Conference Program
To view additional information about a speaker or session, click on the session title.
Tuesday 13 May 2025
Day 0 (Pre-conference)
Official Opening
5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Registration Open
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Tradeshow Hall Open
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Tradeshow Hall
Wednesday 14 May 2025
Day 1
7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Registration Open
7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Tradeshow Hall Open
Plenary Sessions
Room
Plenary Room
8:30 am – 8:35 am
Brett de Hoedt, Fire Australia MC
8:35 am – 9:00 am
Russell Porteous, President, FPA Australia
9:00 am – 9:30 am
NFPA Fire and Life Safety Ecosystem Applications and Lessons Learned
Chris Dubay, Vice President and Chief Engineer, National Fire Protection Association (USA)
9:30 am – 10:00 am
Innovation & Disruption: the importance of Knowledge and Collaboration
Jeremy Fewtrell AFSM, Commissioner, Fire and Rescue NSW
10:00 am – 10:30 am
1 Billion Readiness Initiative
Lt. Col. Dr. Essa Al Mutawa, Dubai Civil Defence
10:30 am – 10:55 am
Morning Tea
Tradeshow Hall
Breakout Sessions
Stream:
Room:
11:00 am – 11:40 am
Fire Systems Assessment (FSA/ESM)
Plenary Room
State of the Nation: Fire Protection Association Australia in 2025 and Beyond
John Collie, Chief Executive Officer, FPA Australia
Fire Safety Engineering
Meeting Room E3.1 & E3.2
A New Era of Global Fire Monitoring
Dr Karen O’Connor, Head of Strategic Development and International Relations, Earth Fire Alliance
Bushfire
Meeting Room E3.9
Bushfire Department Updates, Future Projects & National Accreditation – FPA Australia
Dr. Maria Kornakova, Manager Bushfire Services, FPA Australia
Fire Systems Design
(FSD)
Meeting Room E3.10
Watermist Fire protection of custodial facilities
Howard Tomlin, Group Engineering Manager, Fire Protection Technologies
Inspect and Test
Meeting Room E3.3
Key Considerations when Transitioning to PFAS-free or Fluorine Free Foams (F3s)
Mike Willson, Director and Technical Specialist – Firefighting Foams and Foam Systems, Willson Consulting
Stream:
Room:
11:45 am – 12:25 pm
Fire Systems Assessment (FSA/ESM)
Plenary Room
Review of the New Zealand Building Code for Fire
Saskia Holditch, Senior Fire Engineer, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Building System Performance, New Zealand
Fire Safety Engineering
Meeting Room E3.1 & E3.2
Richard Mills, Former Deputy Commissioner, London Fire Brigade
Bushfire
Meeting Room E3.9
Derivation of wildfire radiant heat flux values using an ensemble of dynamic fire simulation models
Anthony Power, Bushfire Technical Lead, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
Fire Systems Design
(FSD)
Meeting Room E3.10
A series of large scale tunnel fire test
Phil Friday, Vice President, Product Technology, The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co. Inc.
Inspect and Test
Meeting Room E3.3
11:45 am – 12:05 pm
Emission (not so) Impossible – An update on the Fire Protection Permit Scheme from the Department
Henry Coles, Project Officer, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
12:05 pm – 12:25 pm
The Global Language of Firestopping
Abhishek Chhabra, Director International Initiatives, Firestop Contractors International Association (FCIA)
12:30 pm – 1:20 pm
Lunch
Tradeshow Hall
Stream:
Room:
1:20 pm – 2:05 pm
Fire Systems Assessment (FSA/ESM)
Plenary Room
Crikey! Where’s the exit? How to comply with Section 109 EP&A DC&FS Regulation 2021
Nat Andrews, Director, Certifiers 2U Pty Ltd
Fire Safety Engineering
Meeting Room E3.1 & E3.2
Fire Safety Reforms make slow progress in Australia since Grenfell
Cameron Creamer, Senior Engineer, Arup
Bushfire
Meeting Room E3.9
Making the urban bushland interface safe: research and adaptation challenges
Professor David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania, Natural Hazards Research Australia
Fire Systems Design
(FSD)
Meeting Room E3.10
Transport for NSW – Fire Life Safety standards
Jason D’Silva, Senior Engineer, Fire Life Safety, Transport for NSW
Inspect and Test
Meeting Room E3.3
Maintaining Smoke Control Systems: Mechanical Fire Safety in Buildings
Vance Row, Queensland Manger, Holyoa
Ivan Steed, Team Leader – Essential Services, Grosvenor Engineering Group
Pat Mcmanus, Managing Director, Stokes Safety
Stream:
Room:
2:10 pm – 2:55 pm
Fire Systems Assessment (FSA/ESM)
Plenary Room
Henrietta Tan, Engagement Manager, Standards Australia
Fire Safety Engineering
Meeting Room E3.1 & E3.2
Effective Decision Making in Incident Command
Dr Greg Drummond, Assistant Commissioner – Education and Training, Fire and Rescue NSW
Bushfire
Meeting Room E3.9
2:10pm – 2:30pm
Impacts of smoke on the eye surface and what it means for firefighter
Dr Suki Jaiswal, PhD candidate, University of New South Wales and Natural Hazards Research
2:35pm – 2:55pm
Investigating Firefighter Exposure and Reproduction
Michelle Engelsman, PhD graduate, The University of Queensland
Fire Systems Design
(FSD)
Meeting Room E3.10
Special Hazard Systems – the challenges in detection, monitoring, control, and interface
David Isaac, Manager, Fire and Safety Technologies
Inspect and Test
Meeting Room E3.3
Communicating with Aliens: Unlock the Secret Language of Human Behaviour
Alan Short, Managing Director, Fire & Emergency Services SA Pty Ltd
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Afternoon Tea
Tradeshow Hall
Stream:
Room:
3:30 pm – 4:10 pm
Fire Systems Assessment (FSA/ESM)
Plenary Room
AS1851 the journey has commenced
John Lynch, General Manager Business Services, Wormald
Fire Safety Engineering
Meeting Room E3.1 & E3.2
Trent Fearnley, IFE International, President – Former National Advisor, Fire Risk Management, Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Bushfire
Meeting Room E3.9
Beyond Fire Spread: Advancing Rapid Suppression Modelling
Olivia Breed, Head of Firestory, Kablamo
Thomas Hart, Customer Solutions Manager, Kablamo
Fire Systems Design
(FSD)
Meeting Room E3.10
Sustainable Certified Structural Steel Fire Protection Solutions at reduced costs
Chris Partington, Passive Fire Protection Manager, Tremco
Inspect and Test
Meeting Room E3.3
Playing with Fire: Bridging the Gap Between Ideology and Reality in Fire Protection
Anita Kingdom, General Manager, Total Concept Industries
Stream:
Room:
4:15 pm – 5:00 pm
Fire Systems Assessment (FSA/ESM)
Plenary Room
Moderator:
Brett de Hoedt, Fire Australia MC
Panellists :
Simon Rickard, National Technical Manager, FPA Australia
Glenn Talbot, Managing Director, Verified
John Lynch, General Manager Business Services, Wormald
Jody Aldag, Director, Fire Matrix
Fire Safety Engineering
Meeting Room E3.1 & E3.2
Polyaire Commercial Site Fire – Cause and Impact
Tara Burton, Station Officer/Fire Investigator, Fire and Rescue NSW
Nik Sutarov, Private Forensic Fire Examiner, Halliwell Global
Bushfire
Meeting Room E3.9
The Changing Face of Fire in Australia and How Technology Can Help Us Adapt
Rob Vernon, Chief Executive Officer, Fire Foresight
Fire Systems Design
(FSD)
Meeting Room E3.10
Modular Construction and Lightweight flooring systems – Implications for FIRE Resistance
Gavin Williams, Technical Manager, TBA FIREFLY
Inspect and Test
Meeting Room E3.3
Advancing Fire Suppression Maintenance with Ultrasonic Technology
Anthony Lima, Founder and Director, Fire NDT Pty Ltd
7:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Conference and Awards Gala Dinner
The Grand Ballroom at the Fullerton Hotel Sydney
Thursday 15 May 2025
Day 2
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Registration Open
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tradeshow Hall Open
Plenary Sessions
Room
Plenary Room
8:45am – 9:00am
Commission’s priorities in particular reference to fire safety
9:00 am – 9:30 am
Safety Considerations in Energy Storage
Chris Groves, Product Manager, Wärtsilä Energy Storage & Optimisation, Wärtsilä
9:30 am – 10:00 am
Mark Potter, Managing Director, Agilus
10:00 am – 10:30 am
Machine & Artificial Learning in Fire (2025 Edition)
Russell Porteous, Chief Executive Officer, Firewize
10:30 am – 10:55 am
Morning Tea
Tradeshow Hall
Breakout Sessions
Stream:
Room:
11:00 am – 11:40 am
Innovation
Plenary Room
Navigating Prescriptive Design Standards for Water-Based Fire Sprinkler Systems
Mark Fessenden, Managing Director, International Fire Suppression Alliance (IFSA)
Fire Safety Engineering
Meeting Room E3.1 & E3.2
Public-Private Partnerships – Querétaro Fire Department as an AHJ and Force Multiplier
Fernando Palacios, Chief Queretaro Fire Department, Mexico
Fire Systems Assessment
(FSA / ESM)
Meeting Room E3.9
Nicholas Fagan, Managing Director, Next Practice Management Pty Ltd (NPX)
Saaim Khan, Lead Consultant, NPX- Cyber Matters
Fire System Design
(FSD)
Meeting Room E3.10
John Clampett, Director, JC Consulting
Bushfire
Meeting Room E3.3
David Boverman, Chief Executive Officer & Principal Advocate/Consultant, Helping Hands Planning & Design Pty Ltd
Stream:
Room:
11:45 am – 12:25 pm
Innovation
Plenary Room
Home Fire Sprinklers: Where are we at? And where to next?
Mark Whybro, Chair, Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition Australia (HFSCA)
Fire Safety Engineering
Meeting Room E3.1 & E3.2
Wasted Opportunities – Getting Fire Safety in Waste Facilities Right Before a Fire Occurs
Luke Loseby, Inspector – Fire Safety Directorate, Fire and Rescue NSW
Fire Systems Assessment
(FSA / ESM)
Meeting Room E3.9
11:45 am – 12:05 pm
Advantages of a Skilled Workforce for Employers
Pierrin Vogeli, National Training Manager, FPA Australia
12:05 pm – 12:25 pm
The Benefits of Industry Accreditation
Stacey Fein, National Accreditation Manager, FPA Australia
Fire System Design
(FSD)
Meeting Room E3.10
The link between passive firestop approvals, product quality, building safety & sustainability
Dr. Martin Stirling, Head of Sustainability (Australia) and Regional Process Lead, AMS (A2), Hilti (Aust.) Pty Ltd
Bushfire
Meeting Room E3.3
Justin Leonard, Research Leader in Bushfire Adaptation, CSIRO
12:30 pm – 1:20 pm
Lunch
Tradeshow Hall
Stream:
Room:
1:20 pm – 2:05 pm
Innovation
Plenary Room
Leveraging AI for business success
Moderator:
Brett de Hoedt, Fire Australia MC
Panellists :
Russell Porteous, Chief Executive Officer, Firewize
John Lynch, General Manager Business Services, Wormald
John Collie, Chief Executive Officer, FPA Australia
Glenn Talbot, Managing Director, Verified
Fire Safety Engineering
Meeting Room E3.1 & E3.2
Leading Safety: Consulting in High Risk Environments
Trent Curtin, Former Assistant Commissioner, Fire and Rescue NSW – A/Deputy Secretary, Safework NSW
Fire Systems Assessment
(FSA / ESM)
Meeting Room E3.9
Fire protection & safety in major health projects: Lessons learned
Herbert Domgjoni, Principal, Social Infrastructure Sector Lead, VIC/SA/TAS, Stantec
Sebastian Azagra, Chartered Fire Protection and Fire Safety Project Technical Lead, Stantec
Fire System Design
(FSD)
Meeting Room E3.10
1:20 pm – 1:40 pm
Fire brigade intervention considerations in adopting lifts for supplementary evacuation
Tass Georgas, Manager, Fire Safety Strategy, Policy and Reform, Community Safety Directorate, Fire Rescue Victoria
1:45 pm – 2:05 pm
Building X: AI-driven building analytics for unmatched safety and operational excellence
Lars Weber, Head of Digital & Software Sales, Siemens Ltd.
Bushfire
Meeting Room E3.3
Bushfire sprinkler systems: How can science guide our designs?
Dr Alan Green,Senior Research Fellow, Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC), University of Wollongong
Stream:
Room:
2:10 pm – 2:55 pm
Innovation
Plenary Room
2:10 pm – 2:30 pm
The future of AI in fire safety
Leon Ward, Regional Lead Australia & New Zealand, PlanRadar
2:35 pm – 2:55 pm
Hank Van Ravenstein, Principal, LCI Consultants
Les Schwarz, Construction Lawyer
Fire Safety Engineering
Meeting Room E3.1 & E3.2
Fire Service Requirements for BESS Installations
Jamie Hansen, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Community Safety, Fire Rescue Victoria
Fire Systems Assessment
(FSA / ESM)
Meeting Room E3.9
From Maintenance to Mastery: Thriving as a Fire Partner in the Strata Sector
Nathan Keating, Chief Executive Officer, Focus Building Risk and Compliance Pty Ltd
Fire System Design
(FSD)
Meeting Room E3.10
2:10pm – 2:30pm
Accessible Emergency Evacuations: Building a Safer Future for Everyone
Evan O’Hanlon, Accessibility Consultant, Jensen Hughes
2:35pm – 2:55pm
High Viscosity Foam Concentrates and Foam System Design
David Meyer, Managing Director, Orion Fire Engineering
Bushfire
Meeting Room E3.3
Barrier Thinking and Preparedness Measures for protection against Bushfires
Rod O’Loan, Chief Operating Officer, Stainless Steel Wire & Mesh
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Afternoon Tea
Tradeshow Hall
Stream:
Room:
3:30 pm – 4:10 pm
Innovation
Plenary Room
Using AI for Passive Fire Stopping Design and Construction Monitoring
Akshat Malhotra, Senior Associate Director, Beca
Fire Safety Engineering
Meeting Room E3.1 & E3.2
The Fire Safety Nexus – why fire services and the fire industry must collaborate
Ryan Cleggett, National President, Institution of Fire Engineers Australia
Fire Systems Assessment
(FSA / ESM)
Meeting Room E3.9
Darin Evans, Director, Pacific Institute of Technology
Fire System Design
(FSD)
Meeting Room E3.10
Sprinkler Protection in Housing for People with Disabilities
Elizabeth Sieverts, Associate, (Fire Safety – Risk & Process Safety), Arup
Bushfire
Meeting Room E3.3
When Wildfires Go Viral: LA, Social Media & Australia’s Bushfire Future
Jason McFadyen, Bushfire Technical Officer, FPA Australia
Stream:
Room:
4:15 pm – 5:00 pm
Innovation
Plenary Room
4:15 pm – 4:35 pm
Revolutionising Fire Equipment Inspections with Artificial Intelligence
Naaman Shibi, Solution Consultant, Techs4biz Australia
4:40 pm – 5:00 pm
Blockchain in Fire Compliance: A New Era for Record-Keeping Integrity
Mathew Kenn, Service Manager, Grosvenor Engineering Group
Fire Safety Engineering
Meeting Room E3.1 & E3.2
Optimising Firefighting Tactics with AS2419-Compliant Hydrant Systems
Gerard Mann, Fire Operations Instructor, Fire Rescue Victoria
Fire Systems Assessment
(FSA / ESM)
Meeting Room E3.9
Fire Safety Assessment & the Emergency Plan
Ian Collins, Emergency Plan Advisor
Fire System Design
(FSD)
Meeting Room E3.10
AS 1668.1 Exit pressurisation – What you must do
David Isaac, Manager, Fire and Safety Technologies
Brett Fairweather, Mechanical Engineering Consultant, Its Engineered
Bushfire
Meeting Room E3.3
Bushfire Products – the Future
Moderator:
Kath Kinnear
Panelists:
TBA Firefly
Rod O’Loan, Chief Operating Officer, Stainless Steel Wire & Mesh
Dr. Maria Kornakova, Manager Bushfire Services, FPA Australia
