IFE News: Issue 1

January 2007

Welcome to the first issue of the members newsletter. This development in our service to members has been eagerly awaited by us all. Whilst initially the newsletter will be published every three months, the aim is to increase the frequency. This will depend on the workload involved and crucially the volume of contributions from members and branches. We want this communication method to be two way.

I shall be providing members with regular updates on the activities of the Board of Directors and setting out the vision and strategic direction we have for the Institution. The Board has agreed a new business planning and performance management system and will be formally approving the 2007 business plan on the 29th January 2007.

Please let us know what you think of this newsletter by contacting Helen Griffiths (e-mail: helen.griffiths@ife.org.uk)

John Judd QFSM BA FIFireE
Chairman of the Board of Directors

IFE Staff Contact Details

To view IFE staff contact details and their roles, please click on the link below.

Branches - Get involved

The Institution of Fire Engineers has 37 branches worldwide. To view the list of branches, click here. Each branch offers a wide range of Continuing Professional Development opportunities

IFE Board & Director vacancies

Every year, three members of the board of directors retire by rotation. Retiring directors are eligible to stand for re-election and the Institution also encourages nominations from the wider membership. Any member, other than a member holding the title of Affiliate, is eligible. Nomination forms are available from Head Office in Moreton or may be downloaded from the members' area of the web site www.ife.org.uk. Forms must be signed by a Proposer and Seconder and supported by three other members, all of whom must be Voting members i.e. in a membership grade other than Student. The closing date for receipt of nominations is 31 March 2007.

The Board of Directors is the governing body of the Institution of Fire Engineers. Directors are Trustees for the Charity. The Board comprises 12 Directors who look after the interests of members and of the profession. The Board meets four times a year. The board establishes subordinate groups to carry out work for the Institution. To view the current board members and their portfolios, please click here.

IFE AGM & Conference

Churchill College, Cambridge is the venue for the Institution's 2007 Annual General Meeting, Conference and Exhibition, which takes place on 12- 13 July 2007. The conference theme, Extending the boundaries of fire engineering, is of relevance to all professionals operating in this fast-changing discipline. The conference programme is being developed by International President Elect, Mr Charles Chu, and will include a panel of key international speakers who are experts in the fire industry.

The Institution is delighted to have the support of chief fire officer of Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, Tom Carroll, and the support of the East Midlands' Branch, which encompasses the counties of Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire. The AGM, conference and social programme provide a distinctive opportunity to network in a relaxed atmosphere with representatives from the fire and rescue service, as well as international fire industry professionals representing over 40 different countries. The entire event is located at the Conference venue, which is a short walk from the centre of Cambridge. As usual, there will be a range of accommodation available including a number of single and twin rooms on campus.

Full details of accommodation will be posted shortly on the Institution's website www.ife.org.uk and a booking form will be emailed to all members and subscribers to the Institution's e-newsletter facility.

Information about the venue can be found at www.visitcambridge.org/visitors. For information on Exhibitor and Sponsorship opportunities contact Jenny Angus email: jenny.angus@ife.org.uk tel: 01608 812588. (Photographer, Mark Mniszko. Copyright: University of Cambridge)

Books & Publications

To see this month's special book offer, click here.

To view publications and other products available click here.

If you are an IFE member, log in using your registered membership number to obtain 10% discount on relevant IFE and IFSTA publications.

On-line Journal

The Institution's monthly journal, Fire Prevention & Fire Engineers Journal, will continue to bring you the latest news, views and comment in 2007. Each month, the journal features a wide range of technical articles to keep readers up to date with the latest developments in the fire world. Subjects covered range from fire engineering and risk management, through to emergency response and fire service issues. The journal team is always on the lookout for technical articles of interest to our readers. If you would like to contribute to the journal, please contact the editor, Rupert Gilbey, on email: rgilbey@thefpa.co.uk; tel: +44 (0)1608 812518. More information is available from the journal website: www.fp-fej.com.

Events & CPD

There are many ways to achieve Continuing Professional Development. To view fire engineering events that have been assessed for CPD, click here. If your fire related event is not listed on our diary, please send details to: helen.griffiths@ife.org.uk .

To create a CPD portfolio use the following document as guidance - Professional Development Portfolio. To view recognised CPD activities, click here.

Young Professionals' Network

The Young Professionals' Network was created to unite young professionals working in fire engineering, develop links within the profession, promote fire engineering, share information and discuss current issues, provide advice on IFE membership and Engineering Council registration. For further information on joining the YPN and Mentoring Scheme please visit the Members Area.

Examinations

The Institution's examinations are held once a year throughout the world and provide the opportunity for candidates to gain the academic qualifications required for membership at different grades. The examinations are recognised internationally as evidence of academic attainment in fire engineering.

The Institution's 2007 examinations are scheduled for the 8th and 9th March 2007. The deadline for bookings has now passed and we regret that no further bookings can be taken. Details of the 2008 examinations will be published on the website at www.ife.org.uk in August 2007.

Candidates who have applied to sit the 2007 examinations will receive a confirmation letter shortly. Letters will indicate the examination paper (s), level of examination and exam centre details. Any candidate who has not received his/her confirmation letter by 16th February 2007 is asked to e-mail the Examinations Administrator at exams@ife.org.uk. It is recommended that candidates access the Markers' Reports and past examination papers (available for Graduate and Member levels), which can be found on the Institution's website at www.ife.org.uk, as part of their preparations to sit the Institution's examinations.

IFE Member Greg Cade nominated US Fire Administrator

Fairfax, Va., Dec. 5, 2006... President George Bush has announced his intention to nominate Chief Gregory B. Cade as administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Chief Cade is a highly accomplished and respected member of the firefighting community and once confirmed he will bring nearly 40 years of emergency management experience to this important post within the department. Read on...

National Science & Engineering Week

National Science and Engineering Week (formerly National Science Week) is an opportunity for people of all ages to take part in science, engineering and technology activities. To view the online events programme click here.

New Year's Honours List

Congratulations to the following members of the Institution whose achievements were recognised in the 2007 Queen's New Year's Honours List:

CBE

  • Mr Barry Dixon. CBE, QFSM, MIFireE Chief Fire Officer, Greater Manchester County Fire Service. For services to the Fire and Rescue Service. (Manchester, Greater Manchester)

OBE

  • Mr Roy Wilsher. OBE, CEng MIFireE Chief Fire Officer, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Fire Safety. (New Barnet, Hertfordshire)

MBE

  • Mr Richard Galliford. MBE GIFireE. South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service. For services to the Youth of Barnsley and Overseas.
  • Mr William Keith MacGillivray. MBE, GIFireE Assistant Chief Officer, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue. For services to the Fire Service National Benevolent Fund. (Bearsden, Glasgow)
  • Mrs Anne Marie Waters. MBE Student member. Watch manager, RDS, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Fire Safety. (Deddington, Oxfordshire)

QFSM - Queen's Fire Service Medal

  • Mr Anthony Proctor. QFSM, FIFireE Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Greater Manchester County Fire and Rescue Service.
  • Mr Simon Smith. QFSM, DMS, MIFireE. Chief Fire Officer, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

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