Posts tagged: new appointment

Jay Colville to helm Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service Board

The Department of Health has announced the appointment of a new Non-Executive Chair for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS). Colville’s tenure will commence on 1 July 2023.

Key role for Colville in Northern Ireland’s public safety

Peter May, Permanent Secretary, spoke on the appointment: “NIFRS protects and serves the entire population of NI, providing a range of fire and rescue services and the Chair is responsible for leading its Board and for ensuring that it successfully discharges its overall responsibility for the organisation.”

He further added: “I would like to congratulate the newly appointed Chair. His skills, experience and dedication to public service will prove invaluable in the years ahead.”

The role of the NIFRS Non-Executive Chair is a significant commitment, requiring the dedication of approximately 2 ½ – 3 days per week.

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service’s wide reach

The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service was established on 1 July 2006.

It is tasked with protecting and serving the population of Northern Ireland, spanning an area of over 5,500 square miles, providing a range of fire and rescue services.

Under several legal orders and regulations, NIFRS responds to fires, road traffic collisions, and other emergencies.

The organisation maintains a dedicated Regional Control Centre and operates from 68 Fire Stations across Northern Ireland.

About the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service

The NIFRS Board comprises the Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, a Non-Executive Chair, and 10 other Non-Executive Members appointed by the Department.

All appointments are made on merit, with political activity playing no part in the selection process.

Jay Colville, the newly appointed Non-Executive Chair, previously served as the Area Director of Nationwide Building Society for Northern Ireland and West Scotland.

With an expansive career across the UK, he has held roles in various sectors including Management Training and Marketing project leadership.

International Fire & Safety Journal Commentary

This appointment marks a significant step in reinforcing Northern Ireland’s commitment to public safety and fire prevention measures.

As an established figure with a strong background in leadership, Jay Colville’s skills and experience could prove instrumental in steering the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service towards new advancements and increased efficiency in serving the community.

Overview of the newly appointed members

The SFPE Foundation, a charity aiming to deepen the understanding of fire and its interplay with social, natural and built environments, recently announced the appointment of four new governors to its board. The new governors were appointed in May.

The new appointments include Sean Donohue, Vice President of Fire & Life Safety, West, at WSP USA; Ann Jeffers, an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan; Steve Kerber, Vice President & Executive Director of the Fire Safety Research Institute at UL Research Institutes; and Chris LaFleur, the Manager of Risk & Reliability Analysis for Sandia National Laboratories.

Mission and focus of the SFPE Foundation

On the purpose of the SFPE Foundation, Leslie Marshall, the Director, stated: “From funding research on the environmental and health impact of large-scale fire events, to studying opportunities for better integration of fire protection systems in building information modelling, to expanding resources on fire risk mitigation in the wildland urban interface, to understanding the impact of water supply and climate change on fire protection systems, and so much more, we continue to enhance the scientific understanding of fire. With the leadership of experts like Sean, Ann, Steve, and Chris – along with the support of generous donors and partners – we are expanding our impact and working to achieve our mission of engineering a resilient, sustainable, fire-safe world for all.”

Recognising outgoing members and funding the Foundation’s work

The SFPE Foundation also took the opportunity to recognise the invaluable contributions of outgoing Governors Kathleen Almand, Justin Biller and Bryan Klein.

The foundation’s programmes and research are financed through the support of donors, which include SFPE chapters, members, governmental agencies, leading companies and organisations, among others. It was pointed out that demand for research funding from the foundation significantly surpasses available funds. To manage this, the foundation periodically invites research proposals through both open calls and specific requests for proposals.

FireMate, a fire industry firm specialising in remote alarm management and software, has confirmed the appointment of Taylor Streets as their new Business Development Manager.

With a significant amount of industry experience and a commendable record in sales, Streets will play a vital role in enhancing the company’s reach in both the UK and European markets.

The 29-year-old, originally from Worksop, now resides in the nearby village of Carlton-in-Lindrick. His professional journey began as a health coach for the NHS and ToHealth. Later, he moved to the fire sector, working at Hoyles Fire and Safety Ltd as a Fire Sales Engineer. After showing considerable prowess in various areas like contract sales, fire risk assessments, equipment sales, training, and fire extinguisher servicing, he become the top-performing salesperson for the North of England in 2021 and 2022.

Upon his appointment, Streets expressed his enthusiasm: “I’m thrilled to join the dynamic team at FireMate. The company’s innovative approach and positive work culture align well with my aspirations. I’m particularly excited about promoting the innovative Nimbus line, which offers remote monitoring, testing, and management for fire systems from all key manufacturers. I aim to foster new relationships, manage current accounts, and generate new business, expanding the impressive Nimbus customer base.”

Mike Giuffrida, FireMate’s Managing Director, expressed his confidence in Streets’ ability to progress the company. He stated: “We’re delighted to welcome Taylor to our team. His expertise in the fire industry and exceptional sales and negotiation skills make him a strong asset to us. We look forward to seeing the energy and passion he brings to this role and the positive impact it will have on our operations.”

In a significant announcement, Hyfire, a global leader in wireless fire detection and alarm devices, has welcomed Brett Boyd on board as the new Regional Sales Manager for the London & South East region to strengthen Hyfire’s customer service and support network in the region.

Boyd’s extensive career includes project planning and expediting roles in prominent construction firms such as Bateman, Sandvik, Tenova, and Murray & Roberts. He transitioned to the fire protection industry in 2014, joining a Johannesburg-based firm as a Fire Detection & Special Risks Sales Rep.

His journey then took him to a fire and security distribution company, where he honed his skills as a product specialist for fire detection equipment. Immediately prior to joining Hyfire, Boyd served as a Business Development Manager in the South East and London for a globally recognised manufacturer.

On accepting his new role, Boyd said: “I’m thrilled to join the Hyfire team and look forward to leveraging my expertise to contribute to the company’s ongoing success. I was drawn to Hyfire by the chance to work with a market-leading manufacturer that offers an impressive array of wireless and fire devices. My goal is to maintain the high level of service our existing partners have come to expect, while actively seeking new opportunities to expand awareness of the Hyfire brand and drive growth.”

Hyfire’s International Director, Tom Crane, expressed his excitement about Boyd’s appointment, stating: “We’re delighted to have Brett join us at Hyfire as our new Regional Sales Manager for London & South East. His extensive experience, industry knowledge, and commitment to exceptional service make him a valuable addition to our team. We look forward to working together to continue expanding our market presence and providing unparalleled solutions to our partners and customers.”

About Hyfire

Hyfire, a purveyor of the widest range of commercial standard wireless fire devices on the market, offers products that are fully certified to EN54, and compliant with BS5839 Part 1. The company’s product catalogue spans optical, multi-criteria and heat detectors, notification, interface, and control units, all epitomizing performance and quality. Hyfire has also recently launched EvacWireless, a scalable solution designed to meet the BS8629 evacuation alert standards in residential buildings taller than 18 metres.

Crane added: “With our top-of-the-line Taurus range of wireless fire devices to showcase, and Brett’s personal dedication and genuine enthusiasm for the role, I’m confident that he will hit the ground running and generate results. Demonstrating to our installer partners how they can incorporate wireless technology within their projects is a key growth area for us, building upon almost two decades of wireless innovation. With Brett on board, we are even better placed to push things forward.”

Established in 2007, Hyfire pioneered the introduction of commercial wireless detection and alarm devices fully certified to EN54. The brand, a part of The Orama Group, is renowned for its quality, reliability, and innovation in the commercial fire sector. Hyfire offers a five-year warranty on its devices and is backed by a dedicated partner programme.

In a significant move to boost its regional presence, Elmdene International Limited, a subsidiary of Potter Company, has announced the appointment of Pilar Sancho as their new Sales Manager for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).

Tasked with spearheading Elmdene’s expansion efforts in Europe, Sancho’s role will emphasise the importance of sustaining the company’s commitment to top-notch service delivery. She brings to the table an extensive repertoire of experience in the industry, with a solid track record of managing sales across Europe for notable firms such as FFE and UTC Carrier.

Kelly Lowe, the Sales and Marketing Director at Elmdene, hailed the appointment as a pivotal one for the company. She said: “This is a key appointment for Elmdene. Pilar’s experience in the Fire and Security industries across Europe will be invaluable for our continued growth internationally. We’re excited to welcome Pilar to the team.”

Sancho also shared her enthusiasm for the new role, noting the opportunities it presents. She said:”I’m delighted to be joining Elmdene. Having been within the industry over the years, it’ll be a great opportunity to work on some exciting projects and partnerships with Elmdene.”

This strategic appointment underscores Elmdene’s focus on accelerating its growth within the EMEA region, thereby strengthening its footprint in the Fire and Security industries.