Delegates attending a BAFSA event will hear presentations from a range of speakers including key industry figures and fire safety specialists.
Ian Gough joined the fire service as a fire-fighter in 1972. He has lectured at the Fire Service College, Moreton in Marsh and has written a number of articles pertaining to fire safety - especially fire sprinklers and large single-storey warehouses. Ian was a member of the working groups preparing guidance for properties in England and Wales covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and has been a member of the Loss Prevention Council (Fire & Security) Board. Retiring from the fire service in June 2004, he now continues to work as a fire safety consultant and is the Technical Advisor to BAFSA.
Steve Mills entered the Merchant Navy in 1970 and eventually qualified as Master Mariner on foreign going vessels. Steve joined West Midlands Fire Service in July 1983 where he worked in Training, Recruitment and Specialist Fire Safety roles. In 2001 he moved to a Community Fire Safety role at HQ. He has attended training courses on the design, installation and maintenance of Commercial & Industrial and Residential & Domestic sprinkler systems. Steve is secretary of the NFSN and has recently been appointed by BAFSA as the Fire & Rescue Service Co-ordinator
Chris Enness, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service
Chris joined the Fire and Rescue Service in 1987 and has served in Essex, North Wales and is currently the Deputy Chief Fire Officer for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service. Chris believes passionately that in order to make greater improvements to life safety we need to do things differently and is proud to have been able to support Ann Jones AM throughout the life of the LCO and measure. Chris is the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) UK lead for Automatic Fire Suppression systems (sprinklers).
Ian Woodhouse is Certification Process Manager for Warrington Certification Limited (part of Exova Warringtonfire). From an engineering background, Ian has worked in the fire protection industry for the past 26 years starting with manufacturer BTR Fire Protection as Technical Manager, followed by 11 years in the fire protection contracting industry with Aaronite Limited and the Rigblast Group. In 2002 Ian joined Warrington Certification Limited and has been responsible for Sprinkler System Installers and devising the new FIRAS scheme for Installers of Water Mist Systems.
Peter Armstrong, Chairman BAFSA
Peter is Managing Director of Armstrong Priestley, established in 1976. Peter attended his first Council meeting in January 1995 and has been an active member of Council ever since. Elected as BAFSA Chairman in 2001 Peter has long been an advocate of the benefits of sprinklers and continues to strive to raise awareness of the benefits of sprinklers by supporting the activities of the Association. Peter is also an enthusiastic supporter of the National Fire Sprinkler Network and is a member of their Executive Committee.
Stewart Kidd, Secretary General BAFSA
Stewart has been Secretary General of BAFSA since 2001 and was formerly Director of the Fire Protection Association.
As a consultant, he has been involved in a wide range of international projects including major industrial and petrochemical sites and very large construction projects. He currently represents insurers interests in the fire safety of the Heathrow East development, two new coal fired power stations, the Burj Khalifa, London Bridge Tower and high rise projects in Kuwait, the UAE, and Bahrain
He also advises Historic Scotland and other heritage organisations and is also the author of eight books covering fire and security topics.
Simon Rooks is Managing Director of Hall and Kay Fire Engineering , a UTC Fire and security Company and has over 25 years experience within the sprinkler and fire protection industry.
Simon is an active participant with BAFSA, FIA, IWMA , IFSA, NFSN and EFSN and is currently the Marketing Chairman and Treasurer for BAFSA. For the last 12 months he has been the independent chairman for the UK Water Mist Co-ordination group, which is dedicated to a co-ordinated approach with Water Mist systems