DESIGN FIRE CONSULTANTS - Key Persons
Adam joined DFC in 2015 and is responsible for our Manchester office. He brings over 20 years of experience including leadership roles in multi-disciplinary engineering environments. He is a Chartered Engineer and an active fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers who cares deeply about improving standards in the profession. Adam regularly speaks about delivery of competent fire engineering through design, construction handover and operation.
He brings a wealth of commercial experience to the team, along with an eye for detail, always ensuring the interests of client are delivered. Adam's experience spans sector and geography, having worked on projects in Singapore, the Middle East, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, China, and throughout the whole of the UK, with a particular focus on Manchester.
Adam is particularly proud of his involvement in the Millennium Dome (London), Singapore Sports Hub (Kallang), Beijing 2008 Olympic Stadium, Manchester Town Hall, Manchester Central Library and The Shard (London).
Qualifications: BSc, CEng, FIFireE, MSFPE
Experience: 23 years
Adeyanju joined DFC in 2019. She has a Civil/Structural Engineering background with a Master's Degree in Structural Engineering from Imperial College London. She also has a PhD in Blast and Structural Fire Engineering from Imperial College London.
Adeyanju previously worked as a Structural Engineer on a range of bridge and building projects from design to construction phase in Nigeria. With over 4 years research experience, she also has technical expertise in designing structures to withstand extreme loading conditions in particular, explosions and travelling fire using performance-based methods.
At DFC, she has developed fire safety strategies for several buildings including warehouses, office buildings, residential buildings and mixed-use developments. She has also used her knowledge of Structural Fire Engineering to solve fire engineering problems in office structures.
Her key interests include numerical fire modelling, programming, problem solving, project management and structural fire design.
Qualifications: BSc, MSc, PhD, AIFireE, GIStructE
Experience: 4 years
Anna joined DFC in 2016 to underpin the daily running of the firm with an organised, pro-active approach. She has over 20 years' experience in administrative and event coordination roles, and some years lecturing in Interior Design. Anna balances her love of artistic avenues with her fascination of time and business management methods.
She is adept at developing and maintaining processes to improve efficiency and accuracy, looking at long-term strategies for the growing company. Using her polished communication skills and friendly professional manner she is a key point of contact for clients.
Prior to joining DFC, Anna spent nine years at an international multidisciplinary engineering consultancy supporting a senior leadership team.
Bilal joined Design Fire Consultants in April 2022 and is based in our Manchester office. He has a Chemical/Nuclear Engineering background and holds a joint master degree in Fire Safety Engineering from The University of Edinburgh, Ghent University and Lund University.
During his master's degree, Bilal's thesis research was centred on developing a 3D pyrolysis model for predicting temperature profile and failure of timber elements.
Before joining DFC, Bilal previously worked for a large fire engineering consultancy on a wide range of projects across different sectors including Commercial, Residential and Healthcare. He has experience in various RIBA stages including concept, design and construction. Prior to his role in fire engineering, he has over 2 years' experience of working as a safety engineer at a nuclear power plant.
Bilal's recent projects include Stockport Interchange, Salford Royal Hospital, Liverpool Hope University and Coventry Collections Centre.
Qualifications: BEng (Hons), MSc, AIFireE
Charles opened the DFC London office in November 2017. He is a Chartered Engineer with significant experience in large mixed-use projects. His approach to fire safety emphasises providing options and engaging stakeholders - thereby allowing flexibility in design.
He has particular experience with London based projects, and has built a strong working relationship with the local authorities and the London Fire Brigade. Having lived in multiple countries, he speaks fluent French and Italian and has used this on projects in Morocco, Monaco, and Italy. He was previously based in the Madrid and London offices of a major multidisciplinary design firm.
Charles has project managed and developed integrated fire strategies for major developments from concept stage to handover, including the redevelopment of the BBC Television Centre in White City, multiple schemes on the Canary Wharf site, and the Design Museum.
He has also worked on improving and delivering best in class fire strategies for existing conference and shopping centres, to maximise the building's commercial potential and ensure compliance with the regulatory standards.
Qualifications: MEng, PhD, CEng, MIFireE
Experience: 15 years
Francesca joined DFC in 2019 and is based in the London office. She has a mathematical background with a master's degree in Operational Research and over 18 months of experience as an analyst.
Before joining DFC, Francesca previously worked for a large professional fire engineering consultancy firm on a wide range of projects across different sectors including Commercial, Residential and Aviation. She has experience in various RIBA stages including design, construction and expert witness work.
Francesca has worked on projects such as the Sugar House Island development in London, Renaissance Hotel in Manchester, National Youth Theatre and Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
Qualifications: MSc
Experience: 6 years
Hugh graduated from the University of Nottingham with a Masters of Engineering in Civil Engineering in 2013. Hugh has over 7 years experience in fire engineering working on a large range of projects across London and the wider UK.
Hugh has been involved in projects from concept design through construction to handover. He is well versed in the processes required to get through the planning process, the Building Regulations application, and the detailed technical requirements during the tender and construction phases.
Hugh has a broad range of experience in sectors, including: Residential, Office, Commercial, Education, Shopping Centres and Airports.
As part of his development, he spent a year in Dublin, Ireland learning the local codes and fire engineering processes to gain Fire Safety Certificates. This included regular attendance at meetings with the local authority and fire officers. With this experience Hugh has gone on to hold regular meetings with the Approving Authorities and Local Fire Brigades within the UK and understands what they are looking for, and how to work with them to achieve a safe fire engineered design that meets the aspirations of the client and design team.
Qualifications: MEng (Hons), AIFireE
Experience: 7 years
Job Titles:
- Senior Engineer
- Safety Engineer
Iris joined Design Fire Consultants in May 2016. She has a MEng degree in Structural and Fire Safety engineering.
Iris is an experienced fire safety engineer having worked on projects across many sectors, in particular Commercial, Residential and Assembly. She has been involved in schemes that are at their concept, design or construction phase. Recent projects include the Gore Street and Heron House in Manchester.
With a structural engineering background, Iris has developed robust structural fire protection solutions that bring value to her clients. Her key strength is in problem solving and in looking at how aspects of design manifest themselves during the construction and operation of a building.
Qualifications: MEng, AIFireE
Experience: 9 years
James joined DFC in 2022, bringing with him over 19 years of professional experience in the operational, supervisory and regulatory environment from working at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) as a Station Manager.
Before joining DFC, James led the High Rise Team and was a member of the High Rise Task Force, enforcing the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in the complex built environment.
James was an Enforcing Officer for over five years and has worked in a multitude of environments including Healthcare, Sports and Entertainment, Specialised Housing and Licensed Premises.
Qualifications: Level-4 Diploma (Fire Safety), Cert Ed
Experience: 19 years
Job Titles:
- Commercial and Contracts Compliance Officer
Kirstie joined DFC in September 2021 to act as a Commercial and Contracts Compliance Officer in light of the company's significant growth.
She began her career at a Global Law Firm as a Client Support Specialist, advancing to a Case Manager, before becoming a Legal Risk Executive and discovering her interest in Construction Contracts. Kirstie has over 2 years' experience of negotiating construction Contracts and assisting with commercial opportunities and this experienced has been attained both here at DFC and within a previous role at another reputable fire engineering consultancy..
Kirstie attained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at the University of Law in Manchester and was trained by former Solicitors and Barristers, and excelled at negotiation, mediation and arbitration during her degree.
Kirstie has extensive knowledge of PI insurance and risk management, which enables her to be an outstanding negotiator and reach agreements which protect the interests of the Company, whilst managing our clients' expectations.
Kirstie is a key problem solver and is responsible for the management and negotiation of client appointments here at DFC. She is keen to work with our clients, to reach an Agreement which is favourable to both parties.
Qualifications: LLB (Bachelor of Laws)
Experience: 3 years
Matt joined DFC in 2017 and has over 7 years of experience in fire safety engineering. Prior to his role in fire safety engineering he has over 13 years' experience in contracting in electrical installation and has extensive knowledge working in a technical role as a Fire Detection and Alarm specialist which included the maintenance, installation, commissioning, design and project management of large complex fire and life safety systems.
Prior to receiving his master's degree in Fire Engineering in 2020 from the University of Central Lancashire, Matt has also graduated in 2012 with a Foundation Degree in Building Services and Sustainable Engineering from the University of Central Lancashire. As part of his Fire Engineering degree his academic research for both his bachelor's and master's dissertation focussed on the fire performance of combustible insulation in aluminium composite panels and flame propagation in cavity walls using Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis.
Matt has experience working in a wide range of sectors including Commercial, Mixed-use, Residential, Healthcare and Sports & Entertainment, applying various design codes in the UK, Middle East and Africa. He has a thorough understanding of the importance of providing support throughout construction to ensure the fire strategy requirements for the building are implemented upon handover. Matt has also led a number of large Healthcare schemes as a Technical Lead in the development of complex fire detection cause and effect strategies.
Qualifications: MEng (Hons), FdSc, AIFireE, MIET
Experience: 20 years