Please introduce yourself and tell us about your career to date.
I’m Janine Kayode, I work as an Associate Director at OFR Consultants based in London. I am a Chartered Engineer registered with 11+ years’ experience in the fire safety sector. I hold a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nottingham.
Describe your role or position within your current workplace and describe what a typical working day looks like.
I started my career as a graduate engineer and quickly progressed into roles of increasing technical and leadership responsibilities. Over the years I have worked across most sectors including tall commercial buildings, heritage buildings, healthcare, major masterplans, museums and residential buildings.
My experience spans the entire RIBA stages for projects, from concept design through to detailed fire strategies, and supporting delivery of these projects on site. I also document fire strategies for existing buildings where one does not exist historically.
A big part of my day is making technical knowledge accessible—offering constructive reviews and creating space for early-career engineers to build confidence in their professional judgement. Alongside technical delivery, I help inform commercial aspects such as reviewing scopes, and support junior engineers with project management responsibilities, and focus on improving consistency in how we deliver work.
Are there any particular challenges or unusual aspects to your role?
No day is truly the same. I have met so many people from various backgrounds, as you never know what challenge may arise on your project. Design change is constant and there are so many competing priorities – heritage, sustainability and structure – all of which must all be reconciled without compromising safety. Navigating these challenges and developing bespoke solutions that fit the specific project scenarios can be a challenge, but these conversations are also where we add the most value as fire engineers.
What do you find most enjoyable about your job?
I enjoy working with talented design teams to solve complex problems and seeing projects progress from drawings to reality. Just as rewarding is mentoring—supporting colleagues to grow in confidence and judgement and knowing that this strengthens the profession for the future.
Is there a great professional achievement or high-profile accomplishment that you would like to tell us about in a previous role or your current one?
I am particularly proud to be the lead engineer on the Olympia Redevelopment, one of London’s largest regeneration projects, where we are delivering innovative fire strategies across a multi-building site, which I have been involved with over the last 7+ years.
I was also honoured to receive the “Woman of the Year” award at the Women in Fire Safety Awards in 2021, which recognised both technical excellence and contributions to inclusion in the sector.
What inspired you to become an engineer or pointed you towards an engineering career?
I chose engineering because it combines rigorous problem-solving with real-world impact. Fire engineering especially appealed because I get to be involved in so many amazing projects, and it brings together physics, human behaviour and design, with the goal of protecting people’s lives.
What contributed to your decision to gain IFE membership / become professionally registered?
I wanted to demonstrate my competence and ethical commitment in a way that is recognised globally. Professional registration through the IFE provided an independent benchmark and allowed me to contribute more directly to shaping standards within the profession.
How have you benefitted from being a member/registrant with the IFE (career, personally)?
Being a Chartered Engineer has given me credibility with clients and regulators, strengthened my CPD, and connected me to a wider professional community. The process itself was also a valuable opportunity to reflect on my career and articulate how I apply judgement in practice.
Are you involved in the IFE in any other capacity (e.g. branch, volunteer, with a SIG)? If you are, could you tell us a bit more about that?
Yes, I volunteer as a reviewer and an interviewer for the professional registrant group within the IFE. This is a chance to give back, support others in their registration journey, and ensure consistent, robust standards across the profession.
Would you recommend joining the IFE to others? If so, why?
Absolutely. Registration provides recognition, credibility, and access to a supportive professional network. In a sector where competence is under more scrutiny than ever, it is one of the clearest ways to demonstrate professional capability.
Is there any advice you would pass on to someone considering professional registration / IFE membership?
Keep records of your projects and lessons learned from the start, as these form the backbone of your application. Find mentors who will challenge and encourage you, and don’t delay—registration itself is part of the growth process.