About The IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference
- 120+ senior professionals from the Middle East & Africa fire and safety industries representing major commercial entities, transport authorities, regulatory bodies, infrastructural departments and more
- 30+ expert speakers exploring strategy, market challenges and opportunities
- Fast-paced agenda covering multiple topics, from high-rise safety to incident command
- Prestigious waterfront conference venue in Dubai with easy transport links
- Interactive exhibition space, scheduled networking breaks, buffet-style lunch
- Opportunities to meet with key stakeholders and industry decision makers
- Innovative solutions on show from major industry providers and manufacturers
- Supported by Dubai Civil Defense and leading associations
Expand your network and directly interact with CEOs, Crisis Management Experts, Senior Consultants, Heads of Fire and more…
Meet our advisory panel

Terry Johnson
Terry Johnson FIFire E, is a seasoned emergency services professional and the current President of the GCC UAE Branch of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE). Specialising in fire emergency response, risk management, and regulatory code alignment, he is dedicated to advancing fire and rescue standards across the GCC region. With in-depth knowledge of Civil Defense and NEOM developments, Terry is committed to enhancing public safety and resilience in the communities he serves.

Engineer Salma Al Ali
Head of Engineering Section, Dubai Civil Defense (DCD)
Engineer Salma Humaid Saeed AlAli is an accomplished fire safety engineer at Dubai Civil Defense. Her work plays a critical role in ensuring buildings and structures in Dubai meet the highest fire safety standards.
She has helped implement fire safety regulations and codes, delivered presentations at various conferences, and worked closely with architects, contractors, and engineers to promote fire safety education and training. Her contributions have been recognised numerous times, and she continues to lead key initiatives to enhance fire safety and compliance across Dubai. She is dedicated to fostering collaboration within the GCC and internationally to advance fire safety standards.

Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Humaid Al Ali
UAE General Command of Civil Defense Ministry Of Interior
Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Humaid Al Ali holds a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) with a specialisation in Artificial Intelligence and is a Lieutenant Colonel serving as the Deputy Director of Fire Affairs with the UAE General Command of Civil Defense.
He is a visionary leader in safety and fire station operations and has a distinguished record of service, having been named “Best Officer in the Civil Defense Sector” three times.
Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Essa Almutawa
Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Essa Almutawa is the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, the Head of Global Indicators for Fire Incidents, and the Director of the Department of Monitoring and Inspection at Dubai Civil Defense (DCD).
Known as a key figure in advancing artificial intelligence within fire and safety, Dr. Essa is also the first international member of the UK’s National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Board, marking his global influence in this field.
Steve Apter QFSM MSc
Former UK Chief Fire Officer and Deputy Commissioner of London Fire Brigade
Tarek Al Assil
Tarek, a seasoned Business Leader, boasts 15+ years in GCC’s Facilities and Properties Management. He excels in crafting integrated solutions for iconic facilities. Holding a BSc in Mechanical Engineering, he’s a certified CFM, SFP, FMP, and PMP, showcasing expertise in sustainable practices and properties management.
Ghaith Bakir
Mark Buckingham
Paul Calderwood
David Campbell
David Campbell is General Manager for Dubai Civil Defense’s Emirates Safety Laboratory, educated in Applied Sciences – Fire Technology, Fire Engineering and Environmental Sciences – Natural Resource Management and Digital Transformations with 33 years working in the sector of which the past 13 years supporting the Middle East region.
Sawsan Dahham
CEO of SIENA
Robert Davies BSc (Hons) MSc CEng MIFireE CFPS
Dr. Reginald D. Freeman
Executive Director – Fire & EMS for NEOM
Dr Freeman is an internationally recognized fire service leader who specializes in leadership, professional development, and organizational effectiveness. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for CPSE, Leadership Crucible Foundation and NFPA. Lastly, he is an Adjunct college Professor that teaches both undergraduate and graduate classes, respectively.
Dana Kamal
Saif Essa Al Maskiri
Sajid Raza, BEng (Hons), MBA
Robert (Bob) Rea
Peter Stephenson BEng (Hons) Fire Engineering, FIFireE
Independent International Fire Safety Engineer and Fire & Emergency Response Specialist
As an independent International Fire Safety Engineer, Peter is active within the built environment promoting best practices and providing fire engineering and fire & emergency response solutions to clients. Peter is a Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) and is currently a committee member and International General Assembly representative of the IFE GCC UAE Branch registered in Dubai.
His considerable experiences in fire safety engineering and rail infrastructure projects include working as a Director of Fire Engineering – Middle East at Hydrock, now Stantec, Business Development Manager at Warringtonfire, Associate Director at Buro Happold, Senior Fire Safety Engineer for Network Rail and as Fire Safety Officer for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Mohammed AlSaeefan
Fire Protection Engineering Specialist at Saudi Aramco, Chief Operations Officer, World Firefighters Games 2026 (AlKhobar, Saudi Arabia)