The AI effect: John Collie examines AI’s impacts, along with climate goals, regulations, and recruitment hurdles
Iain Hoey
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By John Collie, CEO, Fire Protection Association Australia
The fire industry faces many challenges not just in my home country of Australia but around the world.
The most pressing are in change management, existential threats, and governance.
Change management
The rapid and widespread introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems heralds a new, bold era of digital transformation.
Advances here promise to speed response times, improve system management, revolutionise training, and broaden automation – freeing up valuable resources.
However, the tech is still fresh, and we’ll need to ensure old lessons are integrated into new technologies.
The pace of regulatory and compliance change around the world shows no signs of abating.
Where previously we focused on practice and materials requirements, the introduction of new technologies to the sector only add layers to the regulatory onion.
Inevitably, the administrative burden will increase for all practitioners as data privacy and security, and the use of AI, demand attention.
We’ll need to improve our cyber resilience and commitment to data integrity.
There is also the issue of environmental sustainability and climate change.
This will hit us in several areas, from pressure to reduce emissions in systems and vehicles, to demands for improved recycling, and more.
Added to this will be the additional burden of environmental reporting, both nationally and globally.
Existential threats
The perils of fighting Li-ion battery fires are well-documented.
However, what has been overlooked is the potential for knee-jerk responses from regulators.
Society rapidly took up this technology before fully exploring the potential hazards – there is risk that panicked regulators looking for a quick fix will impose unachievable solutions on our sector.
We will need to be watchful, and responsive.
Recruitment and retention is a different but no less challenging issue.
The skills gap in fire protection is that those with real experience leave but the sector struggles to replace them.
We must find a way to appeal to young talent and convince them that there is a fulfilling career ahead of them in the fire sector.
Governance – leadership needs to step up
These challenges are significant, but not insurmountable. Our industry has proven itself resilient and adaptable.
But in order to meet these growing challenges, as leaders we must act: we must be more connected, more planned and more strategic, working with each other to assess challenges and respond accordingly.
I look forward to working with you to tame these challenges in order to protect our industry, life, property and environment.
About the IFSJ Influencer
Joining FPA Australia as CEO in October, 2023, John Collie held senior executive roles for Airmaster and CSR.
His experience includes fire protection, construction, infrastructure and contracting.
John holds master’s degrees in science (Northeastern University, Boston) and commerce (Swinburne University, Melbourne).
He advocates for collaboration, community engagement and the advancement of fire protection in Australia.
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