Panel will focus on discussion of the contemporary issues and solutions in the bushfire products.
Panel will focus on discussion of the contemporary issues and solutions in the bushfire products.
Gavin Williams is a highly accomplished professional with a strong background in chemistry and extensive expertise in fire safety engineering. Holding a BSc with a double major in chemistry from Wollongong University, Gavin further expanded his knowledge by obtaining a Masters degree in Business & Technology from the University of NSW. Currently, he is completing a Masters degree in Fire Safety Engineering at the University of Western Sydney, enhancing his proficiency in the assessment of fire behaviour and fire testing of construction elements.
With a successful career spanning over 30 years, Gavin has served as an Application Engineer at 3M, specializing in the Industrial and Construction industries. During his tenure, he excelled in areas of adhesives and fire protection, gaining valuable insights into developing innovative solutions. Prior to this, Gavin worked as the Company Chemist at Dairy Farmers for nine years, honing his expertise in chemistry and the reactions of different elements.
Gavin’s true passion lies in leveraging his deep understanding of chemistry to find the easiest and most cost-effective fire stopping solutions. His commitment to continuous learning and his broad range of experiences make him a valuable asset in the field of fire safety engineering.
Rod holds a Chemical Engineering degree and has worked for an Australian Mining company and an International Oil Gas Company. He has worked in Engineering roles, leadership roles and more recently Risk Management roles. He started his professional career around the same time as the North Sea “Piper Alpha” Oil Rig accident which has shaped his thinking on Safety.
He will explore the Oil industry “Barrier Thinking Approach” to Preparedness Measures for the protection of buildings against the three threats of Bushfire. This approach looks at the “Bow Tie Model” and provides some insights into the Top Event and the effectiveness of barriers. He will present information on the Risks of each of the threats to build a compelling case for change.
He is currently the Chief Operating Officer of a business that supplies Bushfire Mesh within Australia and the US.
Dr Maria Kornakova is Manager Bushfire Services at FPA Australia. Architect by training, Maria completed Masters degree in Urban and Regional planning as Fulbright Scholar. She successfully completed PhD at the University of Melbourne and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Melbourne and Massey University, NZ. The key focus of her research and professional interest is bushfire risk reduction practices through building, planning and architecture. Maria transferred to the industry to practically apply skills and knowledge gained over the years of her academic career and joined FPA Australia in December 2018 as Bushfire Services Coordinator and was promoted as Manager two years later.
