Board of Directors

Professor David Charters, BSc, PhD, CEng, MIMechE, FIFireE, MSFPE

Originally a mechanical engineer, David undertook a study of the reliability of automatic fire detection systems in the 1980's with a fire brigade in Bristol and never looked back. Joining UKAEA's fire safety team, he completed a doctorate in smoke movement in tunnels and undertook quantitative fire risk assessments after the King's Cross fire and Piper Alpha. Later, he was responsible for FIRECODE at the Department of Health, before joining Arup Fire and being appointed visiting professor in fire risk analysis at the University of Ulster. Currently, he is the Director of Fire Engineering at BRE.

Reason for joining the IFE: David joined the IFE to gain professional recognition and to learn from fellow fire professionals.

Portfolio responsibilities on the IFE Board: Immediate Past President of the Institution and Director responsible for policy.

Charles Man-chun Chu FSDSM, CPM, BEng(Hons), CEng, FIFireE, FHKIE

Charles has been an active member in the Hong Kong Branch for over 30 years. Being a member of ECD and a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE), he is highly committed in promoting fire engineering in Hong Kong and has been instrumental in fostering the formation of a Fire Discipline in HKIE. He is experienced in a range of fire services duties and is currently CFO of the Hong Kong Fire Command in the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, responsible for operational matters.

Reason for joining the IFE: As a means of attaining personal development by gaining access to technical knowledge and skills in fire engineering which the IFE was able to supply, and to broaden his horizon through interaction and communication with professionals with common aspirations in this field.

Portfolio responsibilities on the IFE Board: Past President

Bill Cox FIFireE

After studying for a degree in Chemistry, Bill began his career in fire as a Fire Tester for British Rail. Bill then moved into the field of education and developed the first courses aimed at the IFE examinations. Bill became directly involved with the IFE examination process and has served on the education committee for approximately 25 years. Bill has played a part in the process of gaining Engineering Council recognition, becoming the first Chartered Engineer in the IFE through the bilateral agreement. Bill has been an external examiner for BSc courses in Fire Engineering at several Universities and was the instigator and leader of a European project entitled "Transfire".

Portfolio responsibilities on the IFE Board: Past President

Louise Craig BA (Hons) TQFE MSc


Portfolio responsibilities on the IFE Board: Chief Executive Officer

Peter Holland OStJ, QFSM, FIFireE

Peter joined Bristol Fire Brigade 1972. Served in Avon, Cheshire, West Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Bedfordshire and Lancashire. CFO since 1995. Joined IFE 1972 Student - Mid Western Branch. Graduate 1978 - NW Branch. Member 1983 Yorkshire and Humberside Branch. 1988 - Midlands Branch. 1990 elected to International Council. 1992 - NW Branch. 1995 Eastern Branch. 1997/98 International President. 1998-2006 Publications Chairman. 2006 NW Branch President.

Reason for joining the IFE: To provide personal and professional development above and beyond that received within the training and education provided by the Fire and Rescue Service to help raise his knowledge and understanding of Fire Engineering and Management issues

Portfolio responsibilities on the IFE Board: Vice Chairman, IFE Board of Directors responsible for Finance and Management.

Russ James LLB MSc BA MA MIFireE

After leaving the Army Russ joined Greater Manchester County Fire Service in 1979. Apart from a three year secondment to the Fire Service College, Russ has spent his entire career in Greater Manchester where he now serves as the Area Commander for Fire Safety. He has held a number of IFE positions within both the Greater Manchester Group as well as the North West Branch and was the secretary of the FSC Group during his secondment. He was the North West Branch representative on the old International Council. Prior to being elected to the Board in 2008 he had served for two years as a member of the General Assembly.

Reasons for joining the IFE: Russ originally joined the Institution in 1981 as a young firefighter wanting to learn more about his chosen profession. From that original motivation Russ now sees the Institution as providing a powerful and unique vehicle by which all fire professionals can share experience and best practice and a professional voice by which to influence national and international fire engineering policies.

Portfolio responsibilities on the IFE Board: Technical and Professional

John Judd QFSM BA FIFireE(Life)

John served for 38 years in fire and rescue services in the North West of England, before concluding his career in the post of Assistant Commissioner in London Fire Brigade. John led on fire prevention, fire safety and fire investigation in both Greater Manchester and London. He was also an active member of the Chief Fire Officers Association's Fire Safety Committee. He is now running his own fire consultancy business.

Reason for joining the IFE: John joined the Institution to advance his professional development. He saw that the Institution was a means of recognising the professionalism of fire and rescue staff. He has been an active member since 1974 and is convinced that he has gained as much from the Institution as he has put into it. John now enjoys giving support to the development of young fire engineers in the same way that others supported him.

Portfolio responsibilities on the IFE Board: As Chairman, John has the responsibility for strategic planning and performance management. He leads the Board and ensures the organisation operates in an open and democratic manner.

Dr Jim Marsden PhD BEng(Hons) CEng FIFireE MEI

Jim joined Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service in 1976 and has subsequently served for a period of 30 years. Jim graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with BEng (Hons) degree in Fire Engineering in 2000 and subsequently completed his PhD in Experimental and Numerical Studies of Whirling Fires. Within his current post as a Station Manager, Jim is responsible for special projects which include fire engineering within both the built and operational environment.

Reason for joining the IFE: Jim has been associated with the Institution since joining as a student in 1978 and successfully completed the Graduate and Membership examinations. He attained the grade of Fellow in 2005. In his career within the fire service he feels the IFE has been absolutely essential in his own personal development. Jim has been an active Member of the Greater Manchester Branch for over 25 years and still contributes to Branch activities. In respect to IFE functions, he leads the UK Working group and also is the Vice Leader of the General Assembly.

Portfolio responsibilities on the IFE Board: Education and Accreditation

Paul Richardson BEng (Hons) BSc CEng FIFireE MCGI

Paul joined Lancashire County Fire Brigade in 1979; served within Lancashire County Fire Brigade, subsequently Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service, for over 27 years. He has held a variety of references, including fire safety, and served in most areas of Lancashire during that time. He obtained BEng (Hons) in Fire Engineering (First Class) in 1995 at University of Central Lancashire and became Chartered Engineer in 1997. Current post: Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Director of Service Delivery Performance, Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service

Reason for joining the IFE: Initially, to gain further qualifications and professional recognition; latterly, to take the opportunity to make an effective contribution to the work of the Institution both within the Fire Community and the Engineering Community as a whole.

Portfolio responsibilities on the IFE Board: Professional competence standards & International President

Fire Chief William A. Stewart FIFireE, CFO, CMM, AdeC

Chief Stewart is a thirty-six year Fire Service veteran having served in the former City of North York Fire Department for 26 years prior to the amalgamation of the new City of Toronto on January 1, 1998. He has served as an operations fire fighter, senior officer and the Fire Chief since May 1, 2003.

Bill has served as a member of the Professional Standards Setting Body, Ontario Fire College, in the review of all standards for fire fighter training in Ontario. He is also the Chairman, Fire Apparatus and Equipment Committee, Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada; Past President, Institution of Fire Engineers (Canada Branch) as well as an Advisory Board Member of Humber College, Fire Services Program and Durham College, Fire Services Program. He also serves as the Vice President, Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, and International Association of Fire Chiefs/National Fire Protection Association and is a Director of the Institution of Fire Engineers.

Bill is a graduate of the Ontario Fire College, Technology Diploma Programs, general and advanced levels, Executive Development Program and the Canadian Emergency Preparedness College. He also holds professional designations from the Institution of Fire Engineers FIFireE; Ontario Municipal Management Institute, Certified Municipal Manager CMM, and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, Chief Fire Officer, CFO designation. Bill is committed to life long learning, and is currently serving as a Board member for Public Administration and Governance, Ryerson University.

Reason for joining the IFE: William joined the Institution to promote and encourage members of the Ontario Fire Service to seek professional designation credentials. The IFE principles of education through continuing professional development programs are essential to maintain the knowledge of the fire engineering practice.

Portfolio responsibilities on the IFE Board: Williams current role on the Board focuses on membership communications. The portfolio is a shared responsibility with Mr H. G. Tay. William is also International President elect.

Hao Giang Tay FIFireE, PKPB B.Sc.(Hons), M.Sc. Fire Safety Engineering

Hao Giang has 29 years of experience in many areas of fire safety engineering discipline. He has been advising Malaysian Government agencies and private sector corporate in relation to fire safety engineering concept and application. He has also been actively participating in Malaysian Standard development in Fire Safety and Prevention. Over the years, he has published many technical papers and has been invited to share his experience at International Conferences and Seminars. He has always adopted an unorthodox approach with fault tree analysis for issues pertaining to the fire safety industry and resolved with solutions that are fitting for application in the modern environment.

Reason for joining the IFE: Being one of the pioneer members in setting up the IFE Malaysia Branch, his objectives are to Promote and Encourage Fire Safety Engineering concept at International level; creat awareness of Fire Science and Engineering within Governmental, Quasi-governmental and Professional circles at the same time improve the practice of fire industries. To be able to do all of these, he believes that IFE is the best professional platform in achieving the goal since it was set up back in 1918 to serve the community. With his knowledge and experience, he believes he is able to share them with IFE members globally as well as any fire safety engineering related communities.

Portfolio responsibilities on the IFE Board: Given the shared Portfolio of Membership Communications with Fire Chief Mr William Stewart which in his view is an important portfolio since one of its tasks is to improve communications among members and the Head Office. Hao Giang feels that despite the advancement in ICT (Information and Communication Technology), the IFE Head Office needs to develop a more efficient way to disseminate information, such as major fire incidents, Head office/Branch activities, events, breaking news, etc. On top of our monthly Journal, web-based and email based newsletter could bring together members through ICT interaction.

John Woodcock BSc (Eng) CEng MIFireE

After 21 years with Marsh, John retired in March 2008. When he retired, he was the Managing Director in Marsh Risk Consulting; the largest practice of which is property risk engineering and fire engineering.

Formerly, John worked for 12 years as Loss Prevention Engineer and various management roles with Factory Mutual, now FM Global.

Reason for joining the IFE: Originally a member of the UK Chapter SFPE, then Institute of Fire Safety (IFS) and then IFE. The Institution is the professional body which should be the 'voice of the fire professional' internationally and he wants to see that become a reality. The IFE also provided John a route to obtain registration as CEng with the Engineering Council (UK).

Portfolio responsibilities on the IFE Board: As Chairman of the Engineering Council Division (ECD) Board, John represents the ECD on the IFE Board. As a result of changes made after the 2006 AGM, John's role also includes ECD assurance over the Professional Standards portfolio, including academic and competence standards.

To contact a member of the Board, please e-mail info@ife.org.uk