katie Lowe, Director of fire engineering recruitment agency, KL Connections, to talk about attracting talent to an underserved sector, the shortage of talent for fire engineering positions, and what we can do to attract more people to what is going to be an increasingly demanding role.

What exactly is a fire engineer?

Fire engineering encompasses a broad spectrum of jobs. I work predominantly in recruitment for the building safety side, but it goes right across the industry through infrastructure, transportation, sports stadia and beyond. Basically, a fire engineers mission is to make sure that all the fire safety measures are in place. They ensure that buildings are designed to be safe and will assess hazards and minimise the risk of fires. They will also provide advice on buildings, including new build, refurbished and heritage.

There are many different facets to it – fire protection, fire safety, fire training, fire assessment and fire engineering. The fire engineers I work with assist architects and surveyors to ensure building codes are being met.

Why is there a shortage of fire engineers?

If I’m brutally honest, it’s because it is still not a recognised enough discipline. We are getting there and since Grenfell, it is a position that has come to the forefront and the change in building legislations has caused a massive increase in demand of engineers, but there’s just not enough professionals to go around. There’s so much work and not enough people. I know there is also a lot of concern around competency in the industry.

What are the main barriers that are worsening the shortage?

As I said, there are just not enough engineers, and people don’t think that it’s paid enough for the huge responsibility that is involved. I do agree with that, but it’s difficult to keep it in line because you’ve got the independent fire consultancies that can pay more.

The industry can only train and develop a certain number of engineers each year, but the market size is increasing at a much faster rate than the industry can recruit, train and develop!

What is being done to recruit more people to the industry?

I’ve had some flippant chats with some of the guys saying ‘we need to go into primary schools’ and start telling them about fire engineering – and you know, why not? They get visits from a whole range of public sector representatives, so why not fire engineers?

It’s still a job that I don’t think a lot of people know actually exists, For instance, the running of the undergraduate course at Leeds University was stopped due to lack of uptake! We need to communicate to people that this is a career that is much needed, there is only going to be a greater demand for it in the future, as safety regulations change and evolve. This is the kind of job that can be exciting and challenging and should be SHOUTED about.

There’s a Women in Fire Safety Forum that’s been set up on LinkedIn and it’s amazing. Last year there were 100 members and this year there are now 800! I think more people are going on LinkedIn – its a big platform for professionals.

How can we attract new talent to the industry?

From my perspective, I think apprenticeships really are the way forward. Getting people on board early, starting off as an undergraduate and working their way up – that would open the door and make a big difference.

I’ve looked at candidates from different engineering backgrounds, such as mechanical, aeronautical, chemical, also building control, and upskilling them, getting them to transfer across and extending their knowledge. It does happen, but not as much as I’d like it to. This is a short-term fix though as it can take 3-5 years to be truly useful to a consultancy and working on their own.

Long term we need to be going into schools, looking at apprenticeships, and recognising them as much as we do degrees. I know already some of the consultancies are starting to do this and have created their own apprenticeship schemes, and training them up, and it’s working really well – It would be fantastic if everyone could try this.

Finally, you won the award for Recruiter of the Year at the Women in Fire awards – how did that come about? How did it feel?

I was absolutely elated and humbled by it. I have been working in fire engineering recruitment for 16 years now. I fell into it by accident – I used to work in law recruitment in London before I moved down to Tunbridge Wells, and came across an agency that was doing fire engineering. It took me a while to get to grips with it, probably 6 months as it’s a very broad sector but, I have never looked back.

I really enjoy working for the industry as a whole, everyone is dedicated and wants to make a difference. I just try and help as many people as possible. I was really shocked to receive the award, but it was a fantastic accolade to have that recognition after a long time and makes it all so worthwhile.

This article was originally published in the January edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Winners of the 2023 Intersec Awards announced

19 January 2023

by Iain Hoey Breaking News Events

The winners of the Intersec Awards 2023 were announced last night (19 January) in a gala dinner event at the Ritz Carlton, DIFC. Among the winners were Dubai Police, UAE based Atos and Protec Fire Detection from the UK, as well as individuals from Aman Security Training and NAFFCO.

The Awards, which recognise the people, products and companies for exceptional performance in the fire, safety and security industries across ten categories attracted almost 1300 entries.

The People categories reward those who challenge industry standards, are exceptionally skilled at inspiring transformation and bringing about substantial change, and who have achieved great success as industry experts in their particular field.

The award for Outstanding Commitment to the Industry went to Adil Abdel-Hadi of Aman Security Training, for proactively raised the professionalism of the security industry throughout the Middle East and Africa. One way in which he achieved this was by introducing City & Guilds accredited training courses for both the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) and the Dubai Police Academy, which have benefited over 200,000 vocational students.

Speaking at the ceremony, Abdel-Hadi described his win as “Overwhelming”, adding “I am very honoured to receive it. It’s been wonderful.” He also acknowledged his fellow nominees and the organisers, referencing their ‘commitment and support to the industry for the past 20 years.’

Other winners in the people category included Les Allan, Chairman of the Association of University Chief Security Officers who was named International Leader of the Year; while Khalid Al Khatib, CEO of NAFFCO was selected as Regional Leader of the Year and Essa Ahmed Al-Mutawa of Dubai Civil Defence has been hailed as a rising star, receiving the Young Emirati Achiever Award.

Commenting on his win, Al-Mutawa said: “I feel extremely honoured to receive the award, it will help me try to think positively and to give more to my work and company,” and paid tribute to Intersec 2023, adding, “And I would like to thank everyone who works for this great event.”

Security winners

Homeland Security product of the year went to D-Fend Solutions for its EnforceAir counter-drone technology, while OPTEX REDSCAN pro Lidar series from OPTEX Europe won Commercial and Perimeter Security product of the year. Secure Logiq was recognised for its efforts offsetting the carbon of the electronic security manufacturing sector with the trophy for Security Sustainability service of the year and the award for Cybersecurity service of the year went to Atos for the AI platform powered managed detection and response services – Alsaac.

Fire and safety winners

Fire and Safety Sustainability Product of the year recognised the Eco Land and Eco Sea products from Detectionloop; and Fire Product of the Year was presented to Protec Cirrus HYBRID Aspirating Fire and Smoke Detector from Protec Fire Detection. Data-analytics platform chnnl, designed to help organisations create meaningful well-being and psychological safety strategies won Safety Product of the year, while a special award for Excellence in Community Service and Wellbeing was presented to Dubai Police for its Lost and Found service that takes advantage of artificial intelligence and digital technologies.

Alex Nicholl, show director at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, commented: “Security, safety and fire protection play a vital role in the world, and the stars of the industries deserve to be celebrated.

“The calibre of entries for the Intersec Awards this year was incredible, demonstrating the commitment and innovation of people and companies to driving advancement across the board. It is an honour to reward and celebrate these achievements and I send my congratulations to all of our winners.”