The Built List reveals 20 fire safety influencers shaping construction in 2026

The Built List 2026 spotlights leading voices in fire and building safety

A group of 20 professionals shaping fire and building safety across the built environment has been named as part of The Built List 2026, a new initiative recognising influential voices across construction and related sectors.

The Built List, developed by construction PR consultancy Liz Male Consulting (LMC), identifies 100 individuals driving change across five priority areas: fire and building safety, digitalisation, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and skills, recruitment and retention.

The fire and building safety category brings together engineers, campaigners, housing professionals, consultants and technical specialists working across policy, practice and public engagement.

The selected individuals have been identified through a six-month research process assessing engagement, media presence and industry visibility, rather than follower counts alone.

Dan Gerrella, Managing Director at LMC, said: “We want to shine a spotlight on the campaigners, activists, changemakers and thought leaders who are turning important conversations into action, shaping policy and public understanding, and building the profile of our sector.

“This is an opportunity to recognise a wider community of individuals who are influencing how the industry approaches safety, risk and accountability, while also helping organisations connect with trusted voices on the issues that matter most.”

The list is not ranked and is designed to reflect breadth of influence rather than competition.

LMC said the intention is to highlight different ways individuals are contributing to industry progress, from technical expertise and regulatory insight to communication and advocacy.

Fire and building safety: 20 selected influencers

The following individuals have been named within the fire and building safety category of The Built List 2026:

Colin Bailey

President and Principal, Queen Mary University of London and Executive Leader

An internationally recognised engineer and executive leader, Colin Bailey has built a career spanning structural safety, fire engineering and higher education leadership. His work focuses on helping the industry better understand risk and improve building design, alongside championing social mobility within engineering.

Kwajo Tweneboa

Social Housing Activist, Author and Campaigner

Kwajo Tweneboa is a prominent voice in housing safety, known for exposing unsafe living conditions and advocating for reform. His work centres on amplifying residents’ experiences and driving accountability among landlords and housing providers.

Steph Brady

Director, Innovation Fire Engineering

Steph Brady leads strategic planning and operations at Innovation Fire Engineering, with a focus on how fire engineers operate within communities. Her work explores the relationship between regulation, risk management and the built environment.

Hannah Mansell

Principal Technical Consultant and Facilitator of the UK Fire Door Think Tank, Adoorability

Hannah Mansell has played a central role in advancing competence and standards in fire safety, particularly around fire doors. Her work includes leading national campaigns and translating regulatory requirements into practical approaches for the industry.

Kizzy Augustin

Partner (Health and Safety, Environmental and Fire), Mischon de Reya

Kizzy Augustin specialises in legal cases involving fire, health and safety, including corporate manslaughter. Her work addresses accountability, compliance and directors’ duties, alongside advocacy for equality within the legal and construction sectors.

Peter Apps

Contributing Editor, Inside Housing and Freelance Journalist

Peter Apps is a journalist focused on housing and fire safety, with extensive reporting on the Grenfell Tower fire and its wider implications. His work examines systemic risk, policy and accountability across the built environment.

Glenn Horton

Director, Horton and Horton Fire

Glenn Horton leads fire engineering design work on large-scale mixed-use developments globally. His focus includes building regulations, fire safety engineering and risk management in complex construction projects.

Arnold Tarling

Director, Beta Surveyors

Arnold Tarling is a chartered surveyor and fire safety expert known for his media work on building risk and fire hazards. He has contributed to public understanding of safety issues in residential buildings, particularly following Grenfell.

Benjamin Ralph

Director and Head of Building Safety and Fire, Hollis

With more than 16 years’ experience, Benjamin Ralph focuses on risk-based design and interdisciplinary approaches to building safety. His work addresses façade risks, fire engineering challenges and improving standards across the sector.

Andrea White

Managing Director, A W Fire

Andrea White is an independent fire engineer and accredited fire risk assessor. She also founded Women Talking Fire, supporting professional networks within the sector, while focusing on compliance, risk and representation in construction.

Helen Hewitt

Chief Executive, British Woodworking Federation

Helen Hewitt leads the British Woodworking Federation, representing a large membership across manufacturing and construction. Her work highlights the role of fire doors and competence across the supply chain in improving building safety outcomes.

Mike Kelly

Building Safety Manager, Livv Housing Group

Mike Kelly works across compliance, fire and building safety within social housing. His focus includes risk assessment, cladding remediation and strengthening accountability in building management.

Nathan Hooper

Director and Head of Hotels and Residential, Hollis

Nathan Hooper brings experience in construction and real estate, focusing on improving safety standards in buildings. His work links compliance, design and property management in residential and hospitality sectors.

Dan Hollas

Director of Building Safety, Clarion Housing Group

Dan Hollas has more than 25 years’ experience in social housing and building safety. His role includes regulatory engagement and advising on safety frameworks through his involvement with the Building Advisory Committee.

Hannah Carpenter

Associate Director and Building Safety Specialist, LMC

Hannah Carpenter specialises in fire and building safety communications and industry insight. She has worked across legislation-focused projects and leads initiatives such as The Building Safety Wiki.

Adam Sanders

Technical Director, RiskBase

Adam Sanders focuses on digital systems for managing building safety and compliance. His work centres on improving consistency, reporting and visibility through software platforms.

George Edwardes

Technical Director, The Fire Protection Association

George Edwardes has a background in fire testing and consultancy, with expertise in façade safety and material performance. His work examines how design choices and emerging materials influence fire risk.

Alan Elder

Senior Fire Engineer, Horton and Horton Fire

Alan Elder specialises in fire risk assessments, site inspections and design reviews. His work focuses on practical application of fire safety standards and regulatory developments.

Dr Gavin Dunn

Chief Executive, The Fire Protection Association

Dr Gavin Dunn is a Chartered Building Engineer focused on the relationship between sustainability, decarbonisation and fire safety. His work explores how new materials and technologies affect risk across the built environment.

Gill Kernick

Transformation Director, Arup, Committee Member, BSI, Author and Speaker

Gill Kernick works on systemic safety reform and cultural change in construction. Drawing on personal experience and professional work, she contributes to discussions on accountability, risk and long-term change following major incidents.

Reflecting industry priorities

LMC said the fire and building safety category reflects a shift in how the sector engages with risk, regulation and public accountability, particularly following recent legislative changes and increased scrutiny of building safety practices.

Individuals on the list contribute across a range of areas, including fire engineering design, legal accountability, housing safety, regulatory compliance, fire testing, façade risk, fire doors, and resident engagement.

Many are also active in communicating complex technical issues to wider audiences, including policymakers, residents and industry stakeholders.

Methodology based on impact and visibility

The Built List is drawn from a wider industry influencer database maintained by LMC and used to support communications and collaboration strategies across the built environment.

Three core metrics were used to assess influence:

• Engagement rate, based on interaction levels across recent social media activity
• Media coverage, including reach and authority of publications featuring each individual
• Visibility, measured through participation in conferences, events and wider communications activity.

This approach is intended to capture how individuals contribute to industry conversations and decision-making, rather than focusing solely on audience size.

Supporting industry engagement

LMC said the list is designed to support organisations seeking to engage with credible voices across key areas of change in the built environment.

“The list is deliberately not ranked and it’s not a competition,” Gerrella added.

“If the industry is going to improve outcomes in areas such as safety, sustainability and skills, it needs to engage with a broader range of perspectives and communication channels.”

The Built List 2026 is available to download via LMC’s website.