IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety - Official Agenda
The Grosvenor House Hotel, Dubai Marina, Dubai, UAE
8th May 2025
Keynote Speakers
- Ms. Afaf Al Mheiri – Director of Strategy & Future Department, Dubai Civil Defense
- Mike Brunzell – Vice President, Global Business Development, NFPA
Advisory Panel
- Terry Johnson – President, IFE UAE GCC Branch
- Engineer Salma Al Ali – Head of Engineering Section, Dubai Civil Defence
- Mark Buckingham – Head of Emergency Preparedness at Abu Dhabi Airports
- David Campbell – General Manager, Emirates Safety Laboratory
- Robert Davies – Operations Director, WSP in the Middle East
- Sawsan Dahham – CEO, Siena
- Ghaith Bakir – Senior Regulatory Engineer, UL
- Saif Essa Al Maskiri – Senior GHSE Manager, ENOC
- Sajid Raza – CEO, Butler Engineering
- Engineer Dana Kamal – Director of International Development, NFPA
- Peter Stephenson – Associate Director, Fire & Life Safety Operations, Qiddiya
- Steve Apter – Retired Chief Fire Officer and former Deputy Commissioner, London Fire Brigade
- Tarek Al Assil – Executive Director, iFM Facilities Management
- Lieutenant Colonel Dr Essa Almutawa – Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, Dubai Civil Defence
- Lieutenant Colonel Dr Humaid Al Ali – Deputy Director of Fire Affairs, UAE General Command of Civil Defense, Ministry of Interior
- Mohammed Saeefan – Fire Protection Engineering Specialist, Saudi Aramco
- Paul Calderwood – Deputy Chief (Ret.), Everett Fire Department, Massachusetts
- Dr. Reginald D. Freeman – Executive Director Fire & EMS, NEOM
- Robert (Bob) Rea – Director and Lead Facilitator, BR Training Solutions Ltd
Speakers
- Terry Johnson – President, IFE UAE GCC Branch President
- Ian Stokes – CEO, Centurian Media Ltd.
- Ms. Afaf Al Mheiri – Director of Strategy & Future Department, Dubai Civil Defense
- Andy Spence – Joint Managing Director, Britannia Fire Ltd
- Kyle Barrie – Manager, Economics, WSP
- Eitan Charnoff – Secretariat Safer Communities Forum, UAE Ministry of Interior
- Mike Brunzell – Vice President, Global Business Development, NFPA
- Steve Apter – Retired Chief Fire Officer and former Deputy Commissioner, London Fire Brigade
- Sebastian Ukleja – Testing Manager, Emirates Safety Laboratory
Moderators & Panellists
- Ghaith Bakir – Senior Regulatory Engineer, UL Solutions
- Eman Mattie-Suleiman – Technical Director, VdS Loss Prevention
- Lieutenant Colonel Dr Humaid Al Ali – Deputy Director of Fire Affairs, UAE General Command of Civil Defense, Ministry of Interior
- Chris Chennel – Head of Fire and Life Safety – Technical Director, WSP
- Ihab Al Bariam – Assistant Vice President ‑ HSE & Quality, LOAMS
- Ahmed Abdu – Quality & Operational Excellence Testing Manager at ABB
- Aman Sharma – CEO, Totus Digital
- Sajid Raza – CEO, Butler Engineering
- Rima Boudaba – Sustainability Manager, +impact
- Andy Spence – Joint Managing Director, Britannia Fire Ltd.
- Ryan Dhindsa – CEO, Tuffking
- Bob Rea – Director and Lead facilitator, BR Training Solutions Ltd
- Phill Witts – COO, ATEIS
- Tarek Al Assil – Executive Director, iFM Facilities Management
- Haitham Alqassab – Senior Consultant Fire and Life Safety, WSP
- Paul Calderwood – Deputy Chief (Retd), Everett Fire Department USA
- Sawsan Dahham – CEO, Siena
- Steve Hamm – CEO, The Institution of Fire Engineers
- Dr Saleh Ali Albalushi – Vice President H&S, Drydocks World
- Mohammed Al Saeefan – Fire Protection Engineering Specialist, Saudi Aramco
- David Campbell – General Manager, Emirates Safety Laboratories
Keynote Speakers
- Ms. Afaf Al Mheiri – Director of Strategy & Future Department, Dubai Civil Defense
- Mike Brunzell – Vice President, Global Business Development, NFPA
Advisory Panel
- Terry Johnson – President, IFE UAE GCC Branch
- Engineer Salma Al Ali – Head of Engineering Section, Dubai Civil Defence
- Mark Buckingham – Head of Emergency Preparedness at Abu Dhabi Airports
- David Campbell – General Manager, Emirates Safety Laboratory
- Robert Davies – Operations Director, WSP in the Middle East
- Sawsan Dahham – CEO, Siena
- Ghaith Bakir – Senior Regulatory Engineer, UL
- Saif Essa Al Maskiri – Senior GHSE Manager, ENOC
- Sajid Raza – CEO, Butler Engineering
- Engineer Dana Kamal – Director of International Development, NFPA
- Peter Stephenson – Associate Director, Fire & Life Safety Operations, Qiddiya
- Steve Apter – Retired Chief Fire Officer and former Deputy Commissioner, London Fire Brigade
- Tarek Al Assil – Executive Director, iFM Facilities Management
- Lieutenant Colonel Dr Essa Almutawa – Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, Dubai Civil Defence
- Lieutenant Colonel Dr Humaid Al Ali – Deputy Director of Fire Affairs, UAE General Command of Civil Defense, Ministry of Interior
- Mohammed Saeefan – Fire Protection Engineering Specialist, Saudi Aramco
- Paul Calderwood – Deputy Chief (Ret.), Everett Fire Department, Massachusetts
- Dr. Reginald D. Freeman – Executive Director Fire & EMS, NEOM
- Robert (Bob) Rea – Director and Lead Facilitator, BR Training Solutions Ltd
Speakers
- Terry Johnson – President, IFE UAE GCC Branch President
- Ian Stokes – CEO, Centurian Media Ltd.
- Ms. Afaf Al Mheiri – Director of Strategy & Future Department, Dubai Civil Defense
- Andy Spence – Joint Managing Director, Britannia Fire Ltd
- Kyle Barrie – Manager, Economics, WSP
- Eitan Charnoff – Secretariat Safer Communities Forum, UAE Ministry of Interior
- Mike Brunzell – Vice President, Global Business Development, NFPA
- Steve Apter – Retired Chief Fire Officer and former Deputy Commissioner, London Fire Brigade
- Sebastian Ukleja – Testing Manager, Emirates Safety Laboratory
Moderators & Panellists
- Ghaith Bakir – Senior Regulatory Engineer, UL Solutions
- Eman Mattie-Suleiman – Technical Director, VdS Loss Prevention
- Lieutenant Colonel Dr Humaid Al Ali – Deputy Director of Fire Affairs, UAE General Command of Civil Defense, Ministry of Interior
- Chris Chennel – Head of Fire and Life Safety – Technical Director, WSP
- Ihab Al Bariam – Assistant Vice President ‑ HSE & Quality, LOAMS
- Ahmed Abdu – Quality & Operational Excellence Testing Manager at ABB
- Aman Sharma – CEO, Totus Digital
- Sajid Raza – CEO, Butler Engineering
- Rima Boudaba – Sustainability Manager, +impact
- Andy Spence – Joint Managing Director, Britannia Fire Ltd.
- Ryan Dhindsa – CEO, Tuffking
- Bob Rea – Director and Lead facilitator, BR Training Solutions Ltd
- Phill Witts – COO, ATEIS
- Tarek Al Assil – Executive Director, iFM Facilities Management
- Haitham Alqassab – Senior Consultant Fire and Life Safety, WSP
- Paul Calderwood – Deputy Chief (Retd), Everett Fire Department USA
- Sawsan Dahham – CEO, Siena
- Steve Hamm – CEO, The Institution of Fire Engineers
- Dr Saleh Ali Albalushi – Vice President H&S, Drydocks World
- Mohammed Al Saeefan – Fire Protection Engineering Specialist, Saudi Aramco
- David Campbell – General Manager, Emirates Safety Laboratories
08:00 – 08:50 GST
REGISTRATION & MORNING NETWORKING
09:00 – 09:10 GST
WELCOME REMARKS
Ian Stokes – CEO, Centurian Media Ltd.
Terry Johnson, Conference Chair
09:10 – 09:20 GST
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Ms. Afaf Al Mheiri – Director of Strategy & Future Department, Dubai Civil Defense
09:25 – 10:05 GST
PRESENTATION & PANEL DISCUSSION – EVOLVING THREATS: LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES
Presenter/Moderator: Ghaith Bakir
Panellists: Dr Humaid Al Ali, Chris Chennell, Ahmed Abdo, Ihab Al Bariam, Eman Mattie-Suleiman
This presentation and panel discussion will address lithium-ion battery fires and explosion hazards. Battery safety is a global hot topic due to its fire and life safety risks to the public and firefighters. It will cover powered e-mobility, devices in the home, and electric vehicles, whilst exploring fire incidents data statistics and trends.
09:25 – 10:05 GST
PRESENTATION & PANEL DISCUSSION – EVOLVING THREATS: LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES
Presenter/Moderator: Ghaith Bakir
Panellists: Dr Humaid Al Ali, Chris Chennell, Ahmed Abdo, Ihab Al Bariam, Eman Mattie-Suleiman
Synopsis
This presentation and panel discussion will address lithium-ion battery fires and explosion hazards. Battery safety is a global hot topic due to its fire and life safety risks to the public and firefighters. It will cover powered e-mobility, devices in the home, and electric vehicles, whilst exploring fire incidents data statistics and trends.
10:10 – 10:20 GST
PLATINUM PRESENTATION
Presenter: Andy Spence, Joint Managing Director, Britannia Fire Ltd
10:25 – 10:50 GST
PANEL DISCUSSION – SUSTAINABILITY: EMBRACING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Moderator: Aman Sharma
Panellists: Andy Spence, Ryan Dhindsa, Sajid Raza, Rima Boudaba
Industry experts will explore how the circular economy is vital to sustainability as it minimises waste, conserves resources, and reduces environmental impact by reusing, recycling, and regenerating materials. Unlike the linear model, it promotes efficient production and consumption, supporting long-term ecological balance and economic resilience while addressing climate change and resource scarcity.
10:25 – 10:50 GST
PANEL DISCUSSION – SUSTAINABILITY: EMBRACING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Moderator: Aman Sharma
Panellists: Andy Spence, Ryan Dhindsa, Sajid Raza, Rima Boudaba
Synopsis
Industry experts will explore how the circular economy is vital to sustainability as it minimises waste, conserves resources, and reduces environmental impact by reusing, recycling, and regenerating materials. Unlike the linear model, it promotes efficient production and consumption, supporting long-term ecological balance and economic resilience while addressing climate change and resource scarcity.
10:50 – 11:20 GST
MORNING BREAK – TEA & COFFEE
11:25 – 11:50 GST
PRESENTATION – RESILIENCE: THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF FIRE SAFETY
Presenter: Kyle Barrie
In this presentation, Kyle will demonstrate how strategic, end-to-end investments in preventive fire safety deliver long-term economic returns. Drawing on global case studies and data, he’ll contrast the costs of post-incident repairs, tenant relocations, reputational damage, and related issues with modest upfront and ongoing prevention expenditures. Anchoring the discussion in economic trade-off frameworks – cost-benefit analysis – Kyle will demonstrate how fire safety investments can protect assets and ensure wider economic resilience.
11:25 – 11:50 GST
PRESENTATION – RESILIENCE: THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF FIRE SAFETY
Presenter: Kyle Barrie
Synopsis
In this presentation, Kyle will demonstrate how strategic, end-to-end investments in preventive fire safety deliver long-term economic returns. Drawing on global case studies and data, he’ll contrast the costs of post-incident repairs, tenant relocations, reputational damage, and related issues with modest upfront and ongoing prevention expenditures. Anchoring the discussion in economic trade-off frameworks – cost-benefit analysis – Kyle will demonstrate how fire safety investments can protect assets and ensure wider economic resilience.
11:55 – 12:20 GST
PANEL DISCUSSION – FACILITIES MANAGEMENT: FROM DESIGN TO DEMOLITION
Moderator: Bob Rea
Panellists: Tarek Al Asil, Paul Calderwood, Phil Witts, Haitham Alqassab
This panel explores the critical role of Facilities Management throughout a building’s lifecycle. Experts will discuss how early FM involvement enhances sustainability, efficiency, and user experience, ensuring long-term value, operational excellence, and strategic decision-making in the built environment. Discover why FM is essential from start to finish.
11:55 – 12:20 GST
PANEL DISCUSSION – FACILITIES MANAGEMENT: FROM DESIGN TO DEMOLITION
Moderator: Bob Rea
Panellists: Tarek Al Asil, Paul Calderwood, Phil Witts, Haitham Alqassab
Synopsis
This panel explores the critical role of Facilities Management throughout a building’s lifecycle. Experts will discuss how early FM involvement enhances sustainability, efficiency, and user experience, ensuring long-term value, operational excellence, and strategic decision-making in the built environment. Discover why FM is essential from start to finish.
12:25 – 12:50 GST
PRESENTATION – PUBLIC SAFETY: PEOPLE OF DETERMINATION (UAE YEAR OF COMMUNITY)
Presenter: Eitan Charnoff
This frontal lecture on People of Determination (PoDs) and Disaster Management would highlight best practices for ensuring inclusive disaster preparedness and response, while also tying into the UAE’s Year of the Community, reinforcing the importance of resilience at all levels of society.
12:25 – 12:50 GST
PRESENTATION – PUBLIC SAFETY: PEOPLE OF DETERMINATION (UAE YEAR OF COMMUNITY)
Presenter: Eitan Charnoff
Synopsis
This frontal lecture on People of Determination (PoDs) and Disaster Management would highlight best practices for ensuring inclusive disaster preparedness and response, while also tying into the UAE’s Year of the Community, reinforcing the importance of resilience at all levels of society.
12:50 – 13:40 GST
LUNCH BREAK & NETWORKING
13:45 – 13:55 GST
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Mike Brunzell – Vice President, Global Business Development, NFPA
14:00 – 14:25 GST
PRESENTATION – CRISIS COMMUNICATION: WHEN A POOR COMMUNICATION STRATEGY BECOMES YOUR CRISIS
Presenter: Steve Apter
This session explores the perilous consequences of ineffective communication methods. Delving into case studies illustrating how flawed strategies escalate manageable situations into full-blown crises. Learn invaluable lessons on crafting clear, timely, and empathetic communication to avert and navigate organisational crisis successfully.
14:00 – 14:25 GST
PRESENTATION – CRISIS COMMUNICATION: WHEN A POOR COMMUNICATION STRATEGY BECOMES YOUR CRISIS
Presenter: Steve Apter
Synopsis
This session explores the perilous consequences of ineffective communication methods. Delving into case studies illustrating how flawed strategies escalate manageable situations into full-blown crises. Learn invaluable lessons on crafting clear, timely, and empathetic communication to avert and navigate organisational crisis successfully.
14:30 – 15:10 GST
PRESENTATION & PANEL DISCUSSION – RECRUITMENT & RETENTION: BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE GROUND FOR HIGHLY-SKILLED ROLES
Presenter/Moderator: Sawsan Dahham, CEO, Siena
Panellists: David Campbell, Steve Hamm, Dr. Saleh Ali Albalushi, Mohammed Al Saeefan
This panel will explore innovative strategies for attracting and retaining top talent in high-skill industries. Experts will share insights on sustainable workforce development, employer branding, and inclusive practices that ensure long-term employee engagement and organisational growth in an increasingly competitive global market.
14:30 – 15:10 GST
PRESENTATION & PANEL DISCUSSION – RECRUITMENT & RETENTION: BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE GROUND FOR HIGHLY-SKILLED ROLES
Presenter/Moderator: Sawsan Dahham, CEO, Siena
Panellists: David Campbell, Steve Hamm, Dr. Saleh Ali Albalushi, Mohammed Al Saeefan
Synopsis
This panel will explore innovative strategies for attracting and retaining top talent in high-skill industries. Experts will share insights on sustainable workforce development, employer branding, and inclusive practices that ensure long-term employee engagement and organisational growth in an increasingly competitive global market.
15:15 – 15:40 GST
PRESENTATION – FIRE SAFETY IN PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS: SECURING A SAFE TRANSITION TO NET-ZERO
Presenter: Sebastian Ukleja
As the transition to net-zero emissions accelerates, photovoltaic (PV) panels are becoming a cornerstone of sustainable energy systems. However, ensuring the fire safety of these systems is essential to protect lives and infrastructure. This presentation focuses on the critical role of rigorous testing in identifying and mitigating fire risks associated with PV panels. It will explore current testing standards, emerging technologies, and real-world case studies to highlight how comprehensive testing protocols can improve system reliability and safety. By emphasizing testing throughout design, installation, and operation, we can support the safe integration of solar energy on the path to net zero.
15:15 – 15:40 GST
PRESENTATION – FIRE SAFETY IN PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS: SECURING A SAFE TRANSITION TO NET-ZERO
Presenter: Sebastian Ukleja
Synopsis
As the transition to net-zero emissions accelerates, photovoltaic (PV) panels are becoming a cornerstone of sustainable energy systems. However, ensuring the fire safety of these systems is essential to protect lives and infrastructure. This presentation focuses on the critical role of rigorous testing in identifying and mitigating fire risks associated with PV panels. It will explore current testing standards, emerging technologies, and real-world case studies to highlight how comprehensive testing protocols can improve system reliability and safety. By emphasising testing throughout design, installation, and operation, we can support the safe integration of solar energy on the path to net zero.
15:40 – 15:45 GST
CLOSING REMARKS
Terry Johnson
15:45 – 17:00 GST
POST-EVENT NETWORKING RECEPTION