Welcoming our new International Presidential Team
The IFE is delighted to announce James Lane CEng FIFireE as the new International President for 2025-26.
With more than 30 years’ experience in fire safety, James has held various roles in the sector bringing a wealth of knowledge to his new role as International President. James is an active IFE member, having been on the Board of Trustee Directors for the past six years as well as a member of the IFE Registrants Group responsible for reviewing and interviewing prospective CEng registrants.
On his appointment, James said: “It is a true privilege to serve as the International President of the IFE.
“On behalf of the institution, I extend sincere thanks to my predecessor, Trent, for his lasting contributions. His commitment to global collaboration has not only strengthened our international ties but also established a powerful legacy through the International President’s Technical Conference. I am inspired to build upon the strong foundation Trent has laid as we continue to drive the IFE forward."
Elected by the IFE Board of Trustee Directors, the role of International President is held in high esteem and carries responsibilities in acting as the figurehead of the institution, attending international functions and taking an active role to promote the IFE’s work with key stakeholders.
Leading with trust
During his inaugural address to members at last week’s AGM, James outlined the critical need to place honesty, integrity and best practice at the heart of all we do as fire professionals. Keeping this as core values throughout his tenure, James touched on his plans to promote the IFE’s achievements and future plans, as well as witness the work the IFE does globally first-hand to better fire safety worldwide.
Throughout his presidential term, James will work alongside Mark Reilly CMIFireE who takes on the role of International President Elect. This role has been re-introduced to expand the leadership capacity of the presidential team, allowing for a smoother transition between presidential terms, and providing greater support to the International President.
Mark is a Companion Member of the IFE. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has held every leadership position within the incorporated Australian Branch, the International General Assembly (IGA), and has served as a Trustee Director for both the Australian and UK IFE boards.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to firefighter training and leadership development, Mark was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal in the 2009 Australia Day Honours. He holds an impressive array of academic qualifications, including degrees in Public Sector Management, Emergency Management, Applied Leadership, Executive Director Governance, Fire Engineering, Building Compliance, and Fire Safety.
Please join us in welcoming our new Presidential Team.
Click here to learn more about the team.