Firefighters and safety leaders honoured in the 2025 New Year honours lists
Iain Hoey
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United Kingdom New Year honours recognise fire and safety leaders
The New Year Honours are part of the British honours system, recognising individuals for their exceptional achievements and service.
These honours are awarded annually by the monarch to people from various sectors, including public service, community work, and industry, acknowledging their contributions to society and their respective fields.
As reported by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), the 2025 New Year Honours list includes several individuals from the fire and rescue services and the fire industry.
Among the honourees are:
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE):
- Ross Fraser Haggart KFSM, lately Chief Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE):
- Ian Frederick Moore JP, Chief Executive Officer, Fire Industry Association
- Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE):
- Aman Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, Totus Digital
- British Empire Medal (BEM):
- David Anthony Kemp, Strategic Community Safety Manager, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
- James Burns Smith, Librarian, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
- Philip Wilkinson, lately Crew Manager, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Services
- Claire Harmawooldridge, Firefighter, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service
- King’s Fire Service Medal (KFSM):
- Steven John Healey, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
- Bruce Farquharson, lately Deputy Assistant Chief Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
- Glynn Luznyj, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
- Robert Somerled MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer, Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service
- Ian Alexander McDougall, Assistant Chief Officer, Defence Fire and Rescue Service
- Jonathon Peter Pryce, Chief Fire Officer, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service
- Karla Stevenson, Group Commander, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
- Rachel Louise Streeting, lately Firefighter, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service
NFCC Chair Mark Hardingham extended his congratulations: “I’m delighted to congratulate our fire and rescue service and fire industry colleagues who have been recognised for their outstanding work and dedicated service.”
He added: “These remarkable individuals represent a wide range of roles and responsibilities across fire and rescue services and the list also includes those who currently or have previously played significant national roles for and on behalf of NFCC.”
Hardingham continued: “This is also a moment to celebrate the incredible work of all our fire and rescue teams – professionals who consistently go above and beyond to support and protect their communities throughout the year.”
Fire Industry Association Chief Executive recognised in honours list
The Fire Industry Association (FIA) has welcomed the news that its Chief Executive Officer, Ian Frederick Moore JP, has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2025 New Year Honours List for his services to the fire industry and public safety.
The Cabinet Office’s Main Honours Committee considered his contributions to military service and the community in their decision.
Since becoming CEO, Ian Moore has implemented key improvements within the fire safety industry.
Under his leadership, the FIA has grown to become Europe’s largest fire protection trade association, comprising over 1,200 members.
All members hold Third Party Certification, a standard Ian advocates to enhance professionalism in the life safety industry.
He has supported the development of fire safety qualifications, aiding thousands of professionals in improving their skills and increasing safety in buildings and communities.
Ian Moore has addressed significant industry challenges, including leading efforts to improve competency standards following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
He launched a building safety information portal to assist homeowners affected by cladding issues and successfully lobbied for fire safety professionals to be classified as key workers during the pandemic, ensuring the continuity of critical safety systems.
Beyond his professional role, Ian serves as a Magistrate, Parish Councillor, and is actively involved in several charities, including delivering fire safety equipment to Ukraine.
Sir Ken Knight, former Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser for England, commented: “Ian’s work has had a real and lasting impact on fire safety. His efforts have improved industry standards and helped countless people across the country and beyond.”
Fire and Emergency New Zealand celebrates honoured firefighters
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Board Chair Rebecca Keoghan has acknowledged five firefighters from various regions who have been included in the 2025 New Year Honours List.
Rebecca Keoghan stated: “These honours are a worthy recognition of the many years of dedicated service these five recipients have made to Fire and Emergency and their communities.”
She further said: “On behalf of everyone at Fire and Emergency and the communities that our recipients have served so diligently, I would like to extend my congratulations.”
Health and Safety Executive chief recognised in honours list
Sarah Albon, Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), has been names as a Companion of the Order of Bath in the New Year Honours list.
Sarah Albon expressed her gratitude: “It is a great privilege to have been awarded a CB in the King’s New Year’s Honours list.”
She added: “I’m proud to be a civil servant working on behalf of the public, and proud of the teams I lead.
“I have been very fortunate to work with dedicated and talented colleagues throughout my career and I see this award as testament to their achievements as much as my own.”
Chair of the HSE Board Sarah Newton commented: “It’s a pleasure to work with Sarah Albon who over the past five years at HSE has led the organisation through significant challenges and change.”
Newton further stated: “Since becoming Chief Executive of HSE in 2019, Sarah has provided outstanding leadership, implementing major initiatives of national significance, protecting people and places.
“I’m pleased to see this award rightly recognise Sarah’s contribution, both here at HSE and in her roles across the Civil Service, and I am delighted to congratulate her on this achievement.”
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service members receive honours
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has seen several of its members honoured in the New Year Honours list.
Group Commander Karla Stevenson has been awarded a King’s Fire Service Medal for her advocacy for inclusion and diversity within SFRS. She stated:
“I’m very overwhelmed to have been nominated for such a prestigious award and I’m extremely proud and humbled to accept this. To have my work recognised in this way is very much appreciated.”
Chief Officer Ross Haggart, now retired, has been awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his services to fire and rescue and charitable organisations. He commented:
“I am delighted and humbled to receive a Commander of the Order of the British Empire award. Firefighting has been a huge part of my life for so many years and it’s been such a rewarding career that I can look back on with pride.”
Bruce Farquharson, a retired Deputy Assistant Chief Officer, and Jim Smith, a retired firefighter and fire service historian, have also been recognised with honours.
Firefighters and safety leaders honoured in the 2025 New Year honours lists: Summary
The 2025 New Year Honours list has recognised numerous individuals from the fire and rescue services and the fire industry in the United Kingdom and Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
In the UK, the National Fire Chiefs Council acknowledged several honourees, including Commander of the Order of the British Empire Ross Fraser Haggart and others receiving Officer and Member of the Order of the British Empire, British Empire Medal, and King’s Fire Service Medal.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand celebrated five firefighters honoured for their dedicated service. Additionally, the Health and Safety Executive’s Chief Executive Sarah Albon was appointed a Companion of the Order of Bath.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service honoured Group Commander Karla Stevenson and other retired members for their contributions to the service and community.
